\n<\/p>\n
Sylvester Stallone<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Jennifer Flavin<\/a>, officially have 27 years of marriage under their belts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In honor of the longtime Hollywood couple’s wedding anniversary, ET is looking back at their romance spanning 36 years, nearly three decades of marriage, and three children.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Things haven’t always been easy for the couple, so much so that Flavin filed for divorce in 2022. That didn’t last long, though, and now the family seems to be better than ever, even starring side by side in their own\u00a0Paramount+ family reality series,\u00a0<\/span>The Family Stallone<\/span><\/em>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Keep reading for a recap of the highs and lows of their Hollywood romance.<\/span><\/p>\n Stallone\u00a0and Flavin first met in 1988 at a restaurant in West Hollywood, California, when Stallone was at the height of his career. Flavin, 19 at the time, was dining out with a friend. At that point, Stallone was a bona fide A-list actor with several blockbuster films under his belt, including several <\/span>Rocky<\/span><\/em> and <\/span>Rambo<\/span><\/em> films. They dated for six years before splitting,\u00a0and it was <\/span>how<\/span><\/em>\u00a0Stallone ended things that really grabbed everyone’s attention.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Stallone and Flavin’s relationship ended on March 11, 1994, after Stallone FedEx’d her a handwritten — albeit, sloppy — letter to inform her of the split. According to <\/span>Yahoo<\/em><\/a>, Flavin received a FedEx\u00a0package with a “Dear Jennifer” letter in it. It was six pages, though no word if it was front <\/span>and<\/span><\/em> back.<\/span><\/p>\n Flavin would later reveal to <\/span>People<\/em><\/a>, “I cried a lot… You can’t just write somebody off in a letter after six years. It’s not like I was going to try to beg him to come back to me or anything. I just wanted to talk.”<\/span><\/p>\n Shortly after, the <\/span>Rocky<\/span><\/em> star started dating model Janice Dickinson. They would ultimately become engaged but, according to reports, the couple split after a paternity test proved Stallone was not the father of Dickinson’s daughter, Savannah.<\/span><\/p>\n Flavin told <\/span>People<\/span><\/em>\u00a0that she later learned from her agent at the Elite Modeling Agency\u00a0the real reason why Stallone abruptly ended things with her, a handwritten note notwithstanding. According to the outlet, Flavin learned that Stallone was having an affair with Dickinson.<\/span><\/p>\n “It hit me like a ton of bricks,” she said at the time. “I had no idea this was going to happen. We talked about us having children, about when I was going to get pregnant. We were already picking names, marking down names that he liked and I liked.”<\/span><\/p>\n In 1995, Stallone\u00a0and Flavin reunited and they welcomed their first daughter, Sophia, on Aug. 27, 1996. Stallone and Flavin would ultimately get married in the Penthouse Pavilion at the Dorchester Hotel in London on May 17, 1997.<\/span><\/p>\n The intimate civil ceremony drew a lot of attention from the media, for obvious reasons. According to <\/span>People<\/em><\/a>, Stallone donned a blue suit while Flavin wore a white Armani wedding dress. Sophia, nine\u00a0months old at the time, was also in attendance. The magazine reported that limos whisked them to the wedding party some 60 miles to the birthplace of Winston Churchill, Blenheim Palace. They later hopped on a jet and celebrated their honeymoon in Ireland.<\/span><\/p>\n “I have had two great things happen to me in the past year: the birth of our beautiful daughter Sophia Rose and now my marriage to Jennifer, who is a great mother and I know will be a wonderful wife,” Stallone said in a statement at the time.<\/span><\/p>\n But, at this point, Flavin would be his third wife. He first married Sasha Czack in 1974 when he was 28. They had two sons — Sage, <\/span>who died in 2012<\/a> at 36 from a heart attack, and Seargeoh. Stallone and Czack divorced in 1985.<\/span><\/p>\n He married model and <\/span>Rocky IV<\/span><\/em> co-star Brigitte Nielsen in 1985 but divorced two years later.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The couple would later welcome daughters Sistine on June 27, 1998 and Scarlet on May 25, 2002.