Lionel Richie Details 1988 Marriage-Ending Scandal

Lionel Richie, in his memoir Truly, for the first time recounts the infamous June 1988 confrontation between his first wife Brenda Harvey-Richie and then-partner Diane Alexander, calling the episode 'the scandal of my century.' Richie says he and Brenda were separated and that he had been hiding at a beach home before visiting Alexander’s Beverly Hills apartment, where Brenda appeared and a 'massive confrontation' in a small entryway prompted neighbors to call police; Brenda was arrested on suspicion of corporal injury, resisting arrest and battery, though charges were later dropped. He describes the fight as 'raw and ugly and disastrous,' says the most painful part was that Brenda was heartbroken, and admits the incident helped him decide to end the marriage and had been something he avoided addressing until now. Beyond the brawl, Truly covers nearly 60 years of fame and heartbreak, including his father's illness, a threatening throat surgery, and struggles with his mental health. The memoir also recounts how he found solace in fatherhood through adopting Nicole Richie and leaned on guidance from mentors like Gregory Peck as he processed the chaos of fame and scandal.