Jesse Williams was last photographed with wife Aryn Drake-Lee in January 2016. (Donato Sardella/Getty Images for The Mistake Room/Getty Images Entertainment)
“Grey’s Anatomy” star Jesse Williams is ending his marriage to wife Aryn Drake-Lee after five years and the separation reportedly isn’t brand new.
Williams cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for splitting with his real estate broker wife, according to the Jasmine Brand. Williams and Drake-Lee dated for more than five years before they wed in September 2012.
“They’re trying to keep their split top secret and away from the public,” a source told the website last week. “They’ve actually been separated for a while now.”
The news is widespread today, as documents obtained by People reveal Williams filed for divorce Tuesday, April 11.
The divorce petition said Williams is seeking joint physical custody of the couple’s two young children, 3-year-old daughter Sadie and 1-year-old son Maceo, according to TMZ. Williams also asked the court to deny his estranged wife spousal support.
Drake-Lee and Williams began dating before Williams hit it big as an actor. They met while Williams was a teacher in New York.
“She’s been with me through all different facets of my career,” Williams told USA Today in 2010. “She’s stuck with me through thick and thick and thick and thin. We know each other in and out.”
Williams, who is a known political activist who stands up against Black oppression, has also gone into business with Drake-Lee, developing the Ebroji GIF keyboard app that is meant to improve the way people from different backgrounds communicate.
Williams is keeping busy with his career and has reportedly been linked to actress Minka Kelly, as TMZ reported the two have been spotted hanging out on and off a film set in Paris during the last few months, where they’re also working on a video game.