Topics: Dogs, Sylvester Stallone, Celebrity, Film and TV, Sex and Relationships
Sylvester Stallone has directly addressed the rumours that his pet dog caused his marriage to end.
Earlier this week, it was revealed that Jennifer Flavin had filed for divorce from the Rocky star after more than 25 years of marriage.
Speculation as to whether the couple had broken up started before this news was confirmed, especially when Stallone covered a tattoo of his wife with a portrait of his late pooch, Butkus.
But this isn't the dog who was rumoured to have sparked their breakup. Instead it was Stallone's Rottweiler, Dwight.
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Sources close to the couple told TMZ that the 76-year-old had wanted to get Dwight for protection, but Flavin was not in favour of the idea.
So much so that they claimed it triggered an argument big enough to cause their split.
However, these rumours have since been quashed by Stallone himself, who told the publication that while there were disagreements over how to look after the pet as they both have to travel, they wouldn't end their marriage over something like that.
"We did not end the relationship on such a trivial argument," he said, adding: "We just went in different directions.
"I have the highest respect for Jennifer. I will always love her. She's an amazing woman. She's the nicest human being I've ever met."
Regarding the tattoo cover-up, a rep for Stallone previously said the inking was a result of a botched refresh of his wife’s portrait on his arm.
They told the MailOnline: "Mr Stallone intended to refresh the tattoo image of his wife Jennifer however the results were unsatisfactory and, unfortunately, unfixable.
"As a result, he had to cover the original image with a tattoo of his dog from Rocky, Butkus. Mr Stallone loves his family."
Fans also speculated that their marriage was on the rocks when Flavin, 54, shared a photo in which she was seen hugging their three daughters.
Alongside the snap, she wrote: "These girls are my priority. Nothing else matters. The 4 of us forever."
According to a previous TMZ report, the former model filed for divorce in Florida on Friday 19 August.
Stallone told the outlet via his representative: "I love my family. We are amicably and privately addressing these personal issues."
The couple first met in 1988 when Flavin was just 20 years old, shortly after the actor's second marriage to Brigitte Nielsen had ended.
They didn't get married until 1997, at which point Stallone was entering his autumn years and had calmed down on his 'playboy' lifestyle – to some extent.
Flavin previously said: "I'm not naïve about what may go on when I'm not around – he's a 45-year-old man – I can't change the way he is.
"Still, he's not a cheating dog every day of the week. We spend five out of seven nights together, so I don't know where he'd find the time."
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