For the Hour, Larry King's Already Nasty Divorce

By PopEater Staff Posted Apr 15th 2010 08:55AM

Less than 24 hours after dining together at a popular steakhouse in Beverly Hills, Larry King filed for divorce from his seventh wife, Shawn Southwick, and since then, the rumor mill has been grinding non-stop with reports of infidelity and erratic behavior by both parties.

Both of their divorce filings cite "irreconcilable differences" for the sudden split; now, the rush is on to uncover exactly what came between the two.

Sources tell TMZ that Southwick believes King has been having a five-year affair with her sister. Apparently, she checked his credit card statement and saw King had bought expensive gifts, including a $160,000 car, but none of it was given to Southwick. Her sister, Shannon Engemann, has flatly denied the affair, which was first alleged in a 2009 National Enquirer report.

King employees tell RadarOnline.com that Engemann is a regular visitor to the office and that "their relationship seemed very natural."

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May-December Couples

Larry King (1933) and Shawn Southwick (1959)
Status: Divorcing
Age Difference: 26 years

Paul Morigi, WireImage

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Engemann has already shot back at the rumors, denying a sexual relationship and insisting that King has "been like a father to me."

For her part, Southwick is also being accused of past infidelities. According to PopEater sources, rumors have been circulating that the 50-year-old former singer has been having an affair of her own in recent months -- with an employee of King's.

And in 2008, the Enquirer reported she had an affair with the baseball coach of her and Larry's son.

A friend close to the situation tells PopEater that King and Southwick have been "fighting a lot" in recent months and that the CNN star appeared to be in a bad mood while at dinner with his soon-to-be ex-wife the night before they both filed for divorce.

The CNN talk host, 76, and Southwick, 50, tied the knot in 1997 and have two sons together, 11-year-old Chance and Cannon, 9. This will actually be the eighth divorce from seven different women for the CNN host. She has an older son from one of her three previous marriages.

King and Southwick exchanged vows in a hospital room shortly before he went into surgery for a clogged blood vessel.

Touching wedding aside, the couple made their last day a cold and calculated one full of court filings. King's spokesperson Howard Rubenstein told PEOPLE that King's "major concern is the welfare of his children" and that the talk host is asking the court for joint custody of their two kids and to deny Southwick any spousal support. Minutes after he filed, Southwick's lawyer followed suit, asking for primary physical custody as well as spousal and child support.

Other issues have emerged in the turbulent marriage.

The couple caused a stir in 2007 when they engaged in a very public spat inside and out of a Beverly Hills restaurant. The heated incident forced King's longtime rep, Rubenstein, to clarify: "He only has good feelings about her. He's deeply concerned about her well-being. He has enormous affection for her. He denies berating her."

In 2008, Southwick, a former TV host, entered rehab for addiction to painkillers. Her father, Karl Engmann, told PEOPLE that the issue was related to painful migraines. "She finally decided to do something about it," he said. "We're happy she's taking care of herself and everything will be fine."

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Tags: larry king

Comments

(246)

Thursday 15 April

By jillian

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

can you imagine having to have sex with a 76 year old man?eww..vomit...

By Ellen in CT.

Not all 76 year old men are as uggo and nasty as king! Some still got it going on. By the way you will be 76 some day (if you are lucky), so don't be so quick to generalize about age.

By ignoranceabounds

Gee really! Really. You can't imagine your parents or grandparents loving each other to have adult intimate relationships. Hmmmm. How about the late Paul Newman does that make adult relationships easier for your I-want-a-16-year-old-mentality. How about Clint. Nah? Oh, I see Adult Intimate Relationships is only for teenagers which explains all the children born to 14 year old Mommies who don't know or wouldn't know how to do anything sexual but fake an O. Thank you all for you your Adult references to a natural act. Inspiring. Really. NOW go read about position 103 of tandum and get back with us Adults. TOKAY.

By joy linsk

lol, that was very funny!!!!! :)

By JulieBum

Larry King's wife is nothing but a goldigger anyone can see that-cmon now- If Larry King wasn't famous and was just an ordinary person on the street you think for one minute she would even date him???? Get real- It is all about the money- dinerooo moolahhhhhhhhhh

By Jim L

Vote down Vote up Report this

Hey now, watch your mouth!

By charles wallace

This is why he is "KING"! Typical entertainment, "Marriage in LA- LA Land". It's payout and buyout time for the "KING".

By WT

Intesting. He knocked her up when he was 65 years old? Go you old dog. And, I can't blame her for "seeing" other men. Bedding that nasty old coot probably explains her addiction to pain killers, which were probably washed down with a few stiff drinks so she would not remember.

Otherwise... who cares?

By B-Man

"A few stiff drinks", of course. Probably the only thing stiff in that bedroom.

When they married he was 63 and she was 37 and it was "until death do we part". Apparently she got tired of waiting.

By Greg

Why don't you get some morals and grow up. Oh, let me guess, you are a conservative. This means that you only pretend to have morals, but you don't behave like you do.

By big t

This sounds down right disturbing, you want to puke just from the thought of it.

By flyfishrev

His SEVENTH marriage?!?!? No wonder!! That's what happens when these rich, old geezers marry "trophy wives" half their age. Obviously, King has a serious problem.

By mybri

Actually his 8th marriage.
He married on of his ex-s twice.

By OU812IC?

@ flyfishrev: But what does that say about the women who WANT to be "trophy" wives? What is there motive? We all know and YOU should know yourself that these women are NOT marrying for love. At least Larry King made a name for himself and became successful, perhaps Larry got tired of the 7 wives trying to get over on him? ANY woman that wants to be that type of wife has more of a serious problem then Larry does...Keep in mind there are 2 sides to every coin...

By P Hedges

I agree. Being married as many times as Larry, it is hard to believe THIS marriage would last. Remember when he was on talk-radio? He had a temper and would hang up on callers.

By Wendy

They are both to blame, obviously....Please put us out of our misery by not having to look at their disgraceful faces. Let them split and have it be over. Let someone with real morals take care of their kids. Hollywood....another name for Nasty!

By glenda

Wendy, I read this line in a book: "Hollywood is just street trash with money". This says it all.

By jivejerky

Money definitely buys your way outta ugly

By frrickrod

Marriage, at least, is an arrangement to help nurture children. What the hell is going on here? Too much sex with too many different people--spoils everything--especially for the children. Should we tell the parents to Grow Up?

By zak17

YUCK! I am just so surprised that people would really care about this 8 time marriage loser interview anyone as if he has some intelligent perspective on anything. Looks like he and soon-to-be ex use the same plastic surgeon -- look at the cheeks and mouth. EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

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