Lionel Richie Details 1988 Domestic Scandal Involving Two Wives

Lionel Richie has opened up in his memoir "Truly" about a tumultuous period in 1988 when his first wife, Brenda Harvey-Richie, confronted him and his then-mistress Diane Alexander at Alexander's Beverly Hills apartment, leading to a violent altercation that resulted in Brenda's arrest on multiple charges. Richie described the incident as "the scandal of my century," revealing that he and Brenda were already separated at the time, and the confrontation was a moment of intense emotional pain and chaos. Despite the turmoil, Richie acknowledged the heartbreak and complexity of their relationship, which ended in divorce in 1993 after 18 years of marriage. Richie later married Diane Alexander, with whom he had two children, but that marriage also ended in divorce in 2004. He expressed deep respect for both ex-wives, praising their strength and devotion as mothers. The incident and its aftermath illustrate the raw and painful realities behind Richie's public persona as a master of love songs.