At noon on February 18, the Chinese entertainment industry was shaken as Chen Xiao and Michelle Chen publicly acknowledged their marital breakup, announcing that they had gone their separate ways after 9 years of living together. On Michelle Chen’s social media account, she wrote, “Thank you for our time together. From now on, we will walk our own paths. We will always be parents to our child and raise him together.” She also tagged Chen Xiao in her post. Chen Xiao issued a similar statement, confirming the end of their marriage.
Currently, the news of their divorce has gone viral, dominating the No.1 spot on Weibo’s trending searches. However, the public is not too surprised by the announcement, as this outcome had been widely speculated. For months, numerous signs had pointed to the couple’s deteriorating relationship.
Back in June 2024, top entertainment blogger Jiang Xiaoyan shocked the industry by revealing that Chen Xiao had already requested a divorce in late 2023. The actor did not disclose the exact reason for wanting to end his marriage with the Taiwanese actress. However, reports suggested that he was willing to walk away without claiming any assets, determined to free himself from the relationship.
Following this, Chen Xiao moved out, distancing himself from Michelle Chen and their child. He even went as far as changing his phone number and blocking her on social media. As a result, Michelle Chen could only contact him through staff, friends or legal representatives. Her husband’s coldness reportedly left her deeply distressed. Speculation arose that a third party might have been involved in their separation.
In early September 2024, Michelle Chen’s father passed away. However, Chen Xiao did not travel to Taiwan to attend the funeral or make any public gestures in remembrance of his father-in-law. By late September 2024, sources in the Chinese entertainment industry confirmed that the couple had reached an agreement regarding asset division and child custody after prolonged negotiations. They were reportedly preparing to submit their divorce papers to the court.
Signs of their estrangement had been evident since early 2023. The couple had ceased interacting online, no longer celebrating each other’s birthdays or wedding anniversaries. During the Lunar New Year, they spent the holiday apart, with Michelle Chen cutting ties with her in-laws.
As the divorce rumors gained traction, both Chen Xiao and Michelle Chen made public appearances but refused to address the issue when approached by the media. The combination of these clear signs of separation and their silence on the matter only reinforced public belief that their breakup was inevitable.
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