Singer and actress Teyana Taylor is upset that details of her split from husband Imam Shumpert have become public, People reported. The pair had previously agreed to keep the news under wraps for the sake of their children.
The couple decided to divorce quietly after seven years of marriage. However, Shumpert recently made a legal move that would attach their names to the legal proceedings, a decision which Taylor blasted her soon-to-be ex-husband for making.
On Friday, the "Gonna Love Me" singer acknowledged that she and her former pro-basketball star husband were in the midst of divorce filings after seven years of marriage. They had agreed to keep the proceedings private to protect their children, daughters Tayla, 7, and Rue Rose, 3.
However, one of Shumpert's recent court filings outed the couple to the public. Taylor took to social media to set the record straight about how that happened.
"I mind my business, don't bother nobody & y'all know I've never played about my children, family & our privacy. I have not spoken on this private matter to any media outlets or blogs etc.," the "Wake Up Love" performer said on her Instagram story.
"So everyone claiming 'Teyana said' didn't get any statements directly from ME. These statements were taken from private court documents that were leaked to the public," Taylor added.
"It is very heartbreaking that someone would take out the time to make such a private matter public for the world to see." Taylor reiterated that she was committed to "protecting" her family and that it was "one thing I've ALWAYS done & for my children, I will continue to do so," she said.
"Please if y'all love y'all play nieces Junie & Rue like y'all have shown, please allow myself & my family some privacy to resolve this matter in peace. Love y'all," Taylor concluded.
TMZ broke the story of the pair's divorce, which Taylor's attorney, Tanya Mitchell, said became news only due to "Mr. Shumpert's MOTION revealing the parties' legal names and making the private matter public," she charged. "This matter would very likely still be private if Mr. Shumpert's MOTION TO SUBSTITUTE TRUE LEGAL NAMES AS REAL PARTIES IN INTEREST was not filed ...," Mitchell added.
The couple has been separated for some time. In September, Taylor had confirmed rumors of their separation but dismissed the notion that it was due to her hsuband's infidelity. She said that it was "1,000%" not due to unfaithfulness.
“The only reason I’m even sharing THIS part of the chat is because the narratives are getting a little out of hand & it’s unfair to all parties involved," the singer posted to Instagram. "I hope this provided some clarity for y’all. Okay AunTey taking y’all back out the chat bye!"
The couple first met in 2011 when Shumpert was playing for the New York Knicks, but they didn't get together until much later. "He came up to me and tried to talk to me, but I was in a relationship," Taylor said in an interview in 2014.
"He] was always so turned up, so outspoken, and full of personality," she said. They would marry in 2016 at a private ceremony at home.
Divorce is always a tragedy when it involves breaking up a family that includes children. However, to watch it play out in public because one party wants it that way is particularly sad for all involved.
