In a recent website post published by award winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow, she announced that she and her husband of 10 years, Coldplay member Chris Martin, have separated. The post, entitled "Conscious Uncoupling," states in part:
"It is with hearts full of sadness that we have decided to separate. We have been working hard for well over a year, some of it together, some of it separated, to see what might have been possible between us, and we have come to the conclusion that while we love each other very much we will remain separate. […]. We are parents first and foremost, to two incredibly wonderful children and we ask for their and our space and privacy to be respected at this difficult time."
Although Paltrow does not reveal details regarding what prompted the split, for much of the past year, the actress has been embroiled in a heated battle with Vanity Fair over an article that reportedly claimed she had been romantically involved with Jeff Soffer, a Miami billionaire. There have also been additional rumors regarding a potential affair between Paltrow and entertainment lawyer Kevin Yorn. Paltrow had adamantly denied both rumors, and there has been no indication by either Martin or Paltrow that an affair led to their separation.
In light of how the couple announced their separation, along with the fact that Martin and Paltrow reportedly took their two children, Apple and Moses, on a getaway to the Bahamas just before releasing the announcement, presumably to avoid the media frenzy that followed, it is apparent that the actress and singer highly prize their children's privacy and emotional health, and will likely do their best to minimize the negative impact their impending divorce will have on their children.
In fact, because it is highly likely that the celebrity couple entered into a pre-nuptial agreement before tying the knot, issues such as how to divide the couple's reported $100 million in assets and whether either party will seek alimony from the other have been resolved, leaving only the issues of child custody and child support to be determined by a court or resolved using litigation alternatives such as mediation or arbitration. In her posting, Paltrow indicated that she and Martin will strive to effectively co-parent their young children. As more information regarding the couple's separation becomes public, hopefully the couple maintains their focus on remaining loving and cooperative for their children.