Chris Rock revisited his divorce from Malaak Compton-Rock in a November 3, 2026, GQ interview, reflecting on his infidelity, pornography use, and the financial consequences of ending their nearly 20-year marriage. Their relationship began long before the public breakup, and Rock has spent years discussing the mistakes he made while they were together.
Their love story began in 1994, when Rock met Malaak at an Essence awards event. She was working as a publicist while he was building his career as a comedian and actor. After dating for approximately two years, the couple married on November 23, 1996, just as Rock’s career was reaching new heights following his breakthrough comedy special, “Bring the Pain.”
In 2002, the couple welcomed their first daughter, Lola Simone Rock. Their second daughter, Zahra Savannah Rock, arrived in 2004. During those years, Malaak established herself as a philanthropist, founding StyleWorks, a nonprofit organization that provided services to women transitioning from welfare into employment. The family lived in New Jersey and occasionally appeared together at Hollywood events.
By December 28, 2014, their marriage had reached a breaking point. Malaak publicly announced that she and Rock were separating after more than 18 years together. In her statement, she explained that the decision followed considerable thought and emphasized that protecting their daughters’ well-being and privacy was her priority.
On December 29, 2014, Rock’s attorney, Robert S. Cohen, confirmed that the comedian had filed for divorce. The announcement came during the promotional period for Rock’s film “Top Five.” Neither spouse publicly provided a detailed explanation for the breakup at the time.
On March 11, 2015, the former couple entered into a custody and parenting-time agreement concerning their children, according to court documents later obtained by Entertainment Tonight. However, the divorce proceedings continued as additional legal matters remained unresolved.
During 2015 and 2016, court proceedings also brought attention to Ntombi, a girl from South Africa who had lived with the family. Malaak maintained that they had been raising her, while questions arose over Rock’s financial responsibility because neither had legally adopted her at that time. Malaak subsequently pursued guardianship and later adopted Ntombi herself.
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On August 22, 2016, Rock and Malaak officially finalized their divorce after appearing before a judge. The marriage had lasted approximately 19 years and nine months. Although their custody arrangements were resolved, the complete financial terms of their divorce settlement were not publicly disclosed.
In May 2017, Rock discussed his failed marriage in a Rolling Stone interview, acknowledging that he had cheated with three women. He also admitted that his financial success had influenced his sense of entitlement during the relationship. That same year, he returned to extensive stand-up touring and jokingly referred to his comeback as an alimony tour.
On February 14, 2018, Rock released his Netflix comedy special “Tamborine,” offering his most personal account yet of the marriage’s collapse. He admitted that he had been unfaithful, struggled with pornography, failed to listen to his wife, and behaved selfishly. Rather than blaming Malaak, he publicly accepted responsibility for his actions.
By October 29, 2025, Rock was still referencing the financial fallout. While appearing at the Wall Street Journal Magazine Innovator Awards, he joked about losing so much money in the divorce that he recommended his ex-wife’s attorney to other people going through separations.
On May 18, 2026, Rock and Malaak reunited publicly to celebrate Zahra’s graduation from the University of Southern California. Malaak shared photographs showing both parents celebrating their daughter’s academic achievements, including her graduation magna cum laude.
Most recently, on November 3, 2026, Rock revisited his marriage during his GQ Men of the Year interview. “I was not a great husband. I watched a lot of porn,” he admitted, later revealing, “I haven’t watched porn in five, six years.”
He also explained that the divorce affected his finances and contributed to his extended break from directing films. Rock described returning to touring, seeking therapy, and working to rebuild his personal life after the marriage ended.
