Chris Rock has reflected on the behaviour that damaged his 18-year marriage.
The comedian reflects on his conduct during his 18-year marriage to Malaak Compton-Rock and says he stopped watching pornography five to six years ago.
Chris Rock has acknowledged that pornography addiction and infidelity contributed to the breakdown of his 18-year marriage to Malaak Compton-Rock. The American comedian and actor also admitted that his behaviour caused significant harm to their relationship.
Rock, 61, described himself as a poor husband as he reflected on his conduct during the marriage. Beyond his pornography use, he acknowledged periods of cruelty, poor communication and affairs with three women.
He also discussed how fame and success shaped his view of himself. Rock said his achievements inflated his self-image and encouraged him to test his limits before he confronted his mistakes.
To explain that experience, he compared himself to a comic-book character overwhelmed by newly discovered powers. Such a character pushes those abilities too far before realising he is not invincible, he said.
Rock reflects on pornography addiction and personal change
Rock said he struggled with pornography addiction for years but has since stopped watching adult content. He put the time since he last watched it at five to six years.
Although he expressed no pride in that period, he described it as something he had to work through. He also said his eventual reckoning humbled him, adding that he deserved that experience.
Rock married Compton-Rock, now 57, in 1996, and they have two daughters, Lola and Zahra. They announced their separation in 2014 after 18 years of marriage, then finalised their divorce in 2016.
Despite the split, the former couple have remained connected through their daughters. They recently came together to celebrate Zahra’s graduation from the University of Southern California.
