Beyoncé’s Mother Tina Knowles Files for Divorce From Richard Lawson

Tina Knowles and Richard Lawson are ending their marriage after eight years.

TMZ reports that Knowles, 69, filed for divorce on Wednesday, citing irreconcilable differences between herself and the 76-year-old actor. Ms. Tina reportedly asked the court to waive any spousal support in either direction.

Beyoncé’s mom wed her second husband in April 2015 after beginning a relationship in 2013. They met decades prior, as Lawson charmingly recalled in a 2019 interview.

"When I first met Tina, she was pregnant with Beyoncé. ... I thought she was one of the prettiest women I’d ever seen in my life," he said. "She was even more beautiful inside. She had a very quiet, beautiful spirit. ... She was married and we respected that. We were friends over the years. I went to Houston for the Shakespeare festival in the park in the ’80s. I brought [actress daughter Bianca Lawson] with me and she stayed at Tina’s house and she took care of Bianca with Beyoncé. ... When Beyoncé’s career took off, I didn’t see Tina much for a period of time. Six or so years ago we reconnected."

Tina was married to Mathew Knowles—with whom she had Beyoncé and Solange—from 1980 to 2011.

Lawson, a Purple Heart-decorated Vietnam War veteran, was also wed once before, to Denise Gordy. His 52-year career onscreen includes credits on How Stella Got Her Groove Back, For Colored Girls, Poltergeist, and Grey's Anatomy.