Celebrity Divorce

Terrence Howard says his estranged wife HATES black people ... and she would often call him names like, "monkey" and "n**ger" ... this according to new court docs obtained by TMZ.

Howard is in the middle of perhaps the nastiest divorce we've ever seen -- with both sides accusing the other of extreme violence and other hateful conduct.

Now, Howard has filed a new declaration in L.A. County Superior Court -- claiming Michelle inexplicably turned from a "loving, gentle" person ... into a monster ... who once threatened to have him killed by some violent Russians.

In the docs, Howard notes Michelle is NOT black -- and claims that when she would get upset, she would scream things like, "[I] never wanted to marry a n**ger in the first place" and "[I] definitely didn't want to be the step mother of some n**ger kids."

As TMZ first reported, Howard claims Michelle is trying to extort him over private recordings she allegedly stole from his personal computer -- and in the new docs, T.H. alleges his wife threatened to have him "clipped" if he went to police.

Howard says his wife once bragged, "I have a lot of Russian friends who would do it as a favor."

Howard also claims Michelle has jealousy issues -- and TWICE attacked him with a bottle after accusing Howard of talking with other women. Howard claims he never struck back.

Terrence has asked the court to issue a restraining order against Michelle. A hearing is set for January 17.

A secret underground society of trained spies is responsible for feeding intel to Vanessa Bryant that eventually led to her filing for divorce from hubby Kobe Bryant -- not the CIA or FBI ... but the basketball wives of the NBA.

Our sources says Kobe's teammates were blabbing to their women about the superstar's exploits ... and those women in turn gave Vanessa the heads up. We're told talk of Kobe's exploits lately increased in frequency.

According to our sources, the players often swear their wives to secrecy before dishing on their fellow ballers ... but that secrecy is rarely kept. We're told the women all share information about other guys around the league ... in part to ensure word will get back to them if their man ever steps out.

As TMZ first reported, Vanessa filed divorce papers on Friday, after Vanessa learned of what she says is an act of infidelity that became the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back.

Mathew and Tina Knowles' on again-off again divorce dragged on for two years, but it's now legally kaput, done, over ... final.

The final decree of divorce was issued last month in a Texas court, and according to documents -- obtained by TMZ -- Beyonce's mom refiled on August 30. Tina's first swing at the divorce was in November 2009 ... but the matter was dropped in 2010 when they were both no-shows for court.

In the docs, Tina says the marriage was "insupportable because of discord or conflict of personalities" ... which "prevents any reasonable expectation of reconciliation."

The papers make no specific mention of Mathew getting slapped with a paternity suit back in 2009 -- but the original divorce filing did come one month after that went down.

P.S. the kid turned out to be his.

Kobe Bryant's wife Vanessa caught the NBA star "very recently" in the latest act of infidelity, and that is why she filed for divorce ... sources directly connected with the couple tell TMZ.

Our sources would not tell us how Vanessa caught Kobe, but we do know it was NOT through text messages a la Tiger Woods.

We're told Vanessa had caught Kobe with "multiple women" over the years ... but his latest affair was the straw that broke the camel's back ... and she felt she needed to finally end the marriage.

Deion Sanders and his wife Pilar are getting divorced ... Sanders tells TMZ.

In a statement, the NFL Hall of Famer tells us, "Pilar and I have decided to end our marriage and move on to the next phase of our individual lives with mutual respect. We are friends and our top priority has and will continue to be the well-being of our children."

He continues, "We arrived at this decision prayerfully and carefully in order to be able to pursue what is in both of our best personal interests."

TMZ has learned ... contrary to news reports about Kobe Bryant's wealth -- the BBaller's net worth is approximately $150 million, according to sources in a direct position to know.

Sources intimately familiar with the situation tell us ... the $150 mil accounts for real estate holdings, stock, cash and other assets.

The figure is far less than news reports which set Kobe's fortune north of $400 million. But the $150 mil figure is the accurate one.

