Celebrity Divorce

Katie Holmes had a VERY good reason for filing for divorce from Tom Cruise in New York ... because unlike California ... NY is a state that doesn't like giving waring parents joint power to make decisions for their kid.

As TMZ first reported, Katie filed the papers in New York ... and we know she's gunning for sole legal custody of 6-year-old Suri primarily because she doesn't want Tom to drag their daughter into the Church of Scientology.

Despite the fact Tom and Katie filed their marriage certificate in California, Katie went all the way to the East Coast to file the divorce docs because she knows she has a MUCH better chance of getting sole legal custody there ... New York family law judges typically don't like giving two parents who don't get along the power to make child-rearing decisions because they believe the kids will suffer from endless conflicts.

But ... our sources say Tom may mount a fight to bring the case to California ... which favors joint legal custody.

Tom Cruise really had NO CLUE Katie Holmes planned to file for divorce -- at least judging by this photo, showing what appears to be a blissfully ignorant Tom clinging to his soon-to-be ex-wife ... just two weeks ago.

The photo was snapped on June 16th in a city called Reykjavik -- where Tom's been filming his new movie -- and by the looks of it, Tom wasn't suspecting a thing as far as divorce was concerned ... walking around hand-in-hand with Katie.

And Katie didn't let on either.

The pic is even more proof Tom was "blindsided" by the divorce papers.

TMZ broke the story ... Katie filed divorce docs against Tom in New York yesterday, citing "irreconcilable differences."

Katie Holmes filed for divorce primarily over Tom Cruise's fierce ties to Scientology, fearing that Tom would drag Suri deep into the church ... sources connected with the couple tell TMZ.

Our sources say ... Katie has never been fully committed to Scientology, even though she has had ties with the church. We're told the couple had been arguing over Suri -- that she's now of the age where Scientology becomes a significant part of her life.

Sources familiar with the split tell us Katie is filing for sole legal custody -- as we first reported -- specifically because she does not want Tom to control decisions relating to religion.

Sources have told us that the divorce is NOT about money -- we're told Katie doesn't need Tom's money ... because she has plenty of it ... and will be well taken care of under the terms of the prenup.

To give you an idea of how fierce Tom's ties to the Church are -- a video featuring the actor discussing what Scientology means to him leaked onto YouTube in 2008. You gotta watch the whole thing.

Katie Holmes is the one who filed for divorce and Tom Cruise was "blindsided" by Katie's legal move ... TMZ has learned.

We know Katie filed the divorce docs in New York on June 28, citing "irreconcilable differences." She is asking for sole legal custody and "primary residential custody" of the couple's 6-year-old daughter, Suri.

We also know Katie is asking for a "suitable amount" of child support .. this according to the divorce docs.

Katie also asks for a division of property in her divorce docs, although we know there was a significant prenup that is based on California law. Katie makes no mention of the prenup in her filing.

We're told Tom is "very sad" and "did not see this coming." He was spotted wearing his wedding ring just this week while filming in Iceland. Interestingly, Katie also wore her ring this week.

We're also told there is some "nastiness" here, evidenced by Katie's move to get sole legal custody.

Tom's rep has released a statement saying, "Kate has filed for divorce and Tom is deeply saddened and is concentrating on his three children. Please allow them their privacy to work this out."

Katie's divorce petition was filed anonymously, without names.

11:05 AM PT -- Katie filed the papers -- and Tom was "blindsided." Katie wants sole legal custody and "primary residential custody" of Suri.

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are getting DIVORCED ... after 5 years of marriage.

Katie's attorney, Jonathan Wolfe released a statement saying, "This is a personal and private matter for Katie and her family."

TMZ has learned Katie filed the docs in NYC ... and wants SOLE custody of Suri.

We're told Tom and Katie have a prenup. The net worth of both Tom and Katie is around $275 mil, but clearly Tom raked in most of that.

For what it's worth, Katie did not attend any of the "Rock of Ages" premieres.

Tom and Katie have one child together, Suri, who is 6-years-old.

