After months of living apart, Vanessa Long has finally decided to file for divorce from her husband, Bishop Eddie Long, who recently settled several civil lawsuits that alleged he forced young men to have sex with him.

Several months ago, Eddie Long settled civil lawsuits with four young men who claimed that Long coerced them into having sex with him, according to a recent report from the International Business Times.

Long did not face criminal charges for the alleged sexual abuse because the age of sexual consent in his home state of Georgia is 16, and the boys who accused him of wrongful conduct were all 17 or 18 years old.

The scandal struck Long particularly hard because he has publicly held strongly anti-gay opinions for a number of years. Long is also an influential church leader, as his congregation has grown to roughly 20,000 people since he started New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Georgia, in 1987.

After the scandal first struck, Vanessa Long stayed in the background, and sources were not sure whether she would eventually leave her straying husband.

Despite her silence on the matter, Vanessa and Eddie have apparently been living in a “bona fide state of separation,” according to court documents filed last week in DeKalb Superior Court.

The decision, though, does not seem to have been simple for Vanessa. On Thursday, Vanessa Long officially filed her divorce petition with the court. By the next day, however, she seemed to have changed her tune.

On the day after filing for divorce, Vanessa Long released a curious statement through Eddie Long’s church that she had decided not to get a divorce, after all.

However, later that same day, Vanessa Long released another statement saying she had decided that “the dismissal of her divorce petition is not appropriate at this time.” This tangled phrase, of course, means that Vanessa Long has decided to proceed with the divorce.

The divorce may be particularly difficult because the couple have been together for more than two decades. Eddie and Vanessa Long married in 1990, just three years after he started his church.

Vanessa was Eddie’s second wife, as he had previously been married to Dabara Houson, who accused him in her 1985 divorce petition of beating her while she was pregnant. Again, though, Eddie Long did not face a criminal conviction for these accusations.

If all the allegations are true—including the sexual abuse claims and the alleged spousal abuse—Eddie Long seems to have more lives than the average American church leader.

Of course, despite all the claims, Eddie Long must retain a certain charm. Even in the wake of recent events, Vanessa Long recently saw fit to say, “I love my husband. I believe in him and admire his strength, and courage.”

Copyright © 2010 TotalDivorce, LLC. (as licensee). All rights reserved.

Hulk Hogan was an incredibly intimidating force inside the wrestling ring, but he recently discovered that both parties in a divorce are treated equally in the eyes of divorce laws.

Alas, in divorce court, Hulk Hogan’s ex-wife, Linda Bollea, proved impervious to any form of intimidation, and walked away from the couple’s separation with a more than $7 million, according to a report from the gumshoes at the St. Petersburg Times.

In recent years, the couple has been embroiled in a very public divorce, which was fueled by their recent reality television show that revealed intimate details of the couple’s married life.

Their divorce proceeding was marred by sordid accusations, as Hulk Hogan was accused of being a philanderer, and Linda Bollea was accused of preying on significantly younger men.

Unfortunately for Hulk Hogan, the divorce court seemed to feel more sympathetic towards Bollea, who reportedly received up to 70 percent of the couple’s liquid assets.

All told, Linda walked away from the divorce with several million dollars from the couple’s “bank and investment accounts,” $3 million in a so-called “property settlement,” four different luxury vehicles, and a 40 percent ownership stake in Hulk Hogan’s multiple companies.

The luxury vehicles are no small award, as they reportedly consist of a Mercedes-Benz, a Corvette, a Cadillac Escalade, and the vehicle of the proletariat, a shiny Rolls-Royce. Linda also took several off-road vehicles off her husband’s hands.

To be fair, the divorce settlement wasn’t a total loss for Hulk Hogan. The former professional wrestler with the iconic facial hair received roughly $3 million from his ex-wife’s accounts, is not responsible for making alimony payments, and will be allowed to keep any proceeds he earns from book sales and personal appearances.

In addition, Hulk Hogan was also able to keep several of the couple’s other luxury cars. It seems the couple took their transportation very seriously.

While he did not leave the divorce empty-handed, Hulk Hogan still seemed to be bitter about the toll of the divorce, which occurred in 2009.

The day after the divorce filing became public, Hulk Hogan graphically tweeted that he was glad “any negative or blood sucking vampires are dead and gone in my [new] life.”

If these words are indeed directed towards his ex-wife, it’s little wonder that the couple’s marriage ended so bitterly. Fortunately, though, the couple was finally able to reach a mutually agreeable resolution, allowing them to move on with their lives.

Interestingly, sources indicate that the divorce was finalized a few years ago, but the details of the divorce settlement were only recently discovered by the St. Petersburg Times.

