Nigella Lawson’s husband Charles Saatchi is divorcing the celebrity chef after she failed to defend Saatchi after a public fight in early June. Photos of Saatchi grabbing Lawson’s throat while out to lunch started speculation of abuse.
Saatchi released a statement to DailyMail saying, "I am sorry to announce that Nigella Lawson and I are getting divorced. I feel that I have clearly been a disappointment to Nigella during the last year or so, and I am disappointed that she was advised to make no public comment to explain that I abhor violence of any kind against women, and have never abused her physically in any way."
Us Weekly reported that Lawson has left their family home with her two kids, Cosima and Bruno, from her previous marriage to John Diamond.
Saatchi’s statement continues, "About a week ago, we were sitting outside a restaurant having an intense debate about the children, and I held Nigella's neck repeatedly while attempting to emphasize my point," he explained. "There was no grip, it was a playful tiff."
Saatchi, an art mogul and Lawson, former Food Network chef have been married since 2003.