49-year-old Tom has 2 children from his previous marriage to Nicole Kidman. He was also married to actress Mimi Rogers from 1987 to 1990.

Cruise and 33-year-old Holmes were married in November 2006 in a lavish ceremony held at an Italian castle. The split was first reported by People.com.

Tom has been spotted in Iceland this week where he's been shooting a movie called "Oblivion."

Katie and Suri have been spotted in NYC all week. Katie was still wearing her wedding ring.

Update #1 -- Sources tell TMZ ... Scientology was a major factor in Katie's decision to pull the plug on the marriage.

Update #2 -- Tom and Katie were HOLDING HANDS in Iceland just 2 weeks before Katie filed for divorce ... more proof Tom was truly "blindsided" by Katie's decision to end the marriage.

Tom Cruise was married to Mimi Rogers in the '80s, Nicole Kidman in the '90s, and for the last five years to Katie Holmes.

Question is ...

Parminder Nagra made a bloody fortune during her stint on "E.R." ... so says her soon-to-be ex-hubby ... who claims she's HIDING her TV loot so he can't get the money that's rightfully his.

James Stenson just filed a lawsuit against Nagra -- claiming they were "life partners" for 6 years before they were formally married in 2009 ... and during that period, they promised to share their combined wealth.

In fact, Stenson claims when Nagra got the "E.R." gig in 2004, he agreed to give up his job as a photographer and took on the role of managing the couple's life in L.A. ... even though he was making more than $300k per year as a shutterbug at the time.

But Stenson claims Nagra was secretly plotting to keep all of their wealth under her command ... and did so by setting up a shell corporation that only she controlled. Stenson claims the couple purchased 3 homes during their pre-marital partnership, but they were all bought through the "shell" company.

Former Super Bowl champion Corey Dillon is experiencing a case of divorce deja vu ... 'cause his longtime wife is calling off their marriage ... for the second time.

The former New England Patriots running back has been hit with divorce papers from his wife of 12 years, Desiree Antoine-Dillon.

According to the docs, filed in L.A. County Superior Court and obtained by TMZ, Desiree is blaming the split on irreconcilable differences.

Desiree is asking for full legal and physical custody of their 3 minor children ... with Corey getting visitation rights. She's also asking for spousal support.

Desiree had filed for divorce from Corey back in 2010 ... but the split was called off a month later.

Kris Humphries swore under oath during his deposition Monday ... Myla Sinanaj was just a friend, who was mighty curious about Kim Kardashian ... sources connected with the bballer tell TMZ.

Kris -- who was required to sit for the depo by Kim's legal team -- insisted he only knew Myla for a few months, even though we're told they were banging since January.

Sources connected with Kris tell us ... he admitted he spoke "generally" to Myla about Kim, but only when she asked questions, such as ..."What's she like in real life?" Kris testified he never spoke to Myla about his divorce.

And our sources say ... Kris was asked various questions about his allegation that Kim defrauded him into marrying her and her motivation was just a crass ploy for ratings. We're told Kris offered no specifics ... no evidence of fraud.

Sources connected with Kris say they don't want to disclose evidence of fraud until the trial. Thing is ... his testimony was under oath and we're told he offered nothing.

Stay tuned

Don't count on hearing any awkward jokes about having sex with Roseanne Barr -- because her famous ex-husband Tom Arnold wants nothing whatsoever to do with her upcoming Comedy Central roast.

A rep for Tom tells TMZ, the actor will NOT be reaching out to Comedy Central to participate and will say no if the network reaches out to him.

The rep adds, "He has absolutely no interest in being apart of it." The rep explained the couple simply doesn't talk anymore, and that's not gonna change any time soon.

Tom and Roseanne were married from 1990-1994 -- and their split was notoriously nasty, culminating in a screaming match outside the "Roseanne" set in 1994.

The bad news for Kris Humphries -- he's about to face hours of grueling/brutal questioning from Kim Kardashian's legal team. The good news -- the lawyer is really hot.

We've learned Kris is minutes away from taking an oath to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, and then disso queen Laura Wasser's associate (who's just as hot as Laura) will fire questions at Kris. Por ejemplo ...