The details of the settlement were supposed to be confidential, but were revealed when one party filed a new court motion with information about the settlement attached.

Copyright © 2010 TotalDivorce, LLC. (as licensee). All rights reserved.

Former Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn, who graced the cover of multiple sports and news magazines during the Winter Olympic Games in 2010, recently filed for divorce from her husband of a few years.

According to a report on ESPN.com, Vonn will keep her married name because she is now internationally recognized as Lindsey Vonn, rather than by her maiden name, Lindsey Kildow.

The 27-year-old Vonn became famous for her good looks and death-defying maneuvers on the slopes. She was recognized for her successful Olympics this summer when she won the award for the best female athlete at ESPN’s annual ESPY Awards.

Sources indicate that Vonn and her husband, Thomas Vonn, were married in September 2007. Their relationship captured some media attention because Thomas was her “chief advisor” in both athletic and financial matters.

Thomas Vonn, in fact, was a former Olympic skier, as well, though he is nine years older than Lindsey. This age difference between Thomas and Lindsey allegedly caused a rift between Lindsey and her father, who coordinated her schedule until 2006 when the father and daughter separated from each other.

In her father’s stead, Lindsey turned towards Thomas for professional and athletic advice. Sources indicate that Thomas provided much-needed help for Lindsey, as he helped coordinate interviews, handled logistics, and offered skiing tips for the young athlete.

Thanks in part to Thomas’s steadying influence, Lindsey experienced the most fruitful period of her skiing career. Between 2007 and 2010, Lindsey won three overall World Cup titles and had 42 total World Cup wins.

In the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, Lindsey overcame a badly bruised shin to win a gold medal in downhill event and a bronze medal in the super-G competition.

After the Olympics, Lindsey became one of the few Olympic athletes who was able to turn athletic achievements into broad commercial success.

Typically, Olympic athletes fade from the public eye soon after the games are over, but Lindsey Vonn parlayed her athletic achievements into several valuable endorsement deals and became a legitimate national celebrity.

Observers are concerned that the loss of Thomas’s influence will hurt Lindsey’s career, but she remains confident in her ability and has pledged to continue training with the U.S. National Team.

In addition to the divorce, though, Lindsey faces plenty of challenges on her journey towards the 2014 Olympics. Sources indicate that she is currently dealing with a nagging lower back injury, which has kept her out of recent skiing events.

Nevertheless, Lindsey Vonn is hopeful for the future, and she certainly has the talent to overcome the separation from her friend and mentor.

For her part, Vonn is looking forward to handing her concerns over to her divorce lawyer and focusing on honing her skills on the slopes.

Copyright © 2010 TotalDivorce, LLC. (as licensee). All rights reserved.

Years ago, Ruben Studdard won over Americans after a sterling performance on the second season of American Idol. Today, though, Studdard received a bit of negative publicity after sources revealed that he was filing for divorce from his wife of three years, Zuri McCants.

The Daily Mail recently reported that Studdard and his wife filed for divorce in their home state of Alabama due to “irreconcilable differences.”

In an official statement released by Studdard’s legal team, his divorce attorney said that “Ruben Studdard and Zuri McCants Studdard have separated, and they are in the process of seeking a dissolution of their marriage.”

Studdard, who defeated Clay Aiken to win the second series of the popular music competition, had dated McCants for two years before marrying her in June 2008 at Caterbury United Methodist Church in Birmingham, Alabama.

The wedding was a major event in the sleepy Alabama town, as international media converged on the festivities. Studdard, no stranger to size, also livened up the event by including 20 groomsmen in the massive affair.

While the couple goes through this difficult time, Studdard will likely have no problem finding new suitors. The 33-year-old German-born pop star earned the nickname “Velvet Teddy Bear” for his smooth vocals and portly physique.

Since narrowly winning American Idol by just 134,000 votes (out of more than 24 million total votes cast), Studdard has released millions of albums, earned millions of dollars, and been nominated for a Grammy.

Studdard and Aiken were also credited with launching American Idol to the heights it has reached today, as the show holds a lofty place in the pantheon of reality television shows in the United States.

The photogenic pairing between the large, gregarious Studdard and the waif-like Aiken captured the nation’s imagination during their several months on the small screen.

And, while Studdard gained national fame after his performance on the reality show, the residents of Birmingham may hold him in higher esteem than others across the country.

Despite the premature end to his marriage, Studdard plans to honor his commitment this week to a series of events in Birmingham aimed at raising money for his charitable foundation, which was created for the advancement of children in the musical arts.

