They released a statement that reads: “It is with a heavy heart that we have come to the decision to divorce. We move forward with love and respect for one another and the shared focus of what is best for our son. We wish each other nothing but happiness in life and we hope that you respect our and, most importantly, our children’s privacy as we go through this difficult period.”
This is Halle’s third divorce – she was previously married to baseball player David Justice and singer-songwriter Eric Benét, whose daughter she adopted when they were married. Her daughter Nahla is from a relationship with Canadian model Gabriel Aubry.
Olivier, who comes from a family of professional boxers and at one time pursued a career in boxing himself, is well-known for his violent temper. He was accused of pushing a Los Angeles International Airport employee to the ground earlier this year and in 2013, he allegedly attacked a photographer. In 2012 he started a fight with Nahla’s father Gabriel on the driveway of their home, in which the Frenchman smashed his head into concrete, leaving Gabriel with broken ribs and two black eyes. After the incident Gabriel filed for a restraining order, claiming Olivier had threatened to kill him.