Chris Rock has filed for divorce after being married to his wife, Malaak Compton-Rock, for 19 years. The comedian is known for joking about marriage during his standup performances, but so far he is not sharing the reason for the breakdown in his relationship.

CNN reports that Rock’s representative said in a statement that “[t]his is a personal matter and Chris requests privacy as he and Malaak work through this process and focus on their family.”

Chris and Malaak have two girls, 12 year old Lola Simone and 10 year old Zahra Savannah.

Malaak is Malaak Compton-Rock, the mother of Rock’s two girls, 12-year-old Lola Simone and 10 year-old Zahra Savannah. According People, Malaak made a statement saying that “[a]fter much contemplation and 19 years of marriage, Chris and I have decided to go our separate ways.” She further stated “[m]y 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.”

But things may not go smoothly in the divorce. Rock has asked for joint and equal physical and legal custody of his daughters. The paperwork he filed with the Superior Court of New Jersey makes allegations that Malaak has kept his daughters away from him during the time they have been separated. Further, Rock alleges that Malaak has “acted in a manner detrimental to the children’s best interests.”

We will continue to monitor the Rock divorce and the potential child custody battle that seems to be brewing. If you are facing divorce or you have other family law needs, our legal team is here to help. Contact the Men’s Divorce Law Firm to schedule a consultation with a caring professional, and aggressive advocate for men’s rights in divorce, child timesharing (custody), and paternity matters.