According to the website for Studdard’s foundation, his charity was built in response to budget cuts across the country that have minimized or eliminated music programs at primary and secondary schools.

The foundation’s website says that it “aims to promote the essential role of the arts in education through learning initiatives for the development of students in the Birmingham Area.”

Thus, while his national reputation may take a minor hit, the recent divorce will likely do little to dampen the support of people in Birmingham.

Copyright © 2010 TotalDivorce, LLC. (as licensee). All rights reserved.

Popular celebrity couple Zooey Deschanel and Ben Gibbard were recently discovered to be filing for divorce, but sources indicate that their split is amicable and that the singer and actress plan to remain friends.

According to a recent report from MTV.com, Deschanel and Gibbard have announced their separation after two years of marriage.

Sources indicate that the divorce was mutually beneficial for both parties and was amicable. Moreover, there was reportedly no third party involved in the couple’s decision to split.

The couple was a match made in heaven for fans of independent music and movies. Gibbard is the longtime lead singer for Death Cab for Cutie, and has also released music from solo projects as well as brief tenures with other bands.

Deschanel is also a singer and songwriter, though she may be better known for her frequent roles in independent films. She recently stepped into the mainstream with her new FOX sitcom, “New Girl.”

Sources indicate that the couple had recently been very busy, with Deschanel’s work on her fledgling sitcom, and Gibbard’s preoccupation with the release of Death Cab for Cutie’s seventh studio album, titled “Codes and Keys.”

The couple had a charming introductory meeting, as Gibbard once told New York magazine that he was “awestruck that she was even talking to me.” They were introduced to each other three years ago by their mutual manager.

Gibbard, for his part, certainly nailed the proposal, as gave Deschanel a three-carat diamond and platinum Neil Lane ring as gifts after just a year of dating. The couple married in September, 2009, in Seattle.

Reports of their divorce do not discuss a potential alimony settlement, which may not be necessary because both parties seem to be financially independent.

In addition, the couple did not have children, so they will not have to worry about coming to an agreement about child custody.

Their divorce, though, has saddened fans of the successful artists, as their marriage seemed to hold more promise than the typical celebrity union.

As with many celebrity divorces, though, the challenges inherent in staying together despite hectic travel and work schedules may ultimately have proved too difficult for the couple to overcome.

Still, Deschanel and Gibbard have handled their divorce with plenty of class, which offers a stark contrast to the publicly messy splits often fostered by disgruntled celebrity couples. Fans will be interested to see if the artists’ future songs incorporate themes from their fractured relationship.

Copyright © 2010 TotalDivorce, LLC. (as licensee). All rights reserved.

As rumors continue to swirl that Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore are considering filing for divorce, an opportunistic reality television show is seeking to profit from the couple’s allegedly struggling marriage.

Gossip magazines have claimed for weeks that Kutcher’s wandering ways have threatened the celebrity couple’s marriage, but Kutcher recently denied these allegations.

Specifically, US Weekly reported that Kutcher had a brief affair with Sara Leal, who told the magazine that the rumors of their fling were true. In addition, the magazine recently shot photos of Kutcher in which he was not wearing his wedding ring.

While Kutcher and Moore continue to shun the media’s interview requests, the producers of a new reality television show, “Divorce Hotel,” have extended an invitation to the famous couple.

According to the New York Post, the new reality show offers couples a quick, painless divorce while they stay at a lavish hotel. Of course, the proceedings would be filmed and broadcast to a wide audience.

In a letter to Kutcher and Moore, the creator of the show, Jim Halfens, explained that “[w]e execute clean, cost-effective divorces in as few as 2 1/2 days by streamlining the process with an on-site team of attorneys, counselors, and mediators.”

The show is based on a real-life service that first gained popularity in the Netherlands. In exchange for the services of on-site divorce experts, and a weekend stay at a five-star resort, divorcing couples pay about $3,500.

The reality show saw that these services were starting to be offered in the United States, and saw a golden opportunity to exploit these expedited divorces for television purposes.

Critics, however, of both the show and the practice observe that jiffy divorces do not offer enough time or expertise to adequately decide the fate of children in a divorce. In particular, child custody issues often take longer than a weekend to decide.

However, according to the producers of the reality show, Kutcher and Moore would be perfect candidates for a speedy divorce because they do not have children, and they each entered the marriage with independent assets, which reduces the odds of a messy alimony dispute.

In addition, producers of the show believe that the couple wants to remain amicable after the divorce, but also want a speedy resolution. Apparently, a quick divorce at a five-star hotel is best designed for couples who wish to remain friendly.

