Halle, Hubby Split



by Joal Ryan
Oct 1, 2003, 7:25 PM PT



On Oscar night 2002, Halle Berry called husband Eric Benét "the joy in my life."

Time for a rewrite.

a d v e r t i s e m e n t

The Academy Award-winning actress and the soulful R&B singer have separated, the actress announced through her publicist Wednesday.

"Eric and I have had marital problems for some time now and have tried to work things out together. However, at this point, I feel we need time apart to reevaluate our union," Berry said in a statement.

The split comes as stopwatch-enthusiasts have been clocking the liplock between Berry and Fred Durst in the new Limp Bizkit video, "Behind Blue Eyes." (The song, a redo of the Who classic, will be featured in Berry's upcoming thriller, Gothika.)

"It was all that and then some," Durst said of the kiss to MTV.com. "It's very convincing, very real and I think we both had a good time doing it."

Last week, Berry's rep said the actress was happily married and described her and the "Nookie" man as "acquaintances." "I don't know if they are good friends," the flack told the New York Post.

Berry, 37, and Benét, 32, wed in January 2001 in Los Angeles. The high-profile actress managed a no-profile ceremony, only revealing the date and details (her Rista Rose dress, his white silk suit, their matching "eternity bands") in an interview two weeks after the nuptials.

It was the first marriage for single-dad Benét, who has a daughter from a previous relationship; the second for Berry. The actress previously struck out with now-retired baseball slugger David Justice, with whom she was hitched from 1992-96.

The Berry-Justice union was marred at the end by Berry's request for a restraining order. The Berry-Benét union has been dogged since its inception by whispers of Benét's alleged infidelities.

In April 2001, just three months after the two tied the knot, Berry and Benét filed a $5 million lawsuit against the Star over a story that claimed the marriage was already "on the rocks." The couple labeled the report "offensive and baseless."

More tabloid trouble was to follow. Shortly after Berry's historic Best Actress win in March 2002, the supermarket press went into overdrive with reports of Benét's allegedly wandering body parts. Berry didn't flat-out refute the latter stories. She didn't confirm them, either. But she made it clear something was up.

"The truth is that during the period of my most significant public success--the Academy Awards--my private life faced a staggering crisis," Berry told Essence magazine last November.

In the interview, Berry revealed she and Benét were in psychotherapy.

"Eric is the first man I've been with who has the courage to take this journey with me," she told the magazine. "He has been fearless, and I love him all the more for it."

Berry and Benét met at the premiere of her career-changing HBO TV-movie, Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, for which she won the Emmy and Golden Globe. They became engaged in 1999.

The Monster's Ball star is due to suit up shortly for the comic-book flick Catwoman.

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So why is this odd? Is Mr. So-So Singer with a lil career that stupid?

Thats sad.

But at least I may be in with a chance now!

Oddly enough: I would like to slide in there and take his place.

What is is the thought of Halle with Fred Durst

jn2 said:

That had better NEVER happen!!!

IceNine said:

I really hate that guy...

It's a sad world this counts as "news".

How unfortunate. Where's this from?

gooeythehamster said:

I am in 100% agreement with you... I am also sick of seeing shit about Ben AFLAC and Jennifer Dopez.

IceNine said:

I rather hear what bodyparts Jack White bought last.

Who didn't see this coming. She sent him to rehab for sex addiction. :LOL:

gooeythehamster said:

Right, gooey!!! Who gives a fuck?

IceNine said:

I was just thinking how I would take him in a heartbeat...

IceNine said:

I have to agree with you on that one, who cares if they get married or not.

sag10 said:

I have an idea... you scoop him up and I will slide by and impress Halle Berry by demonstrating my ability to fart the alphabet!