TMZ broke the divorce story and the fact that Kobe and Vanessa DO NOT HAVE A PRENUP. Given that the marriage has lasted more than a decade and the pre-marriage assets are commingled with what was accumulated during the marriage, the assets are distributed based on the community property laws of California -- which means a 50/50 split.

Will Smith and wife Jada Pinkett Smith have bounced back from the separation rumors that plagued them earlier this year ... and TMZ has learned it was differing opinions on how to manage their superstar kids that caused the original strife.

Sources close to the couple tell TMZ they are doing "wonderful" now -- but earlier this year, sources tell TMZ there was tension between the two over how best to manage the careers of Jaden and Willow.

We're told each had their own ideas for how things should be handled -- with Will pushing more for full-blown stardom and Jada leaning towards easing them in to things.

But our sources say that bad patch -- which included rumors Jada had an affair with Marc Anthony -- is now past them and things are back to normal.

Kobe Bryant and his soon-to-be ex-wife Vanessa attended a Christmas recital for their kids just hours before TMZ broke the news the couple was getting a divorce.

Kobe and Vanessa (above, smiling) were spotted together Friday morning at their daughter's school for a musical both of their children appeared in.

Our spy says Kobe and Vanessa next to each other during the show and left together in the same car, but their moods were totally opposite -- Vanessa was chatting with friends and having a good time, while Kobe spoke to no one and appeared "somber."

Kobe Bryant has already moved out of his MASSIVE Newport Coast mansion ... permanently -- because TMZ has learned Vanessa gets the estate in the couple's divorce.

Kobe purchased the sprawling Orange County property back in 2001.

As part of the divorce settlement, Kobe agreed to give up the property. TMZ broke the story, the couple had NO prenup ... which means Vanessa is entitled to half of EVERY DOLLAR Kobe made since they were married ten years ago.

Kobe Bryant's wife has filed for divorce ... and as details about his alleged infidelities emerge, we gotta ask ...

Kobe Bryant's wife has filed for divorce ... TMZ has learned.

Vanessa Bryant filed legal docs Friday afternoon, citing "irreconcilable differences."

Sources connected with the couple tell TMZ ... Vanessa -- who stuck by Kobe after he was charged with sexually assaulting a Colorado woman in 2003 -- decided to end the marriage because she believes Kobe has been unfaithful ... again.

As one source puts it, "She's been dealing with these incidents for a long time and has been a faithful wife, but she's finally had enough," adding, "This one is the straw that broke the camel's back."

And our sources say ... Kobe "desperately" wants to win Vanessa back and will do "whatever it takes" to save their 10 1/2 year marriage.

According to the legal docs, Vanessa is asking for joint custody of their 2 daughters -- 8-year-old Natalia and 5-year-old Gianna -- but Vanessa is asking that Kobe get visitation rights, which means she wants the kids in her care most of the time.

We've learned the couple has NO PRENUP, so 29-year-old Vanessa is entitled to half of the empire Kobe built over the last decade.

She's also requesting spousal support ... which is typical in divorce cases. Kobe, who filed his response to the divorce minutes after Vanessa filed her petition, says he will pay her spousal support.

According to the docs, Vanessa is being repped by disso-queen Laura Wasser and attorney Samantha Klein. Wasser reps oodles of celebs, including Britney Spears, Angelina Jolie, Maria Shriver and Kim Kardashian.

Kobe went to the Jay-Z concert Tuesday night in L.A. without Vanessa, and people who saw him there say he looked miserable.

Vanessa signed the divorce petition on December 1. Kobe signed his response on December 7.

Oh yeah, that $4 million ring Kobe gave Vanessa after the 2003 scandal .... It's all hers. A gift is a gift.

The Bryants released a joint statement ... saying they have "resolved all issues" privately, with the assistance of counsel.

Rodney Atkins and his wife agree ... they don't think it's safe to continue living under the same roof ... this according to the divorce docs obtained by TMZ.

