According to AJC.com, Vanessa released a statement saying, “After a great deal of deliberation and prayer, I have decided to terminate my marriage to Bishop Eddie L. Long. Accordingly, I authorized my attorneys to file for divorce on December 1, 2011.”
Her statement continued, “It is my sincere hope that this matter can be resolved expeditiously, harmoniously and fairly. I ask that you respect my privacy and that of my family, as my attorneys and I have agreed that we will not try this case in the media, and I do not intend to make any further statements concerning this matter.”
Today’s news may not come as a shock to many. For months now, Bishop Long has been battling these accusations. He eventually settled with his four accusers earlier this year for an undisclosed sum — some claim it was as much as $15M.
Back in August, two of Bishop Long’s accusers, Spencer LeGrande and Jamal Parris, came forward and announced they would be writing a tell-all book, sharing details of their encounters with the Bishop over the last 10 years.
Bishop Long has yet to respond to the divorce filing.
UPDATE: Just hours after Bishop Edddie Long’s wife Vanessa Long announced she’d filed for divorce, it seems she’s already had a change of heart. Earlier this morning Long released a statement detailing why she’d decided to part ways with the Bishop, but ust as many were hearing this news for the first time, the AJC.com ran an updated story claiming Mrs. Long has decided to withdraw her divorce petition.
“Upon prayerful reflection, I have reconsidered and plan to withdraw my petition for divorce from my husband, Bishop Eddie L. Long,” she said in an emailed statement bearing the New Birth logo. “I love my husband. I believe in him and admire his strength and courage.”