<\/span><\/p>\n In a 2010 interview with <\/span>The\u00a0Telegraph<\/span><\/em>, Stallone opened up about living in a female-dominated household — a stark contrast to the testosterone-fueled sets\u00a0he produced and starred in<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/em>— and how much Flavin had\u00a0changed his outlook on life and the dominant role she plays in their household.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n “Everything in the house is female. The toys, the housekeeper, all the dogs. The one dog I have that’s male is neutered. I’m next,” he joked. “But I’ve never had more fun. I learned that from my wife. It took me 19 years to realize she’s always right. I realized that women have a knack, at least Jennifer, for making incredibly erudite, wise, smart decisions. I always leap without looking. She always looks and never leaps. She’s incredibly safe. So now finally, I say: ‘Honey, you make all the decisions. Done, done, done. I trust you.’ I never had that before. Ever.”<\/span><\/p>\n On Aug. 14, 2018, Stallone took to Instagram and posted a side-by-side photo of them from back in the day to the present. In the throwback photo, Stallone looks stoic. In the second photo, he’s smiling into the camera and Flavin flashes her smile, too.<\/span><\/p>\n He captioned the post, “Congratulations to my wife on her 50th birthday!!! We\u2019ve been together a long time and I\u2019m very lucky to have met such a fantastic woman.”<\/span><\/p>\n In 2017, Stallone and Flavin beamed with pride after their daughters — Sophia, Sistine and Scarlett — are all named Miss Golden Globes 2017. In an <\/span>exclusive interview<\/a> with ET at the time, Stallone was in awe of the honor while giving Flavin all the credit for raising three wonderful children.<\/span><\/p>\n “I’m just along for the ride,” Stallone told ET at the time. “I’m stunned that life has moved by so quickly, and my daughters turned out so wonderfully. I have to give Jennifer all the credit.”<\/span><\/p>\n Two years later, Stallone appeared at a red carpet premiere, but it wasn’t for one of his films. He was there to <\/span>support Sistine’s movie<\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>47 Meters Down: Uncaged<\/span><\/em>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n “Honestly, I feel a bit speechless. I don’t really know how to feel. This is the first time it’s my thing so that’s really cool and hopefully this isn’t my first and only carpet,” Sistine told ET at the time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n And while Stallone gave his\u00a0daughter\u00a0some space when it came to filming the movie, he made sure to offer her\u00a0some advice.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n “[My dad] wanted the director’s note to be, instead of swimming away, confront the shark head-on — which I don’t think would’ve played out well,” Sistine revealed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The couple celebrated another big occasion on May 10, 2019, when Sophia became their first daughter to graduate from college. Sophia donned her cap and gown from USC in a photo Stallone shared on Instagram. He captioned it, “Our daughter SOPHIA graduates from USC !!!! An absolutely amazing day for us all. So proud!!!”<\/span><\/p>\n On an episode of their daughters’ podcast, <\/span>Unwaxed With Sophia and Sistine Stallone<\/span><\/em>, that was released on Jan. 31, <\/span>the actor and his wife opened up about their marriage<\/a>.\u00a0When Sistine noted that her parents are “polar opposites” but “literally cannot live without one another,” Flavin\u00a0responded, “That’s true.”\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sistine called out her mom’s “organizational skills” for helping the movie star\u00a0all these years. “If she was out of my life, it would be mass suicide — which infers that I have multiple personalities,” he responded.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n “I keep him extremely organized, so I do everything. I do everything from the minute we wake up, from getting him coffee to bringing it to him in bed, bringing him cookies in bed every morning, then going downstairs. And then we get ready. I make you breakfast in the morning, and then I make sure everything is great for you for the day,” Flavin said of their daily routine. “I go through your schedule, and then you tell a few jokes, I laugh. That’s what keeps us going, ’cause I laugh, and I laugh and I laugh, because he’s so damn funny. Sly is the funniest man I’ve ever met, and I’m telling you I’ve sat with a lot of funny comedians. He cracks me up.”