Some of The Biggest Celebrity Break-Ups

Foul Play

Shaquille O’Neal married Shaunie Nelson in December 2002. The couple almost called it quits in 2007, when the basketball star filed for divorce from Shaunie—who shares four children with Shaq—due to discrepancies with money. On November 10, 2009 Shaunie threw in the towel when she filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.

Waiting to Exhale

Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown got hitched in 1992. Brown was considered a bad boy and the marriage did not receive much public support. Rumors of the couple using drugs together fueled further distaste for their union. Whitney left Bobby in 2006 and divorced him in 2007.

Heart Beats to Heartbreak

Producer and rapper Swizz Beats married singer Mashonda in 2004. The two, who have a son together, Kaseem Jr., decided to part ways in April 2009 and in May 2009 Swizz Beats admitted to being in a relationship with Alicia Keys. Whether Swizz and Keys were together while the married couple were breaking up is not confirmed.

Fatal Addiction

Halle Berry and singer Eric Benet seemed like a match made to last when they wed in 2001. While they were married, Benet revealed that he was a sex addict. The couple separated in 2003 and eventually divorced in 2005.

Unbreak My Heart

Toni Braxton and Keri Lewis (formerly of Mint Condition) were married in December 2001. The couple recently announced they were no more, leaving speculators to suspect that Braxton’s sultry kiss with singer Trey Songz at the 2009 Soul Train Awards may have brought these lovers-on-the-rocks to a crash.

Royal Flush

The King of Pop married the daughter of the King of Rock n Roll, Lisa Marie Presley in 1994. While together, questions were raised concerning the validity of the arrangement. The two split less than two years later in January 1996. The couple remained friendly and Presley has spoken kindly of Jackson since his death in June 2009.

Phat Chance

Kimora Lee married Russell Simmons in December 1998. The couple separated in March 2006 and rumors of Russell’s infidelity spread. In March 2008, Kimora officially filed for a divorce. By then she was already dating her current beau, Djimon Hounsou.

Let it Burn

Usher married Tameka Foster in August 2007. Just two years later he filed for divorce from Tameka, who gave birth to their second son last December. During their short marriage, critics claimed that Foster, eight years Usher’s senior, was controlling Usher.

Low Blow

Robin Givens and Mike Tyson tied the knot in February 1988. On Valentine’s day, one year later, Givens and Tyson parted ways. Givens claimed Tyson was abusive toward her and Tyson alleged Givens was a gold digger.

Milkshake Meltdown

Nas and Kelis were hip-hop’s dynamic duo. The two wed in 2005, sporting matching gold grills and Kelis gave birth to a son in January 2009. The couple filed for divorce in April 2009.

Split Styles

Hip-hop entrepreneur Damon Dash married fashion designer Rachel Roy in January 2005. Four years later, in March 2009, Roy filed for a divorce. The couple have two daughters together, Ava and Tallulah.

Tropical Storm

Actress Lisa-Raye McKoy became the first lady of the Turks and Caicos Islands in 2006 when she married the island country’s then Premier Michael Misick. Shortly thereafter trouble rose in paradise and the two parted ways in August 2008.

Turn Your Love Around

Tina Turner married bandmate Ike Turner in Mexico in 1962. Theirs was a volatile relationship and Tina ended it when she escaped from one of their violent episodes in 1976. The couple officially divorced in 1978.