LOS ANGELES, USA – Tina Knowles, mother of pop superstar Beyoncé, has filed for divorce from her husband, actor Richard Lawson, after eight years of marriage.
According to documents obtained by Us Weekly, Knowles, 69, submitted the legal paperwork on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, a day following their listed date of separation.
Knowles seeks to dissolve her marriage to Lawson, 76, citing irreconcilable differences.
The couple first exchanged vows in 2015 in an intimate ceremony aboard a 140-foot yacht in Newport, California.
Knowles’ daughters, Beyoncé and Solange, were in attendance, and Beyoncé’s husband, Jay-Z, and their eldest daughter, Blue Ivy.
Lawson had previously shared their love story on Instagram, declaring that their connection started 39 years ago when they first met.
“I thought you were among the most beautiful women I had ever met. Breathtaking.!!” he wrote. “The thing that was so striking was that your beauty continued to be enhanced by your incredible heart, compassion, empathy, generosity, and philanthropy.”
Referring to the many roles Tina Knowles plays, he hailed her as a revolutionary, visionary, incredible artist, fashion icon, leader, cultural beacon, and a nurturing figure to women globally. Lawson also expressed gratitude for having her as his wife.
In response to Lawson’s heartfelt tribute, Knowles had commented, “Thank God it worked out ❤️ PERIOD.”
Before marrying Lawson, Tina Knowles was married to Mathew Knowles, father of Beyoncé and Solange, from 1980 to 2011. Their three-decade-long union officially ended in August 2011.
“The decision to end our marriage is an amicable one. We remain friends, parents and business partners,” the former couple said in a statement to the Associated Press at the time.
The news of the divorce surprises fans who have followed the couple’s publicly affectionate relationship over the years.
Neither Tina Knowles nor Richard Lawson have yet to comment on the impending divorce.