<\/span><\/p>\n When asked what he does for his wife, Stallone responded, “I just aggravate the hell out of her. I don’t really know what I do for her. I mean, she knows I would jump in front of a small train, just like this big, a choo-choo train, I would put my arm in front of it. No, I think she’s fantastic. She’s an amazing woman. I tell her that every day. I don’t know how she holds it together. She’s just amazing.”<\/span><\/p>\n Stallone and Flavin celebrated a <\/span>milestone anniversary<\/a> earlier this year when they hit the 25-year wedding mark.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n “Happy 25th anniversary to my amazing wife,” Stallone gushed alongside a series of images of him\u00a0and Flavin. “There is not enough words to describe what this incredibly selfless dedicated , patient, woman has meant to our lives and I only wish they could be another 25! Thank you sweetheart!”<\/span><\/p>\n Flavin shared her love for Stallone in the comments section, writing, “Thank you my love! I love you so much and we will be spending the next 25+ years together! Keep me laughing and I\u2019m yours for the rest of my life!”<\/span><\/p>\n Flavin also took to Instagram to commemorate the occasion with her own post.<\/span><\/p>\n “Happy 25th wedding anniversary to us! \ud83e\udd70\u2764\ufe0f\u2764\ufe0f\u2764\ufe0f Thank you for always keeping me laughing, loving and protecting our beautiful family!” Flavin wrote. “Our marriage keeps getting better every year! I can\u2019t wait to spend the rest of our lives together.”<\/span><\/p>\n An Aug. 22\u00a0report in the <\/span>Daily Mail<\/em><\/a>\u00a0revealed that there was trouble in paradise, after Stallone\u00a0covered up the portrait of his wife located on his bicep. The new ink\u00a0was revealed in\u00a0since-deleted pictures that were posted by artist\u00a0Zach Perez.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Flavin’s face was <\/span>replaced<\/a> by a photo of Stallone’s\u00a0character, Rocky\u2019s, bull mastiff\u00a0Butkus. The new ink led fans to question if there were\u00a0issues between the couple.<\/span><\/p>\n The actor’s rep tried, to no avail, to downplay the tattoo cover-up, telling the <\/span>Daily Mail<\/span><\/em>\u00a0that nothing was amiss and there was no cause for alarm, saying,\u00a0“Mr. Stallone intended to refresh the tattoo image of his wife Jennifer however the results were unsatisfactory and, unfortunately, unfixable.”<\/span><\/p>\n “As a result, he had to cover the original image with a tattoo of his dog from <\/span>Rocky<\/span><\/em>, Butkus,” the statement continued. “Mr. Stallone loves his family. The Stallones are presently filming a reality show together which will debut on Paramount+.”<\/span><\/p>\n But the cover-up was far from the only sign the\u00a0marriage may have gotten, er, rocky. Eagle-eyed fans also noticed that Flavin apparently unfollowed\u00a0Stallone\u00a0on Instagram.<\/span><\/p>\n In a recent\u00a0post by\u00a0Flavin, she seemingly shaded Stallone after sharing\u00a0a picture of her and their three girls, with the caption,\u00a0“These girls are my priority \u2764\ufe0f nothing else matters. The 4 of us forever.\u00a0#truth\u00a0#family\u00a0#forever.”<\/span><\/p>\n ET confirmed on Aug. 24\u00a0that Flavin filed for divorce in Florida.\u00a0According to the filing, she\u00a0wants to remain living in the couple’s\u00a0home\u00a0in Palm Beach, Florida, amid the divorce proceedings. She also believes her husband is hiding marital assets.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n “Upon information and belief, the Husband has engaged in the intentional dissipation, depletion and\/or waste of marital assets which has had an adverse economic impact on the marital estate. Pursuant to Section 61.075, Florida Statues, equity dictates that the Wife be compensated and made whole by receiving an unequal distribution of the marital assets in her favor. Moreover, the Husband should be enjoined from, selling, transferring, assigning, encumbering, or dissipating any assets during the pendency of proceedings,” read the divorce docs.<\/span><\/p>\n Additionally, Flavin wants to keep her last name.