(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons/Wikimedia Commons)
BY LAUREN ZIMA
Earlier this week, they were spotted without their wedding rings. They spent Christmas 7,000 miles apart. Speculations ran rampant. By Friday, it’s confirmed: comedian Russell Brand and singer Katy Perry are heading for splitsville. Brand filed for divorce, and People magazine has his statement.
“‘Sadly, Katy and I are ending our marriage … I'll always adore her and I know we'll remain friends.’”
Perry has yet to release a statement, but TMZ reports on why Brand filed the papers, and not her.
“ …both Katy and Russell were on board with the divorce a few weeks ago … Since Katy's parents are evangelical Christians, we're told she didn't want to be the one to ‘officially’ end the marriage by filing the docs ... since she was raised to believe divorce is wrong.”
27-year-old Perry and 36-year-old Brand dated for just four months before getting engaged in December 2009. They married in India in October 2010. The Daily Mail says it was Perry’s partying that sent the two toward a split, because Brand is a self-proclaimed recovering drug and sex addict.
“If he had to turn up to support her at an awards ceremony, he would leave before the celebrations got going at the after-party … He never liked her friends such as the fun-loving singer Rihanna. … [he] disapproved strongly of [Perry’s] benders – such as a long day-into-night party in Rio earlier this year.”
The Today show adds that time apart sent the edgy couple over the edge.
NEIL SEAN: “Late October, they had a huge row over the fact that Russell wanted to travel and make more movies, and she continued with this world tour. Neither of them wanted to back down from this, and consequently -- it exploded. ... They will say they’re friends on the outside because they have a brand, for want of a better word, to protect. More Russell than Katy. People will take her side, but they’re [Brand and Perry] not too friendly.”
And, if things do get a little unfriendly, what’s at stake? Celebrity Dirty Laundry points out the couple doesn’t seem to have a pre-nup. In Brand’s filings, he requested that community property assets be determined.
“In non-legalese, that means that Russell and Katy will likely have to negotiate whether one of them will keep or whether they will jointly sell their assets, including their $6.5 million Hollywood home and $2.7 million New York penthouse.”
The site notes Brand even told the press last year they did not have a pre-nup, but …
“Still, we shouldn’t take the Get Him to the Greek‘s star word that the couple didn’t sign a prenuptial agreement. After all, this is the same man who only months ago said that he was happily married!”
According to Forbes, Perry’s net worth is about $44 million, while Brand’s is between $6 and $15 million, so Brand stands to gain in the break-up.
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