Chris Rock, wife Malaak Compton-Rock ending nearly 20-year marriage

Chris Rock and wife Malaak Compton-Rock are ending their nearly 20-year marriage.

“Chris Rock has filed for divorce from his wife, Malaak,” his rep said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times on Monday. “This is a personal matter and Chris requests privacy as he and Malaak work through this process and focus on their family.”

The “Top Five” star’s wife first announced the split via People magazine, releasing a statement on Sunday that she and the comedian “have decided to go our separate ways.”

“Being fortunate enough to lead a life of service by working with those most vulnerable makes me well aware of life’s blessings, even when faced with difficulties,” said the founder of nonprofits Angelrock Project and styleWorks. “While recognizing that this is a significant change, my children remain at the center of my life and their well-being is my top priority. It is in this spirit that I sincerely ask that their privacy and the privacy of our family be respected during this transition in our lives.”

Rock, 49, and Compton wed in 1996 and have two daughters together: Lola Simone, 12, and Zahra Savannah, 10.

Back in 2006, Rock had divorce papers drawn up but didn’t file them because he and his wife worked out their issues, TMZ reported.

A few years later, the funnyman was embroiled in a paternity scandal when a Hungarian model claimed that he had fathered her child out of wedlock. DNA tests proved otherwise but the saga played out in 2008 during private investigator Anthony Pellicano’s wiretapping trial, as well as in a civil lawsuit unsealed in 2009.

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