UPDATE-Kobe Bryant and his wife Vanessa Bryant are competing for the top shocking celebrity breakup of 2011! Vanessa and Kobe filed for divorce on Friday citing the usual irreconcilable differences. Vanessa signed the papers on December 1st and Kobe signed his response on December 7th. Vanessa requested that the couple be given joint custody of their children, Natalia, 8, and Gianna, 5. Sources tell TMZ, that Vanessa is ending the marriage because she believes Kobe has been unfaithful, again.
“She’s been dealing with these incidents for a long time and has been a faithful wife, but she’s finally had enough,” adding, “This one is the straw that broke the camel’s back.”
Vanessa’s alleged claim of infidelity on Kobe’s part brings his June 2003 sexual assault case back to the forefront. Kobe was accused by a desk clerk of sexual assault, many thought that was the end of his then only two year marriage. But Vanessa sat stone faced next to her husband and stated,
“I know that my husband has made a mistake – the mistake of adultery. He and I will have to deal with that within our marriage, and we will do so.”
According to TMZ, the pair have no prenup! Because California is a community property state , Vanessa is likely entitled to half of Kobe’s earnings during their 10-year marriage. The Los Angeles Lakers star is expected to make $25,244,493 this year, according to ESPN.
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Vanessa is being represented by Laura Wasser, who recently repped Kim Kardashian in her divorce from Kris Humphries.
A representative for the couple released a statement saying, “The Bryants have resolved all issues incident to their divorce privately with the assistance of counsel and a Judgment dissolving their marital status will be entered in 2012.”
“We ask that in the interest of our young children, and in light of the upcoming holiday season, the public respect our privacy during this most difficult time,” Vanessa and Kobe said in the statement.
With hardly two weeks left in 2011, will there be another shocking celebrity divorce??? Are you surprised by Kobe Bryant’s divorce?