The Rev. Al Sharpton filed for divorce from his wife whom he’s been separated for 17 years. The former couple met in the 70’s, wed in the 80’s, and called it quits in 2004.
After 40 years of marriage, Rev. Al Sharpton filed for divorce from his estranged wife Kathy Jordan Sharpton.
On Thursday, the Baptist minister submitted legal documents to the Manhattan Supreme Court to end their marriage. The move only comes 17 years after they separated. Since the 2004 split, Sharpton and Jordan, co-founder and president of the National Action Network, lived in different residences.
Now, rumors are flying that Sharpton may be prepared to marry his much-younger girlfriend, 42-year-old Aisha McShaw whom he began dating in 2013.
The pair met in 1971 while Sharpton was touring with James Brown, and Jordan was Brown’s backup singer. The civil rights leaders married Jordan nine years later, in 1980. The couple had two daughters together, Dominique and Ashley, before separating 14 years later.
Since 2013, Sharpton has been linked to girlfriend and fashion designer, Aisha McShaw.
The divorce, after a long separation, sparked rumors that the baptist minister plans to wed McShaw. We’ll have to wait to see if that’s true.
Sharpton’s aide, Rachel Noerdlinger, told the Daily News in 2013, “His exact words to me were, ‘Rachel, I’m not announcing an engagement or a marriage. Don’t I have a right to date when my marriage has been over for a decade?’”
McShaw debuted her ready-to-wear collection in 2017 during New York Fashion Week. She told Essence after her first show that, as a designer, she’s coming into the game with “something for all generations and something for every woman.” Her debut line reportedly launched with 46 signature pieces.
“Every woman wants to feel beautiful, confident, and empowered. That’s my line. It’s all about beauty and simplicity,” McShaw said at the time.
During the Obama administration, McShaw attended multiple White House events with Sharpton. A 2016 Vanity Fair feature described her as the rev’s “girlfriend of six years.”
McShaw’s website also reported:
“Aisha McShaw is a luxury womenswear made-to-order brand designed by Aisha McShaw. Aisha’s mission as the CEO of her namesake brand is to empower women. With over ten years in the banking industry, she diverged into the world of fashion to follow her passion. She began her fashion journey as a stylist, styling housewives, corporate women, celebrities, and attending numerous red carpet events herself. Influenced by old Hollywood glamour, she wanted to create timeless pieces for herself that she did not see on the market.”
According to AWM:
After coming forward as Sharpton’s girlfriend, McShaw enjoyed many of the benefits of Sharpton’s attention. She attended events at the White House in 2014, where she enjoyed dinner with the Obamas when they hosted French President Francois Hollande. She was also a guest at the popular White House Correspondents dinner in 2014, 2015, and 2016.
Now that Sharpton has officially filed for divorce, rumors are flying regarding his love life with McShaw. Is Sharpton finally ready to move on from Jordan and tie the knot with his young girlfriend? Or is he filing for divorce now for other reasons?
Sources: AWM, TMZ, Vanity Fair