<\/span><\/p>\n According to <\/span>TMZ<\/em><\/a>, citing sources directly connected to the couple, Flavin filed for divorce shortly after getting into an argument with Stallone\u00a0over whether he could get another dog. The outlet reported on Aug. 24 that Stallone\u00a0wanted a Rottweiler but she didn’t want another dog. The argument apparently got heated, and other issues were brought up, but none that would destroy a longtime marriage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Neither budged on their position over the dog, except Stallone broke the stalemate when he reportedly went ahead and got the dog, named Dwight, which is the name of his\u00a0character in his TV show,\u00a0<\/span>Tulsa King<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n TMZ<\/span><\/em>\u00a0reported that Stallone\u00a0was in Oklahoma filming the show when he found out Flavin filed for divorce.<\/span><\/p>\n On Aug. 29, <\/span>Stallone filed a response to Flavin’s divorce docs<\/a>,\u00a0obtained by ET, in which he denied several of his estranged wife’s claims and requests.<\/span><\/p>\n Stallone denied her\u00a0allegations that he has engaged in the “waste of marital assets” and argued that\u00a0he “has not engaged in any conduct which constitutes intentional dissipation, depletion and\/or waste of marital assets.” Stallone also denied Flavin’s request to have exclusive use and occupancy of their home in Palm Beach, Florida. He also denied Flavin’s request for the option to join in any of his business entities or corporations in the future.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Stallone accepted several of Flavin’s other requests, including her desire to restore her maiden name and an equitable distribution of their joint assets and liabilities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Stallone raised eyebrows the next month when <\/span>he posted a photo<\/a> of him and Flavin holding hands. While it was unclear at the time if it was a throwback pic or not, things continued on a friendly path for the duo when <\/span>they agreed<\/a> to a peaceful termination of their union.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A total about-face followed as <\/span>the pair called off their divorce<\/a> and decided to reconcile. The next month, the couple <\/span>was spotted<\/a> displaying PDA and even <\/span>stepped out<\/a> for an event together.<\/span><\/p>\n Amid the reconciliation, talk swirled about\u00a0<\/span>The Family Stallone<\/span><\/em>, the reality show in which Stallone, Flavin and their daughters will star. While speaking to\u00a0<\/span>The Hollywood Reporter\u00a0<\/span><\/em>in November, <\/span>Stallone confirmed<\/a> that his marital woes would be featured on the series.<\/span><\/p>\n “Of course it\u2019s part of the show,”\u00a0he said. “It\u2019s the John Lennon thing: ‘Life is what happens when you\u2019re making other plans.’\u00a0Hopefully, you\u2019re involved with people who understand the foibles of life and the fragility of it and how rare a real good relationship is. Sometimes I put the work ahead of [my family], and that is a tragic mistake which won\u2019t happen again.”<\/span><\/p>\n Stallone added, “What you will see is the real truth. This is a great opportunity. I don\u2019t look at it as stooping to conquer. But each time you go in a different direction, people go, ‘Oh God, you must be in trouble.’ Just the opposite.”<\/span><\/p>\nFrom the Beginning…<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
They Tie\u00a0the Knot in London<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Stallone and Flavin Complete the Trifecta<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Flavin Turns 50\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Daughters Are All Grown Up\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Thinking of Life Without Each Other<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
25th Wedding Anniversary\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
The Cover-up<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Flavin Files for Divorce<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
Fight Over Dog Triggered Divorce?<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Stallone Pushes Back<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Divorce Is Called Off<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
The Reality Show<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n