The Real Reason Robin Thicke And Paula Patton Divorced

Singer Robin Thicke and actress Paula Patton were once one of Hollywood's sweetest and most adored couples. Having met and dated as teenagers, the duo had what everyone thought was lasting love, but the marriage began to crumble befoe our eyes in 2014. In October of that year, after nine years of marriage, Patton filed for divorce, marking the end of a romance many had come to respect and the beginning of a dark, nasty split that shocked their fans. From allegations of child abuse and drug addiction, to tanking careers and embarrassing behavior, there are numerous reasons this power couple pulled the plug.

After that much maligned VMA performance with Cyrus, Thicke soon found himself embroiled in even more drama off the stage. This time, a photo of Thicke posing with a fan caused the uproar. As the story goes, a beautiful blonde by the name of Lana Scolaro snapped a picture with the crooner at an MTV after party. Little did she know there was a mirror behind them showing Thicke helping himself to a large helping of Scolaro's backside. "I knew his hand was on my butt, but didn't know that there was a mirror," she told E! News after the picture spread like wildfire across the internet. She also denied claims that she'd Photoshopped the image to make it appear more scandalous. "I didn't even know that was the reflection until I uploaded it, and someone commented on it," she said. "I was just like, 'Oh I'll Instagram this photo with Robin Thicke, like everybody else.'"

Fans immediately began tweeting Patton about the image. In response to the drama, an insider for the couple told E! News the racy snap was a "non-issue," which could have been code for a war brewing at home. Days after the snafu, what appeared to be damage-control photos of a happy looking family surfaced online.

Although Thicke and Pharrell Williams achieved chart-topping success with "Blurred Lines," the family of Motown icon Marvin Gaye claimed the pop stars stole their hit song from Gaye's catalog. The family filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit claiming the duo ripped off Gaye's famous 1977 song "Got to Give It Up," reported Us Weekly. After a lengthy trial, during which Thicke confessed to being so drugged up he was unable to fully participate in the writing process, a jury ordered Thicke and Williams to pay a stunning $7.3 million.

Williams testified in court that their song was not an "infringement" but rather, shared a "feel" with Gaye's tune. "While we respect the judicial process, we were extremely disappointed in the ruling made today, which sets a horrible precedent for music and creativity going forward," the duo said in a joint statement (via Us Weekly). "'Blurred Lines' was created from the heart and minds of Pharrell, Robin and T.I. and not taken from anyone or anywhere else..."

During a deposition for the trial (via People), an attorney asked Thicke, "Do you consider yourself an honest person?" That loaded question received an incredibly blunt response. "No," Thicke said. "That's why I'm separated. I told my wife the truth. That's why she left me."

Thicke has been open about his battles with drug and alcohol abuse. In an April 2014 deposition for his "Blurred Lines" lawsuit, he confessed to substance abuse. In the court documents (via People), Thick says he "didn't do a sober interview" while promoting the song. "Everyday I woke up, I would take a Vicodin to start the day and then I would fill up a water bottle with vodka and drink it before and during my interviews."

In the deposition, Thicke also said he had nothing to do with the creation of his smash song. "I was high on Vicodin and alcohol when I showed up at the studio," he said (via The Hollywood Reporter). "...nine months later, it became a huge hit and I wanted credit. So I started kind of convincing myself that I was a little more part of it than I was...But the reality is, is that Pharrell had the beat and he wrote almost every single part of the song." At the end of the deposition, Thicke claimed to have given up Vicodin, but not booze.

In January 2017, a custody battle between Thicke and Patton erupted over allegations that the singer may be abusive toward their 6-year-old son, Julian. According to TMZ, Julian told school officials his father spanks and punches him, which prompted the school to file a complaint with the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. In legal documents, Patton said Julian also told her that Thicke spanked him "really hard," reported TMZ.

Thicke defended his parenting in legal documents: "On a very rare occasion and only as a last resort, I will use light spanking, but it is consistent with the law—open hand on the butt," he said (via Us Weekly). "This is the type of discipline to which Paula and I agreed during our marriage."

Patton reportedly tried to restrict Thicke's visitation with their child. According to Us Weekly, she filed an emergency order requesting a drug test and only monitored visits with Thicke, but a source said the "judge denied everything in [Patton's] complaint" and that "Child Protective Services didn't see any evidence of wrongdoing."

However, on Jan. 26, 2017, a judge issued a domestic violence restraining order forbidding the singer from coming in contact with Paula and Julian, reported TMZ. Sources told the tab the court's decision was prompted by Thicke "banging on" Patton's door when he went to her house for a scheduled visit with their son and she refused to answer. Thicke reportedly denied that version of events.

Did some of this marital stress stem from tensions between Patton and her father-in-law, Growing Pains star Alan Thicke? Robin claims there was little love between his father and his ex-wife. When Alan unexpectedly died of a heart attack, at age 69, Robin reportedly banned Patton from attending the services. In court documents pertaining to the aforementioned custody battle, Robin alleged (via TMZ), "Paula did not have a positive relationship with my father and often made negative comments to me about my father. As such, she was not welcome at his funeral."

Robin and Patton began dating as teenagers, so just how long had that bad blood been brewing? It's unclear, considering Patton has shown no signs of ill will toward her former father-in-law. In the wake of his passing, she posted a loving tribute on Instagram: "I knew Alan since I was 15 years old and he had a tremendous effect on my life. I loved and respected him so much! So many great memories and laughs together. We will miss him so much! His grandson is quite sure he is still here with us in spirit."