Denzel Washington Denies Rumors Of Divorce From Wife Pauletta Washington

Denzel Washington had to issue a statement denying reports that he and his wife of thirty years, Pauletta Washington, were divorcing.

Star magazine reported the news of trouble in paradise for Washington and his wife, citing a source close to the couple that says Washington has a history of infidelity. The source goes on to state that, Pauletta has decided that enough is enough after a recent incident where Washington was allegedly pictured “looking cozy with a pretty blonde at a house party near their Beverly Hills home."

“A reconciliation seems unlikely,” writes Star.

The tabloid also claimed that Pauletta had moved to New York to consider the possibility of divorce. The rumors barely had time to circulate before Washington’s rep stepped in to set the record straight. “They are not divorcing, not separating,” a rep for the Oscar-winning actor said.

This is not the first time Washington has been accused of cheating on his wife. After co-staring with Sanaa Lathan in 2003’s Out of Time, rumors arose that Washington and Lathan had engaged in a full-blown affair. Both actors denied that anything inappropriate took place.

“[The rumor] got started because the movie had a love scene with Denzel, and people took that and translated it to real life… It’s frustrating. People are going to talk no matter what,” Lathan told Vibe magazine in a 2006 interview.

Washington and his wife recently revealed the secret to their successful 30-year marriage in the August issue of Ebony. “There’s no magical mystery to [staying together]… We go through up and downs like any couple,” Washington said.

Pauletta added that their marriage is strong, and emphasized her loyalty to her husband, saying, “I live with this man. I see the down part. I see the sad part. I see every part. He has and knows he has that stability in me as his wife. That gives him strength, regardless of if he misuses it. I can’t dwell on that. But I do know that gives him a great platform to go and fly.”

– Olivia Truffaut-Wong