Dumbfounding Hollywood Divorce

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

27 Mar 2008 12:01 PM

Yes, I know it's Hollywood. And yes, I know that most celebrities march to the beat of their own drummers. But you tell me if this isn't one of the most bizarre divorce situations in Tinseltown (or anywhere for that matter).

Kimora Lee Simmons officially filed for divorce from her estranged husband, rap mogul Russell Simmons, yesterday.

Nothing strange about that, right?

Not unless you consider that the couple initially split in March 2006. That's when Russell reportedly filed for divorce. Despite being served with papers that essentially told her that her husband felt he was better off without her, Kimora and the couple's two daughters, Ming, 8, and Aoki, 5 continued to live with the Def Jam Records co-founder under the same roof. At the time I mentioned that the massive size of their home could possibly accommodate this unconventional living situation without it being that big of a deal.

Then, this past summer Kimora told OK! Magazine that she and Russell were not divorced yet, and "who knows what will happen."

OH-kay.

The only problem with that statement is that it was made after Kimora had begun a romance with current boyfriend Djimon Hounsou.

Adding to the intrigue (or confusion) is the fact that just a few weeks ago the 32-year-old former model dodged rumors that she is expecting a Hounsou's baby.

Fast-forward to yesterday when Kimora filed divorce papers (no word on what happened to the original ones filed by Russell) asking for legal and physical custody of the pair's children. She also requested that her 50-year-old Phat Farm founder hubby be granted "reasonable child visitation," but that the girls "be accompanied at all times by the children's nanny and security personnel."

Did I mention that Russell Simmons is now dating a stunning, barely 20-something, yoga instructor?

Oh, and he just released a statement to TMZ.com, through his rep saying, "Although I haven't read the papers, I'm excited for closure on this issue."

So what's the deal here? Was there a clause in the couple's pre-nup that said a divorce could not proceed until Kimora found someone to replace her multi-millionaire hubby?

And I thought Brad Garrett and his wife had dibs on Hollywood's strangest split.

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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Libby Pelham (12965) 27 Mar 2008 12:25 PM

Maybe they were just waiting until they had enough money to get divorced or until she had enough to move out - LOL!

Michele Cheplic (37445) 27 Mar 2008 02:06 PM

I thought it might be b/c they are business partners and the money situation would have been messy to deal with but c'mon... I give it 2 months before she announces she is pregnant.