by Lauren Nutall
November 23, 2023
Teyana makes shnocking claims against her estranged husband.
Teyana Taylor has filed for divorce from Iman Shumpert after seven years of marriage, according to TMZ. The news comes just two months after the pair announced their separation in September.
According to legal documents obtained by TMZ, the singer-songwriter filed for divorce in Jan. 2023, eight months before announcing the separation to the public. In the divorce filing, Taylor alleged that Shumpert was extremely “emotionally and mentally abusive” and grew insecure about the actress’s success despite his career as a basketball star.
Taylor claims that Shumpert would initiate arguments with her for no reason, even on her birthday, and then later apologized. She also claimed that she turned down several business opportunities because Shumpert did not want her to work, but after the birth of one of their children, he became upset at her not making money. Taylor alleged that Shumpert was “treating her cruelly and displaying extreme narcissistic behavior throughout the majority of their marriage.”
The lawsuit reveals details of the relationship, citing numerous instances of infidelity and prior arrests on Shumpert’s end. In Aug. 2016, the former Cleveland Cavaliers player was arrested for driving under the influence and other charges. More recently, in late July 2022, Shumpert was arrested on felony marijuana possession charges at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. In the suit, Taylor also states that Shumpert once crashed her vehicle and fled the scene to avoid another DUI arrest.
Taylor secretly filed for divorce, but the two briefly reconciled at Shumpert’s insistence. However, their reunion was short-lived as Shumpert allegedly continued to be inconsistent and became involved in another extra-marital affair. Though Taylor initially denied infidelity being one of the reasons for their separation, she has since stated that this was done out of grace toward Shumpert, according to TMZ.
Following their split, Shumpert left their shared home in October and has spent minimal time with the couple’s two children since then, according to the suit. Taylor is requesting temporary and permanent primary physical custody, plus joint legal custody and child support.
Taylor found fame at 15 years old as a dancer when she was credited as the choreographer for the music video of Beyoncé’s popular single, “Ring the Alarm.”
She’s continued to make a name for herself in the music world as a singer-songwriter and has since collaborated with some of the industry’s biggest names, including Pharrell, Lauryn Hill, Missy Elliot, and more. She is also a successful actress and was recently nominated for the Gotham Independent Film Award for Outstanding Lead Performance for her role in the 2023 film A Thousand and One.
Shumpert is a former NBA star who has played for the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers, the latter for which he won an NBA Championship in 2016. He also won season 30 of the competition series Dancing with the Stars with professional dancer Daniella Karagach in 2021.
