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Marcellus was arrested on July 4 after officers responded to a report of a battery
NEED TO KNOW
- Marcellus Wiley said being arrested in front of his children on July 4 was “one of the most humiliating and heartbreaking experiences” of his life in new divorce documents obtained and reviewed by PEOPLE
- The former NFL player claimed “nothing had occurred that morning that would have caused me to believe police had been contacted”
- Annemarie Wiley claimed in her divorce filing on July 6 that Marcellus subjected her to “a continuing and escalating pattern of physical violence, sexual abuse, verbal and emotional abuse, financial control, and intimidation” during their marriage
Marcellus Wiley called the moment he was arrested for domestic violence in front of his children “one of the most humiliating and heartbreaking experiences” of his life in new divorce documents obtained by PEOPLE.
The former NFL player, 51, who shares three children with Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Annemarie Wiley, said the day he was arrested, July 4, “began as an ordinary day,” in a declaration that accompanied his official response to Annemarie’s request for a domestic violence restraining order filed with the Los Angeles County Court on July 17.
Marcellus said he was “spending time with my children, watching sports and enjoying the holiday” prior to the arrival of law enforcement. “Nothing had occurred that morning that would have caused me to believe police had been contacted. I was completely surprised when law enforcement officers arrived,” he claimed in the declaration.
“I was arrested in front of my children and others who were present,” the declaration continues. “It was one of the most humiliating and heartbreaking experiences of my life, particularly because I knew I had not abused my wife or my children.”
Marcellus, who was accused of assault by three others in 2023, was arrested around 4:30 p.m. on the Fourth of July after officers responded to a report of battery, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office told PEOPLE at the time. “Upon arrival, deputies met with the victim who stated Marcellus Wiley battered her,” officials said.
He was released on July 5 on $1,000 bond and then went to their son’s basketball game, according to Annemarie’s filing on July 6.
Annemarie and Marcellus share Marcellus Jr., 10, and daughters Ariya, 7, and Alivia, 6.
On Monday, July 6, Annemarie filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences, as well as a request for the domestic violence restraining order that Marcellus was responding to, PEOPLE confirmed.
Annemarie claimed in the filing that Marcellus “has subjected me to a continuing and escalating pattern of physical violence, sexual abuse, verbal and emotional abuse, financial control, and intimidation.”
She listed allegations that go back to 2012, per the documents, and claimed that the “most recent incident of abuse” took place on July 3 and 4, during a family trip to Orlando for their son’s basketball tournament.
Marcellus “yelled at me and forcefully jammed his finger into my face while I was lying in bed with our 7-year-old daughter,” Annemarie claims of the incident on July 3. “He told me that I cause him to treat me badly and that I bring it on myself.”
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In Marcellus’ response, the former NFL player said, “I would first like to say, reading Petitioner’s allegations was heartbreaking, embarrassing, and genuinely shocking.”
Marcellus admitted in the documents that he and Annemarie “did not have a perfect marriage” and “experienced disagreements, frustrations, and periods of marital strain,” but claimed, “However, I have never physically abused, sexually assaulted, or intentionally harmed my wife at any point during our relationship, either before we were married or during the more than twelve years that we have been husband and wife.”
PEOPLE reached out to reps for Annemarie and Marcellus for comment.
Read the original article on People
