At noon on February 18, the Chinese entertainment industry was shaken by the confirmation that Chen Xiao and Michelle Chen divorced after 9 years of marriage. The news quickly climbed to the number one trending topic on Weibo, attracting significant public attention.
On her personal social media account, Michelle Chen emotionally shared: “Thank you for our encounter. From now on, we will go our separate ways. But no matter what, we are still the parents of our child and will raise him together.” She also tagged Chen Xiao’s account as an official confirmation. The actor also released a similar statement, affirming the end of their marriage.
Public Speculations on Marital Strain
In reality, rumors of their strained relationship had circulated for a long time. Many signs indicated that the couple had lost their emotional connection. Since early 2023, they had stopped publicly congratulating each other on birthdays or wedding anniversaries. Notably, during the recent Lunar New Year, they did not celebrate together—a clear sign of their separation.
In June 2024, renowned entertainment blogger Jiang Xiaoyan revealed that Chen Xiao had proposed divorce at the end of 2023. He was willing to leave empty-handed, without claiming any assets, solely wishing to end the marriage quickly. Following this, he moved out of their home, cut off contact with Michelle Chen, changed his phone number, and even blocked her social media accounts. During this time, Michelle could only reach him through friends or lawyers, which deeply affected her emotional well-being.
Speculations about the involvement of a “third party” also stirred public discussion. However, neither Chen Xiao nor Michelle Chen ever confirmed or denied these allegations.
By September 2024, rumors spread that the couple had reached an agreement on asset division and child custody. After prolonged negotiations, they were said to be finalizing the divorce procedures. Another telling sign was when Michelle Chen’s father passed away in early September 2024, yet Chen Xiao did not travel to Taiwan to pay respects or make any public gestures to honor his late father-in-law.
Although they had been silently separated for a long time, Chen Xiao and Michelle Chen finally made their divorce official in a calm and low-key manner. Despite no longer being husband and wife, they remain committed to co-parenting their son, ending their marriage with mutual respect.
What was Chen Xiao and Michelle Chen’s married life like?
Six Years of Blissful Happiness
Chen Xiao and Michelle Chen met while filming the 2014 adaptation of The Return of the Condor Heroes, where they played Yang Guo and Xiaolongnü. According to media reports, Chen Xiao actively pursued Michelle after filming concluded. In 2015, he even commissioned a life-sized statue of her as a proposal gift and arranged for the proposal to take place on a yacht covered in roses.
The couple held their wedding in Beijing, China. In front of their guests and families, Chen Xiao vowed, “I will do my best to take care of you.” Michelle Chen emotionally responded, “Honestly, I never thought I would be this lucky—to meet the person I deeply love and become his wife. I will do my best to cherish this fortune.”
After marriage, Chen Xiao continued his career in the entertainment industry, while Michelle Chen reduced her film commitments to focus on family. She only accepted commercial endorsements and fashion events to maintain her presence in the industry. Despite their busy schedules, they frequently interacted and shared photos with each other.
On July 5, 2022, Chen Xiao celebrated his 35th birthday. Michelle Chen sweetly wished him, “Dear husband, every year, my birthday wish for you is the same—may you always be safe, healthy, and happy every day.” Chen Xiao playfully responded, “I want to take a break. May the heavens grant your wish immediately.”
Michelle Chen once shared in interviews that her husband was caring, often giving her massages when she was tired, and was skilled at household chores. He was gentle, calm, and kind-hearted. In their free time, they enjoyed watching movies, eating hotpot, and playing video games together. Though they had their share of conflicts, Michelle said she always focused on her husband’s good qualities.
Meanwhile, Chen Xiao frequently praised his wife in interviews and on social media, calling her intelligent, capable, and resourceful. He expressed gratitude for her dedication to their family, allowing him to focus on his career.
Three years of estrangement and complete breakdown
Since early 2023, Chen Xiao and Michelle Chen had stopped interacting publicly or expressing affection on birthdays and anniversaries. When asked about their marriage in interviews, both refused to comment. Michelle was also seen occasionally wearing and removing her wedding ring. Chen Xiao, on the other hand, did not visit his wife’s family during the Lunar New Year.
On September 7, 2024, Michelle Chen suffered the loss of her father in Taiwan. However, she did not receive any public support or condolences from her husband. Instead, Chen Xiao was busy filming and did not travel to Taiwan for the funeral. This further fueled speculation that their marriage had completely broken down beyond repair and that they had likely finalized their divorce but had yet to announce it publicly.
Additionally, Chen Xiao was criticized for his indifference, with many believing that regardless of marital issues, he should have fulfilled his filial duty as a son-in-law. His silence amid these controversies led to even more public scrutiny. Meanwhile, Michelle Chen expressed her wish for privacy during this emotional period.
Previously, netizens had already criticized Chen Xiao for neglecting his family due to marital conflicts. For over a year, he had not returned home to visit his wife and son. Michelle Chen had to go to his filming locations to discuss their child’s matters, but he refused to meet her. Later, he moved out, changed his phone number, and blocked her on social media. She could only contact him through his staff, friends, or lawyers when necessary.
By late September, after her father’s passing, Michelle Chen’s emotional distress may have contributed to her acceptance of the divorce. The couple reached an agreement on asset division and child custody, preparing to file for divorce officially. They reportedly planned to announce it publicly before the Lunar New Year of 2025.
Conclusion
Chen Xiao and Michelle Chen divorced after nine years together—six years of happiness followed by three years of turbulence leading to complete separation. We all understand that even for ordinary people, marriage can be difficult to maintain if both partners no longer align. For celebrities, constant travel and time apart for their careers further increase the risk of marital breakdown. Therefore, it is important to cherish every moment and embrace life’s changes with peace and acceptance.
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