It was recently reported that the publicity-shy actor, Robert De Niro, and his long-time wife, Grace Hightower, want to end their 20-plus year union. De Niro filed the petition anonymously in order to avoid public notice. In Texas and across the country, whenever high-profile couples seek a complex divorce, it’s often difficult to avoid public scrutiny.
De Niro filed the divorce late in 2018, listing the parties as “Anonymous v. Anonymous.” In spite of the actor’s intentions to keep the proceedings private, Hightower is reportedly attempting to goad the actor into appearing publicly to handle their divorce. According to her attorney, the actor initiated the divorce and will have to accept the publicity that is typically part of the process.
De Niro purportedly abhors public appearances and has reprimanded reporters who have appeared at the courthouse to cover the divorce. De Niro and Hightower are the parents of two children, ages 7 and 20. They are reportedly fighting over visitation and custody issues regarding the youngest child. The couple did sign a prenuptial agreement, though details have not been disclosed publicly.
Ms. Hightower is reportedly willing to forgo some assets in her quest to ensure that De Niro faces publicity during their proceedings. According to a spokesperson for De Niro, he only seeks visitation with his children and is not concerned with financial matters at this time. Texas residents who are facing their own complex divorce proceedings typically rely on an attorney who is skilled in handling these types of situations.