We broke the story ... the country superstar filed for divorce after he was arrested last month for allegedly attacking his wife Tammy in a drunken bender in his Tennessee home. Rodney claims the allegations are completely false.

Now, we've obtained the divorce documents, in which both Rodney and Tammy agree they are "unable to live together successfully as husband and wife."

Both Rodney and Tammy also state that the other is "guilty of such inappropriate marital conduct as renders further cohabitation unsafe and improper."

According to the docs, Tammy is demanding sole custody of the couple's 10-year-old child -- plus she wants alimony, child support and Rodney to pay for her legal fees.

Rodney is demanding joint custody -- and claims he's willing to pay child support -- but he wants Tammy to pay for HIS legal fees.

Allen Iverson's divorce has taken a nasty turn -- according to his estranged wife, the former NBA star went on a massive spending spree after she filed for divorce, leaving her completely penniless.

Tawanna just filed new docs in their bitter divorce battle -- claiming ever since she filed for divorce in June, Allen stopped depositing money in their joint bank account ... and then made several large cash withdrawals, including one for $20,000 ... which he spent on diamond jewelry.

Tawanna claims the account was $23,000 in the red at the time she filed the court docs -- and she's been unable to pay the bills ... or provide for their 5 kids.

According to Tawanna -- who says she gave up her career to be a stay-at-home mom -- Allen is worth over $20 million ... and refuses to help her out simply out of spite.

They said it wouldn't last ... and they were right -- because Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson are officially divorced ... after a judge signed off on the split.

According to court docs filed in L.A. County Superior Court and obtained by TMZ ... the marriage was formally terminated on November 22 ... after a 3-and-a-half year run.

As for the couple's kid -- Bronx Mowgli -- it's unclear how the couple settled their custody disagreement ... because the details of the divorce settlement are being kept under wraps. TMZ previously reported, Pete wanted joint custody of their son ... but Ashlee had checked the box to get primary physical custody.

The former couple also worked out a secret deal regarding the division of their multi-million dollar empire.

As we previously reported, Wentz chalked up the split to the couple simply growing apart.

Terrence Howard's estranged wife got a restraining order against the actor this morning -- claiming Howard constantly beats her and threatens to kill her ... but Terrence says it's all a big, fat lie.

Michelle Howard filed court documents, obtained by TMZ, claiming Terrence began beating her up just 7 days after they were married in January 2010.

In the docs, Michelle claims Howard "slugged me across my face and neck" ... and threatened to throw her off a balcony.

Michelle claims the violence continued throughout their marriage -- with Terrence allegedly committing several violent acts, such as

-- smacking her in the face and chipping her tooth with his wedding ring
-- throwing her down to the ground in a parking lot
-- telling her, "I'll hit a woman quicker than I'd hit a man"
-- Saying, "If you tell anyone about my personal business, I will kill you and no one will ever know
-- Screaming, "B*tch, walk home. That's my car, I pay for it."

Howard also filed legal papers, adamantly denying that he EVER threatened Michelle -- but claiming she has been threatening to "release private materials to 3rd parties for her own personal financial gain" unless he paid her money.

Sources connected to the case tell TMZ ... the material in question includes a video of Howard singing naked in the shower.

This morning, an L.A. County Superior Court judge granted Michelle a temporary restraining order preventing Howard from going near her or contacting her until their next court hearing.

Charlie Sheen has returned from Colombia -- and TMZ has learned, he's now on a mission to save his kids ... after mommy Brooke Mueller was arrested for cocaine possession last week.

Sources close to the couple tell TMZ, Brooke had custody of the 2-year-old twins the night of her arrest -- leaving them in the care of a nanny while she went out clubbing.

Brooke and the kids are currently on their way back from Aspen now -- but we're told, Charlie plans to take care of them as soon as they're home ... and Brooke's parents will help.

According to sources, Brooke's going to take some time for herself while she tries to "get better."

Brooke has struggled with substance abuse issues for years -- and most recently sought addiction help at an alternative treatment facility in Mexico.