Recent years have seen a flood of reality shows that depict marriages, births, and other intimate family moments. It seems only natural that a savvy television producer latched onto divorce as a promising television topic.

For most couples, however, divorce should be taken a bit more seriously, or at least given more thought than a weekend’s worth of negotiations at a luxury hotel.

Copyright © 2010 TotalDivorce, LLC. (as licensee). All rights reserved.

News broke today that reality starlet Kim Kardashian is filing for divorce from her husband Kris Humphries after only 72 days of marriage. Celebrity gossip site TMZ broke the news, which was confirmed via Twitter by Ryan Seacrest, who produces Kim’s high-rated E! reality show.

Despite the short length of the marriage, Kardashian is reportedly not seeking an annulment. Kardashian’s divorce petition cited irreconcilable difference. The petition requests that each parties pays for their own divorce attorney fees, and asks the court to reject any claims by Humphries for spousal support.

Kardashian and Humphries were married August 20 of this year in a lavish ceremony that reportedly cost $10 million, including a reported $2 million engagement ring.

According to TMZ, one cause for the split may be due to Humphries’ desire to move back to his home state of Minnesota, a proposal that Hollywood darling Kardashian adamantly opposed. A preview for the upcoming season of “Kourtney & Kim Take New York”, which features the short-lived marriage, highlights this dispute with Kim asking her husband how she can maintain her celebrity status while living in Minnesota. His response: “By the time you have kids and they’re in school, nobody will probably care about you.”

Prior to becoming tabloid fodder, Humphries was best-known for his seven-year career with the NBA, most recently playing with the New Jersey Nets, where he averaged double-digits points and rebounds. At the end of the 2010-2011 season, he became an unrestricted free agent, but has been unable to play due to the lockout between NBA players and the league.

Kardashian is best known for starring in a string of reality TV shows for the E! channel.

Copyright © 2010 TotalDivorce, LLC. (as licensee). All rights reserved.

In a divorce settlement, former couples usually divvy up assets like cars, homes, and jewelry. Beyond these physical items, they may also determine which parent will have primary custody over the couple’s children.

Rarely, though, does the ownership of a professional sports team hinge on the outcome of a divorce agreement. Such a high-stakes decision, however, was recently made in a divorce involving the owners of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.

Frank and Jamie McCourt, who bought the Dodgers in 2004 and ushered in a brief period of success for the franchise, recently settled a bitter divorce that had provided juicy fodder for local media outlets for several months.

According to the Los Angeles Times, under the terms of the divorce agreement, Jamie McCourt will receive an alimony payment of roughly $130 million, but she will agree to relinquish all of her control over the Dodgers.

Observers claim that the divorce was the most expensive separation in California history, with both sides accruing more than $20 million in legal fees alone. Sources estimate that a protracted battle over ownership of the Dodgers would have added more than $14 million in legal costs.

By retaining ownership of the team, Frank McCourt may be able to prevent a U.S. bankruptcy court from selling his franchise to someone else.

The Dodgers have spent the past year in a highly publicized dispute in bankruptcy court over the rightful ownership of the team. Bud Selig, the commissioner of Major League Baseball, is fighting for the court to sell the team to new ownership.

Before their newly minted settlement, Frank and Jamie McCourt had disagreed over the future of the franchise, with Jamie arguing that the team should be sold to pay off the couple’s various debts.

Now that Jamie McCourt no longer has a say in the team’s activities, Frank McCourt believes that he may be able to convince the bankruptcy court to allow him to keep the team.

In court documents, Jamie publicly aired details of the McCourts’ lavish lifestyles, which were partially funded by Dodgers fans.

She claimed that the couple had a combined salary of more than $7 million a year, and had used earnings from the team to buy two homes worth $46 million in Malibu, and two homes near the infamous Playboy Mansion worth $27 million.

The couple also bought properties in Colorado, Montana, Massachusetts, and Mexico, took private jets on international flights, and received house calls from hairdressers and makeup artists.

These massive expenses have outraged Dodgers fans, who believed that the owners were neglecting their duties to invest the team’s profits in baseball players and facilities.

Despite the embarrassing publicity surrounding the divorce, and the loss of her stake in the team, Jamie McCourt will likely be comforted by the $130 million settlement she received after the divorce.

Copyright © 2010 TotalDivorce, LLC. (as licensee). All rights reserved.

Since he joined the Boston Red Sox two years ago with high expectations and an inflated salary, pitcher John Lackey has consistently drawn criticism from Red Sox fans unhappy with his play.

This criticism is not undeserved. During the last baseball season, Lackey set a team record for having the highest earned run average for any Red Sox pitcher who threw more than 150 innings in a season.

