Tina Knowles Reveals She Divorced Actor Richard Lawson Because She ‘Deserved So Much Better’

Richard Lawson, Tina Knowles

Tina Knowles Reveals She Divorced Actor Richard Lawson Because She ‘Deserved So Much Better’

In her memoir “Matriarch,” Tina Knowles reveals the moment she knew her marriage to Richard Lawson “needed to end.” At 69 years old, in July 2023, she “woke up” and realized the relationship no longer served her, despite Richard Lawson’s “great qualities.”

Though she’d discussed her feelings with him for some time, she concluded,

“I deserved so much more.”

Tina Knowles wrote she “wanted to be happy” and felt she’d never be “whole, cherished, loved and respected” if she stayed. She admitted pressure to model “a second chance at love,” but ultimately chose herself.

“I made the decision to divorce with a heavy heart but totally without malice,” she shared, adding, “I have not lost a night of sleep over it.”

Reflecting on her healing, Tina Knowles said she “thrived” post-divorce, focusing on what brings her “joy and security.” She found renewed self-confidence and clarity that she “would lead a fulfilled life” alone.

After filing, she noticed online criticism—mostly from women—which made her reflect on internalized sexism. At Jay-Z’s mother’s wedding, Tyler Perry supported her, saying she was setting an example for women stuck in unhappy marriages. Now, Tina’s “spending time with a friend,” a “very nice gentleman,” and says, “We’ll see what happens.”

What do y’all think?

PG