-- If you were so devastated by Kim pulling the plug on your marriage, why were you banging a new girlfriend 2 months later?

-- Why do you think you're entitled to $7 million when you signed a prenup saying you'd get nothing?

-- Did you not profit from the marriage, by becoming the celebrity to which you have aspired?

The drummer for the band Cake -- who recently stood trial for child molestation -- is getting some serious support from his soon-to-be ex-wife ... who claims she trusts the guy around their young kids.

As we previously reported, Peter McNeal was accused of molesting a 3-year-old girl at a Thanksgiving dinner back in 2009. A judge declared a mistrial last month after a jury was deadlocked 11-1 against McNeal.

It's possible McNeal will be retried on the molestation charges.

Now, his estranged wife Jill has filed new court docs in their ongoing divorce ... hoping she and Peter can share joint physical and legal custody of their two children, ages 10 and 8. Lisa had originally asked for sole physical custody, but apparently, she's had a change of heart.

Christie Brinkley showed a little bit of crazy Friday in her never-ending legal war with ex Peter Cook ... when she snapped at Peter's new wife outside court, saying, "When you find out he’s been cheating on you, I'll be here for you."

Brinkley followed up the insult, says the NY Post, by then tapping Suzanne Shaw on the head in a sign of "mock tenderness." Shaw then allegedly shot back, "Get a new line," before standing up to confront Brinkley. She was blocked by court officers.

The supermodel also reportedly told Shaw -- who married Cook back in February -- that she "pitied" her.

"The Artist" actress Penelope Ann Miller -- who played Doris in the Academy Award-winning film -- has changed her mind about splitting from her husband of 12 years ... yanking her recent request for legal separation.

TMZ broke the story 48-year-old Miller filed for separation from her husband James Huggins back in March, citing "irreconcilable differences." The couple was married in 2000 and has two children.

But Miller has had a change of heart -- and just filed papers in L.A. dismissing her separation request.

Dennis Rodman drunkenly barged into his ex-wife's house last month early in the morning, attacked her, then insisted on taking her and their son out for breakfast ... where he slammed 4-6 Jägermeister shots -- this according to his ex-wife.

Michelle Rodman has obtained a temporary restraining order against Dennis over the May 28th incident -- but was back in court in Orange County, CA yesterday to make it permanent.

Michelle took the stand, describing the events that took place -- claiming Dennis had shown up to Michelle's house wasted at 2:30AM, completely unannounced, and demanded to see his 11-year-old son.

Michelle said Dennis attacked her when she refused, shoving her onto a bed, then took off -- only to return hours later, still intoxicated, asking to take their son to breakfast. Michelle obliged ... on the condition she came with.

At breakfast, Michelle said Dennis got even more wasted -- ordering 4-6 shots of Jägermeister ... in front of the kid ... and downing them all. She claimed Dennis then repeatedly made comments about her boyfriend, saying, "You're f**king this white guy!"

So far, it's unclear if the judge will grant Michelle's restraining order request -- the hearing will continue this morning. Should be interesting ... Dennis is expected to take the stand as well.

FYI -- Dennis is due in another O.C. courtroom later today ... to fight his $51,000-a-month child support payments. Busy man.

Dennis Rodman's lawyer tells TMZ, the NBA legend denies all his ex-wife's accusations -- and insists he has a witness who can back him up. The lawyer says, Dennis "is not a violent person."

John Cena's estranged wife is convinced ... the WWE superstar was bangin' around behind her back during the marriage ... and now she's on a mission to prove it in court.

TMZ broke the story ... John blindsided his high school sweetheart Liz Cena with divorce papers back in May after 3 years of marriage.

Now, Liz's attorney Raymond Rafool tells TMZ ... they've been getting tips Cena had been messing around during the marriage ... which, if true, could be grounds for Liz to challenge the prenup.

"We're definitely following up on every lead relative to his being unfaithful before AND after the separation," Rafool says.

So far, it's unclear if Liz's camp has found any real leads.