A recent personal decision by Lackey, though, has drawn further ire from Bostonians, who have lost no love for the lanky pitcher.

According to a report from TMZ, Lackey recently filed for divorce from his wife, Krista.

Pro athletes and other celebrities frequently have their personal relationships make headlines, but this divorce has garnered an unusual amount of publicity because Krista Lackey was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.

TMZ reported that Lackey filed for divorce in late August in his native state of Texas. The documents claimed that “the marriage has become insupportable because of discord or conflict of personalities.”

Taking a cue from other celebrities, like Tony Parker and Eva Longoria or Sandra Bullock and Jesse James, Lackey discretely filed the divorce papers using his and Krista’s initials, not their full names.

This tactic, however, seemed to have failed, as Lackey soon received text messages from local reporters about the matter thirty minutes before a recent game.

After the game, Lackey expressed his displeasure during a press conference, saying that such inquiries were inappropriate in a sports setting, and that the reporter’s questions were “over the line.”

While the questions may not have been made in the proper course of sports journalism, the Red Sox felt compelled to issue a statement addressing the matter.

The team said that Lackey is currently struggling through a “deeply personal family issue,” and requested that the pitcher’s “privacy be respected.” The team’s statement also observed that the issue was “not appropriate for public debate.”

Lackey and his wife were married in November of 2008, and they do not have any children, so they will not have to worry about custody issues during the divorce.

Some observers claim that Krista Lackey played a key role in convincing her husband to sign with the Red Sox, since she had grown up in nearby Maine and had attended college in New Hampshire.

The public outcry surrounding his divorce adds to a season of disappointment for Lackey. Not only did he personally struggle as a pitcher, the Red Sox suffered an epic collapse in September, losing the wild card playoff spot to the Tampa Bay Rays on the final day of the regular season.

It may be assumed that Lackey is looking forward to a quiet off-season, free from media questioning on topics related to baseball and his personal life.

Copyright © 2010 TotalDivorce, LLC. (as licensee). All rights reserved.

Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a man with a resume longer than a cyborg’s memory, has promised to regale readers with details of his divorce with his celebrity wife, Maria Shriver.

And, while this move seems to be about as necessary as the filming of “Terminator Salvation,” the book may reveal interesting nuggets about the divorce that dominated the news cycle for several weeks earlier this year.

According to the Christian Science Monitor, the publisher Simon and Schuster recently announced that it will release Schwarzenegger’s memoir in the fall of 2012. The book is delightfully titled “Total Recall: My Unbelievable True Life Story.”

In statement that reveals the publisher’s high hopes for the book, Jonathan Karp of Simon & Schuster remarked that no other person “has a life story even close to his. Truly, Arnold is one of the most fascinating figures of our time.”

The most interesting pieces of the book may relate to the former governor’s high-profile divorce.

Immediately after Schwarzenegger finished his second term as governor, news reports announced that he had fathered a son with one of the family’s maids. The child was born more than 14 years ago.

The news was even more salacious in light of the fact that the maid’s son is about the same as a son fathered by Schwarzenegger and his wife, Maria Shriver, who is known as a journalist, philanthropist, and member of the fabled Kennedy family.

After learning this news, a devastated Shriver filed for divorce, ending her unlikely marriage with the former weightlifting champion after being together for 25 years.

Rumors of infidelity had long plagued the marriage, but Schwarzenegger and Shriver had much to gain from preserving their unlikely alliance.

The couple’s relationship had been a bizarre match from the start. Schwarzenegger, an inarticulate yet charming muscleman, and Shriver, a well-bred member of America’s most elite family, seemed a strange fit.

But the couple ended up becoming a political powerhouse, especially after Schwarzenegger rose to prominence as the leader of the country’s most populous state.

Now, the five-time Mr. Universe, seven-time Mr. Olympia, former Austrian bodybuilder, and recurring action movie star is taking another turn at authorship.

The upcoming memoir is just the latest in a series of memoirs that Schwarzenegger has published. Previously, he has written books such as “Arnold’s Bodybuilding for Men,” “The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding,” and the modestly titled best-seller, “Arnold.”

Also, the emotional divorce process and rigors of writing a memoir have not sapped Schwarzenegger’s remarkable energy.

He has returned to acting and is currently shooting scenes for his next movie, “The Expendables 2,” which also stars Sylvester Stallone, an aging action star who has gracefully avoided entering politics.

And, in good news for fans of the “Terminator” franchise, Schwarzenegger is planning to film a fifth installment of the popular films.

Copyright © 2010 TotalDivorce, LLC. (as licensee). All rights reserved.