Malaak Compton-Rock Speaks Out About She And Chris Rock’s Alleged Third Child

Chris Rock and wife Malaak Compton-Rock announced their divorce nearly a year ago but things are far from settled between the two. The estranged pair are at loggerheads over alimony, child support and whether or not Rock is obliged to provide financial care for a child who, as Malaak told PEOPLE in a statement, was raised as the couples own and “cherished and adored.”

Malaak Compton-Rock Speaks Out

Rock did not acknowledge this child in his original divorce filing, which mentioned only he and Malaak’s two biological children. Malaak, however, wants Rock to provide support for this third child who Malaak said in her statement “has resided with the parties since before her first birthday.”

An excerpt from Malaak’s statement released by her lawyer, David Aronson of Aronson, Mayefsky & Sloan, Compton-Rock, reads as follows:

“Although Chris Rock is a celebrity, Malaak and the children are not. Protecting the privacy of her family remains of utmost importance to Malaak. She is saddened by recent tabloid media reports which are full of erroneous speculation and inaccuracies that are hurtful to three innocent young girls. While the adoption by Malaak is not yet finalized, it is actively in process under the rigorous guidelines and safeguards of international adoption policy. The child is in the country lawfully with the written consent of her birth parents, and while here, has been cherished and adored by the entire Rock family.”

Rock and Malaak have also clashed over spousal support. Rock claims Malaak is capable of supporting herself and contributing to the support of their two children. Malaak refutes this, however, in her counterclaim, stating that she and the children were “fully supported financially by the Plaintiff [Rock] throughout the marriage. Defendant, with Plaintiff’s support and encouragement, was a stay at home mother raising the parties’ children and otherwise devoted her time to charitable and philanthropic endeavors.”

Rock’s rep has yet to comment on Compton-Rock’s statement.