Channing Tatum & Jenna Dewan's Divorce Drama Extends To Their Fiancées
By Afouda Bamidele on August 30, 2024 at 12:15 PM EDT
Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan's divorce drama has intensified to the point that it involves their present love interests directly or indirectly.
After it was reported that Tatum's vacation with his fiancée Zoë Kravitz was interrupted because he had to sign some papers, new information revealed that Dewan's fiancé, Steve Kazee, had already been included as a witness in their divorce trial.
After six years of back-and-forth, Channing Tatum And Jenna Dewan finally agreed to take their dispute to trial, possibly drawing their new partners into the conflict.
Channing Tatum Drags Jenna Dewan's Fiancé Into Their Divorce Battle
The ongoing dispute centers around the division of profits from Tatum's "Magic Mike" franchise, and he is set on delving into Kazee's role in Dewan's life.
The 44-year-old revealed that he intends to grill Kazee about the couple's "cohabitation, joint expenses and all related matters." Kazee and Dewan, who began dating in 2018 following her split from Tatum, became engaged in 2020.
They welcomed their first child, Callum, that same year and recently had a daughter, Rhiannon Lee Kathryn Kazee, in June. In court documents obtained by In Touch, "Mr. Kazee's direct testimony is expected to last approximately one hour."
Despite Kazee's previous deposition on March 15, where he answered questions about his relationship with Dewan, Tatum is determined to have him testify again during the trial. This revelation adds a new layer of tension to the already bitter divorce proceedings.
Tatum's Vacation With Fiancée Interrupted By Divorce Drama
As Dewan's fiancé gets pulled into the fray, Tatum's relationship is also caught in the crossfire. The Blast reported that the actor's vacation with fiancée Kravitz was overshadowed by ongoing divorce drama.
The couple were enjoying a high-profile retreat at Taylor Swift's multimillion-dollar mansion when Tatum was compelled to address pressing legal issues. Their idyllic escape was overshadowed by Dewan's motion to disqualify Tatum's divorce attorneys.
She argued that the law firm he hired posed a conflict of interest because they had worked with the former couple during their marriage. However, Tatum moved to dismiss Dewan's claims about his attorneys, contending that her allegations are unfounded.
The 'Magic Mike' Star Slammed Ex-Wife's Latest Legal Move As Delay Tactic
Tatum hit back hard against Dewan's recent petition in their contentious divorce battle, dismissing it as a blatant attempt to stall the proceedings. The father-of-one argued that the law firm in question never represented the actress during their marriage, emphasizing:
"Neither law firm has ever had any possession of any of Petitioner's confidential information. And, there is no applicable legal authority to support Petitioner's claim that the attorney-client privilege extends to a spouse of a minority shareholder of a business entity."
In a pointed rebuttal, Tatum also refuted Dewan's allegations that he had failed to provide necessary financial documents, adding, "that is not and cannot be a basis to delay the Court-ordered depositions and discovery or other Court-ordered deadlines any further."
Inside Channing Tatum And Jenna Dewan's Witness Lists
Back in April, the former lovebirds escalated their divorce proceedings, each designating high-profile witnesses for their upcoming court hearing.
The Blast reported that the ex-couple, who agreed to formalize their divorce settlement, were scheduled to appear in court on Friday, April 12.
The key issues included the division of their shared assets, particularly the lucrative "Magic Mike" intellectual property. Other items for discussion were attorneys' fees, breach of fiduciary duty, reimbursement claims, and support.
Dewan underscored the importance of Tatum's testimony concerning various aspects of their marriage. The pro dancer's list of witnesses were Tatum's business manager, Eric Fulton, and accountant, Tracy Faryl Katz. On the other hand, Tatum called upon Dewan and her fiancé, Steve Kazee, to testify.
Dewan Demanded Her Share Of 'Magic Mike' Profits
The 43-year-old stepped up the legal drama in their divorce, demanding a fair share of the profits from the "Magic Mike" franchise, a project she claims was a joint endeavor.
The conflict, detailed in court documents obtained by The Blast, revealed Dewan's assertion that the divorce process could not progress until the division of assets was resolved.
The mother-of-three argued that Tatum achieved significant success with "Magic Mike." She contended that they both co-funded the project, with her making a substantial financial contribution to its production.
Despite this, Dewan alleged that Tatum and his business manager, Eric Fulton, concealed the true value and profits of the 2012 film and its sequels from her.
In response, Dewan petitioned the court for equal participation in the "Magic Mike" earnings, seeking to claim half of Tatum's stake in future projects related to the franchise.
She also requested a court order compelling Tatum to provide a detailed report of The Tatum Family Trust, a suspected repository for the film's earnings.