SPLITSVILLE FOR THE STALLONES

SYLVESTER STALLONE is going through a rocky time in his personal life. Court documents reveal that his wife, JENNIFER FLAVIN, filed for divorce on 19 August after 25 years of marriage.

Four days after the filing, the veteran action star covered up a tattoo of the model on his right arm, replacing it with a picture of the dog Butkus, who appeared with him in the Rocky movies.

News of the pair’s split comes three months after they celebrated their silver wedding anniversary, and sources close to Sly claim that the end of the marriage had “blindsided” him. “Sylvester’s intent was to work things out with Jennifer,” a well-placed source says.

But cracks in the couple’s union – long considered one of the stronger marriages in Hollywood – have been showing for a while.

Jennifer (54) hinted that their marriage was in trouble more than a year ago, admitting that the pair had been at odds.

In an interview in April last year, giving relationship advice to her daughters, SOPHIA (26), SISTINE (24) and SCARLET ROSE (20), she admitted that marriage can be difficult, saying: “There isn’t anybody’s relationship that is perfect and happy all the time. I am very A-type and my husband is not very A-type. He is very messy and I am not. So it’s like, ‘Can I live with messy?’”

As well as asking for “dissolution of marriage and other relief”, the former model has accused the 76-year-old of engaging in “the intentional dissipation, depletion and/or waste of marital assets which has had an adverse economic impact on the marital estate”.

Under Florida divorce law, the allegation relates to excessive spending or borrowing by a spouse. Because of the Rambo star’s alleged “waste”, she is asking for an “unequal distribution of the marital assets in her favour”.

In 2020, the Stallones purchased a $35-million mansion in Palm Beach, Florida, which became the couple’s primary residence. Jennifer is asking for “exclusive use and occupancy of the marital residence”.

Jennifer is requesting exclusive use of their Florida waterfront property which boasts a two-storey main house, a guesthouse and a lavish pool pavilion.

‘You are going to fight and you’re going to have your differences. You have to exhale and take time out’ – JENNIFER FLAVIN ON MARRIAGE

Jennifer hinted at the split in an Instagram post in August in which she hugs her and Sly’s three daughters, Sistine, Scarlet and Sophia. “These girls are my priority,” she wrote in the caption. “Nothing else matters. The 4 of us forever.”

Sly recently added a tribute to his dog, Butkus, on his bicep, covering up a tattoo of his wife’s face (RIGHT).