The high-profile divorce between Jenna Dewan and Channing Tatum has taken a contentious turn, with Dewan accusing Tatum of employing legal tactics to stall the proceedings. Dewan, the 43-year-old actress and former "World of Dance" host, has demanded court sanctions against Tatum for what she describes as attempts to delay their divorce settlement and obstruct the release of crucial financial documents.
In court filings obtained by In Touch, Dewan has requested that Tatum's legal team, comprised of firms Glaser Weil and Blank Rome, be disqualified from the case. Dewan argues that these firms, which had previously handled business matters for the couple during their marriage, now have a conflict of interest due to their involvement in transactions related to Tatum's lucrative "Magic Mike" franchise. Dewan claims that Tatum is using this legal maneuver to hide income and delay a fair property settlement.
"Channing is using every trick in the book to stall this case from getting to trial," Dewan's lawyer, Samantha Spector, asserted in the filing. "He is depriving Jenna of a fair and equal share of the community estate, and he is prejudicing her every day that this case continues." Spector has also requested $20,000 in sanctions against Tatum, arguing that his tactics are prejudicing Dewan's case and benefiting him by allowing him to collect Magic Mike proceeds without compensating Dewan appropriately.
Tatum, 44, has responded by accusing Dewan of using the disqualification request as a "delay tactic" to prolong the divorce. Tatum's legal team has argued that they have made extensive efforts to settle the case amicably, including numerous settlement proposals and mediations. They deny any conflict of interest or wrongdoing, stating that Dewan's claims are unfounded and serve only to delay proceedings.
According to court documents reviewed by Page Six, Tatum's attorneys have described Dewan's motion as an attempt to obstruct the divorce process. They argue that Tatum has consistently sought to resolve issues directly and fairly. "Channing has made countless settlement proposals, attended multiple mediations, and his attorneys have prepared numerous drafts of a proposed judgment," a representative from Tatum's team said.
The couple's legal battle dates back to their separation in 2018. While they quickly reached a custody agreement for their daughter, Everly, significant disputes remain regarding the division of property, particularly concerning Tatum's earnings from the "Magic Mike" franchise. Dewan contends that she is entitled to 50 percent of Tatum's income from the franchise and accuses him of creating a complex network of LLCs to obscure and hide these profits.
The divorce case has been further complicated by the involvement of Dewan's current fiancé, Steve Kazee, who has been drawn into the legal conflict. Kazee, a Tony Award-winning actor, and Dewan, who became engaged in 2020, have two children together. The ongoing dispute with Tatum has cast a shadow over their personal lives and brought additional public scrutiny.
The stakes in the divorce proceedings remain high as Dewan and Tatum navigate their way through a contentious legal process. Tatum's recent engagement to actress Zoë Kravitz and Dewan's family life with Kazee have only intensified the public's interest in the case. As both sides continue to spar over legal tactics and financial disclosures, the resolution of their divorce remains uncertain.
