'Top Five' Star Chris Rock and Wife, Malaak Compton-Rock, Call it Quits After 19-Years of Marriage [DETAILS]

MStars News has learned that Top Five star, Chris Rock, and his wife of almost 20 years, Malaak Compton-Rock, have decided to split just days after Christmas.

According to People, Rock and his wife will proceed with getting a divorce.

"After much contemplation and 19 years of marriage, Chris and I have decided to go our separate ways," Malaak Compton-Rock, who is a philanthropist and the founder of the nonprofit styleWorks, revealed in a public statement over the weekend. "Being fortunate enough to lead a life of service by working with those most vulnerable makes me well aware of life's blessings, even when faced with difficulties."

The statement continued, "While recognizing that this is a significant change, my children remain at the center of my life and their well-being is my top priority. It is in this spirit that I sincerely ask that their privacy and the privacy of our family be respected during this transition in our lives."

Rock's attorney, Robert S. Cohen, stated:

"Chris Rock has filed for divorce from his wife, Malaak," Cohen adds, "This is a personal matter and Chris requests privacy as he and Malaak work through this process and focus on their family.”

The I Think I Love My Wife star, Rock, 49, married Compton-Rock, 45, in November 1996. They have two daughters, Lola Simone, 12, and Zahra Savannah, 10, and they reside in Alpine, New Jersey.

In 2007, Rock faced drama when another woman claimed that he fathered her son while he was still married, but DNA test proved that he was not the father.

In happier times, Rock said, "The best part is just having a partner," describing marriage. "There is no real worst part. I'm not going to say there's a worst part. I mean, I'm a comedian – comedians like to work alone. So maybe I'm not the ideal guy to be married to, in that sense."