14 DAY TRIAL // The nasty little details in the recent divorce between Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith are beginning to emerge. The two actors announced their split last week, and since then the media has been keen to find out the reason they decided to quit after almost 20 years.
Accoding to a report from Classicalite, Antonio felt that he had already paid his dues to Melanie when he stood by her during so many botched plastic surgeries, as well as plenty of substance abuse. Of course, the actress managed to put all of that behind her, but it might all have been a little too late.
As it turns out, Banderas has long given up on his marriage, presumably getting fed up with Melanie, and it's said that he has been cheating on her for years, seducing young women all over Europe and Mexico.
The same report would have us believe that it was Antonio who drove Melanie to file for divorce, forcing her hand to seek the separation, in order to keep his reputation in the press. In his mind, he had to keep up appearances and not seem like he was running out on his wife and 17-year-old daughter.
That's why he began his playboy campaign years ago, which is about the same time he “checked out” of his marriage, according to an insider. After their June 6 announcement that they were going to get divorced, it emerged the couple was sitting on a $65 million (€47,9 million) fortune that needed dividing.
The insider paints a complete picture: “The truth is that Antonio pretty much checked out of their marriage years ago. But he left it to Melanie to file for divorce because he thought it would make him look like the bad guy.”
“Antonio had really distanced himself from her over the past few months, and then to see him frolicking around France with another woman--it broke her heart. Melanie was shattered,” concludes the insider.
So far, there hasn't been any dispute in that regard, but then again, things haven't really moved into that direction yet. Given more time, some issues are bound to pop up along the way. So far, the only problem seems to be custody of the family dogs, which Melanie seems to be desperate to get.
This would explain why just yesterday Melanie stepped out for a film festival in Taormina, Italy, without her wedding ring and with Antonio's name covered up by make-up on her famous heart tattoo from her arm. This should be read as a sign that she's finally over her husband.