September 14, 2006

Whitney Houston Files For Divorce From Bobby Brown

By Jennifer Vineyard (MTV.com)

Whitney Houston has initiated divorce proceedings against her husband Bobby Brown, according to Houston's spokesperson.

"She filed for divorce," Nancy Seltzer told MTV News. "It's a simple legal technicality. The papers begin as a legal separation, which automatically become divorce papers in October."

Houston and Brown were married for 14 years, weathering jail sentences, alleged abuse, rehab stints and more than one rumored affair. They appeared together on the reality show "Being Bobby Brown" last year and at each other's sides after Brown was charged with misdemeanor battery for allegedly hitting Houston in December 2003.

But rumors began circulating yet again in January that their marriage was in trouble, with reports most recently linking Brown to Karrine Steffans, author of "Confessions of a Video Vixen," who had already claimed in her book to have had a six-month affair with Brown in 2002. Brown began speaking out against the rumors, most recently in Vibe magazine, the latest issue of which features him on the cover with the quote, "Don't tell me nothing about my wife, 'cause I will hurt you."

"What's important is that we love each other," Brown told People magazine in January. "It doesn't matter what people say. They want to try to break us down anyway. That's not for us. We're here, and we're gonna be together for a long time, so people can expect us to stay together. ... I'm with my wife for the duration - and that's life."

The couple have one daughter together, 13-year-old Bobbi Kristina. Brown's 15-year-old son Bobby Jr., 17-year-old daughter La Princia and 19-year-old son Landon are from previous relationships.