Channing Tatum has slammed his ex-wife Jenna Dewan’s request for spousal support, and hit back at claims he hid assets from her.
The former couple, who share 10-year-old daughter Everly, announced their split in April 2018, after almost nine years of marriage.
Since then, Channing and Jenna have been locked in a legal battle over the division of their assets, including the distribution of money the actor earns from the lucrative Magic Mike franchise.
Jenna has demanded she should get a cut of the earnings since they were still married when the idea for the stripper series was developed.
During a hearing at a Los Angeles court last month, Jenna’s attorney, Samantha Spector, said her client received “some” money, however, it is still unknown to them how much should be divided between the exes as the mother-of-one alleged that Channing had full control over their finances and trust.
At the time, her attorney told Judge David Wasserman: “The Magic Mike intellectual property and all the proceeds thereon is the elephant in the room.
“We have, for the last couple of years, been trying to meaningfully resolve this case, but every time we do, we get stuck on that issue with Magic Mike. We are dealing with a potential billion-dollar asset.”
But in new court documents obtained DailyMail.com, Channing vehemently denied these claims and said: “I have always agreed for her to have an interest in the Magic Mike intellectual property and related entities.
“I have never denied her share of any community assets or income. Her claims that I have ‘colluded with third parties’ are completely false.
“She has had complete access to all our financial records for all activities during our marriage and since separation. I continue to provide her with updates regarding Magic Mike financial matters.”
Jenna has filed a motion asking the LA Superior Court for the Magic Mike revenue issue be “bifurcated”, which means it would be dealt with in a separate trial.
However, Channing has opposed bifurcation and wants all their disputes settled together, to finalise their divorce case “without further delay”.
He has also accused his ex of “delaying tactics to prolong resolution of our financial settlement… and to seek a windfall from me.”
In the new documents, the 44-year-old also hit back at Jenna’s request for spousal support, and said he doesn’t believe its “appropriate”.
He said: “I do not believe (Dewan’s) request for spousal support is appropriate. We had a short term marriage of eight years and eight months and separated over six years ago. Dewan started co-habiting with her fiancé (Steve Kazee) shortly after our separation five and a half years ago.”
“Dewan works, is able to contribute to her own support and will receive one half of the community property, residuals and royalties and income from other investments.
“She will also have substantial investment income fro the cash assets she has received in our divorce. She has received millions of dollars in cash assets.
“She will receive additional cash assets when the remainder of our estate is divided and post separation accounting is finalized.
“There are not, nor have there ever been, any orders for temporary spousal support. I believe she is now requesting spousal support from me to further delay our financial settlement.”
The former Hollywood couple, who were married from 2009 to 2019 have since moved on to other relationships.
Channing is engaged to actress Zoë Kravitz, while Jenna is expecting her second baby with fiancé Steve Kazee. The pair also have a three-year-old son, Callum.
The first Magic Mike film was largely based on Channing’s own experience as a young stripper when he lived in Florida.
Channing co-financed the modest $7 million project alongside director Steven Soderbergh, which became a box office hit and earned roughly $167 million globally.
Two other movies followed, and a striptease show based on the movie has also garnered huge success.
Channing’s attorney Jacqueline Combs has insisted that the Magic Mike franchise made most of its money after he and Jenna had already separated.
In the new court papers, he said: “Contrary to Dewan’s allegations, I have only acted in the best interest of the community throughout our marriage and since separation.
“I have expended substantial post-separation efforts to enhance the Magic Mike intellectual property and I have also licensed my name and likeness to the related business.
“I believe these post-separation efforts give rise to my separate property claims to those assets but they have also benefitted the community. Without my post-separation efforts, the Magic Mike entities would have failed.”
In response to claims he potentially hid assets from her in a trust, he added: “She is wrong.
“Together, Dewan and I established an irrevocable trust to invest in certain businesses and made Everly the sole beneficiary. This was done with Dewan’s knowledge and involvement.”
The exes are due back in court on May 15th, with a trial scheduled for December.
