After almost 20 years of marriage, Chris Rock and his wife are breaking up.
Rock's publicist, Leslie Sloane, told USA TODAY: "Chris Rock has filed for divorce from his wife, Malaak. This is a personal matter and Chris requests privacy as he and Malaak work through this process and focus on their family."
Rock's lawyer, Robert S. Cohen, confirmed the news.
Malaak Compton-Rock issued a statement about the split to People: "After much contemplation and 19 years of marriage, Chris and I have decided to go our separate ways ... 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-Rock, 45, wed in 1996. The couple have two daughters: Lola, 12, and Zahra, 10.
