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Home • News

Boy, Bye! 19 Famous Women Who Filed for Divorce First

Deciding to end a marriage is a tough decision to make, but when it has to be done, someone has to make the first move. From Mary to Tichina and Juanita to Whitney--here are 19 celebrity woman who pulled the plug on their marriage first.
By Lauren Porter · Updated October 27, 2020
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01
Mary J. Blige

News of Mary J. Blige and Kendu Isaacs divorce has us all sad but the singer decided she wanted “No More Drama” and filed first to end their 12-year marriage.

 

Boy, Bye! 19 Famous Women Who Filed for Divorce First
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02
Amber Rose

Amber Rose and her ex Wiz Khalifa are proof that some people are better off as friends because after she filed for divorce in 2014, the two have remained close for the sake of their son and their love for each other. 

 

Boy, Bye! 19 Famous Women Who Filed for Divorce First
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03
Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston’s marriage to Bobby Brown and riddled with horrible headlines in the later years and their tumultuous union finally ended in 2008.

 

Boy, Bye! 19 Famous Women Who Filed for Divorce First
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04
Paula Patton

No one saw the split coming between Paula Patton and her longtime love singer Robin Thicke. But when enough was enough, the actress filed for divorce. 

 

Boy, Bye! 19 Famous Women Who Filed for Divorce First
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05
Kimora Lee Simmons

Kimora Lee Simmons and her marriage to Russell Simmons was the birth of a Baby Phat empire but sadly the two couldn’t make it work. She supermodel filed for divorce in 2008.

 

Boy, Bye! 19 Famous Women Who Filed for Divorce First

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06
Cynthia Bailey

The Real Housewives of Atlanta star has had enough with her marriage from Peter Thomas. The former model filed for divorce after a long separation. 

 

Boy, Bye! 19 Famous Women Who Filed for Divorce First
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07
Sherri Shepherd

The View co-host and her husband Lamar Sally have had a very long and messy break up but the actress and comedienne took the first step in calling quits on their marriage. 

 

Boy, Bye! 19 Famous Women Who Filed for Divorce First
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08
Yaya DaCosta

Actress and model YaYa DaCosta filed for divorce from her husband of 2 years. 

 

Boy, Bye! 19 Famous Women Who Filed for Divorce First
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09
Evelyn Lozada

Evelyn Lozada and Chad Ochocinco’s marriage didn’t last very long. The reality star filed for divorce after a domestic dispute that was highly publicized.

 

Boy, Bye! 19 Famous Women Who Filed for Divorce First
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10
NeNe Leakes

The Real Housewives of Atlanta star filed her divorce from her husband but their separation didn’t last long. The two eventually kissed and made up and even remarried…each other. 

 

Boy, Bye! 19 Famous Women Who Filed for Divorce First
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11
Phaedra Parks

The Real Housewives of Atlanta star filed for divorce from her husband Apollo Nida, who is currently serving an 8 year sentence for bank fraud. The lawyer and mother of two said she plans on dating again but won’t do so until their marriage is officially and legally over. 

 

Boy, Bye! 19 Famous Women Who Filed for Divorce First
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12
Tina Knowles

Mama Tina hit Matthew with divorce papers after almost 30 years of marriage. The mother of two found love again and is truly living her best love life with husband Richard Lawson. 

 

Boy, Bye! 19 Famous Women Who Filed for Divorce First
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13
Kelis

Kelis’ milkshake might have brought Nas to her yard but sadly their marriage didn’t make it. After 4 years, the two went their separate ways for good. 

 

Boy, Bye! 19 Famous Women Who Filed for Divorce First
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14
Shaunie O’Neal

After years of marriage to NBA star Shaquille O’Neal, Basketball Wives reality star Shaunie O’Neal filed for divorce from her Hall of Famer hubby. 

 

Boy, Bye! 19 Famous Women Who Filed for Divorce First
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15
Gabrielle Union

The Being Mary Jane actress filed for divorce in her first marriage to former NFL star Chris Howard. Fortunately, Union found the love of her life in now hubby Dwyane Wade and she is living happily ever after. 

 

Boy, Bye! 19 Famous Women Who Filed for Divorce First
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16
Halle Berry

Halle Berry and her marriage to R&B singer Eric Benet was a fairy tale but it didn’t have a happy ending. The Oscar winning actress filed for divorce after learning the “Spend My Life with You” crooner had been unfaithful. 

Boy, Bye! 19 Famous Women Who Filed for Divorce First
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17
Juanita Jordan

Being married to the greatest basketball player of all time was full of ups and downs and it prompted Juanita Jordan to file for divorce in 2002. The couple eventually reconciled before making their split official in 2006. 

 

Boy, Bye! 19 Famous Women Who Filed for Divorce First
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18
Tichina Arnold

Finding out her husband cheated was the last straw for Survivor’s Remorse star Tichina Arnold. She filed after discovery of his infidelity. 

 

Boy, Bye! 19 Famous Women Who Filed for Divorce First
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19
Toya Wright

Toya and her hubby Memphitz tried time and time again to repair their marriage but nothing worked. The reality star finally put her foot down and filed. 

 

Boy, Bye! 19 Famous Women Who Filed for Divorce First
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