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Sylvester Stallone Insists His Dog Was Not the Cause of His Divorce

Photo Credit: United Artists/ Getty Images
Photo Credit: United Artists/ Getty Images

Celebrities and their love lives are plastered all over the news on a regular basis, from new couple alerts to updates on old favorites, and, of course, unexpected divorces. In an odd report, Rocky star Sylvester Stallone is facing rumors that his 2022 divorce from his long-time wife Jennifer Flavin was caused by his dog.

A new family pet

At the beginning of August 2022, Sylvester Stallone posted a photograph on Instagram introducing his new dog to his fans. He called the massive Rottweiler “Dwight,” after his character from his new show Tulsa King. Apparently, the reason for the new pet was that he wanted more protection for himself and his family. After he brought Dwight home, Sylvester and Jennifer allegedly got into an argument about the dog.

Sylvester Stallone wearing a leather jacket leaning down to kiss a dog while it stands on its back legs.
American actor Sylvester Stallone, as Rocky Balboa, kissing a dog in a still from the film ‘Rocky,’ 1976. (Photo Credit: Fotos International/ Getty Images)

While Sylvester was excited about the new pet, Jennifer was very much against it, not wanting to add another dog to their family. According to someone close to the family, the topic of Dwight caused “an extremely heated argument that brought up other issues,” though apparently no issues that were “marriage-enders.”

Did a dog cause a divorce?

Later, photos emerged showing a tattoo of Jennifer that Sylvester had covered over with a picture of Butkus, the dog featured in the Rocky movies. The tattoo was quickly attributed to her marital turmoil. After reports of the couple’s split and Sylvester’s quick cover-up of his tattoo, he provided his own statement on the events.

Jennifer Flavin Stallone and Sylvester Stallone wearing fancy dress clothing on the red carpet.
Jennifer Flavin and Sylvester Stallone attend the closing ceremony screening of The Specials during the 72nd annual Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 25, 2019. (Photo Credit: Marc Piasecki/ FilmMagic/Getty Images)

According to Sylvester, Dwight had nothing to do with the couple’s split. He said they “did not end the relationship on such a trivial argument.” He went on to add that they simply “went in different directions,” emphasizing the love and respect that he still holds for Jennifer. He also addressed the rumors about his tattoo, saying that he had gone in to get a touchup done but it ended up getting ruined, so he covered it up with the dog instead.

Filing for divorce

Jennifer also gave a statement about the events of their split, telling PEOPLE magazine “I’m sad to announce that after 25 years of marriage I have filed for divorce from my husband Sylvester Stallone. While we will no longer be married, I will always cherish the more than 30-year relationship that we shared, and I know we are both committed to our beautiful daughters.”

Jennifer Stallone wearing a white dress with flowers on it posing for the camera.
Jennifer Stallone attends the Dolce & Gabbana show during Milan Men’s Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2017/18 in Milan, Italy, January 14, 2017. (Photo Credit: Venturelli/ WireImage/ Getty Images)

Although both Sylvester and Jennifer are putting a positive soin on the divorce filings in public, documents provided by TMZ paint things in a different light: “Upon information and belief, the Husband has engaged in the intentional dissipation, depletion and/or waste of marital assets which has had an adverse economic impact on the marital estate.” Court documents also show Jennifer calling their marriage “irretrievably broken.”

More from us: Until Death Do Us Part? Golden Hollywood Stars With Multiple Marriages

Whatever the reason behind the couple’s split, one thing is certain. Sylvester Stallone is adamant that his dog was not the cause.

Rosemary Giles

Rosemary Giles is a history content writer with Hive Media. She received both her bachelor of arts degree in history, and her master of arts degree in history from Western University. Her research focused on military, environmental, and Canadian history with a specific focus on the Second World War. As a student, she worked in a variety of research positions, including as an archivist. She also worked as a teaching assistant in the History Department.

Since completing her degrees, she has decided to take a step back from academia to focus her career on writing and sharing history in a more accessible way. With a passion for historical learning and historical education, her writing interests include social history, and war history, especially researching obscure facts about the Second World War. In her spare time, Rosemary enjoys spending time with her partner, her cats, and her horse, or sitting down to read a good book.

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