In August, Michelle Branch learned that her husband Patrick Carney (of the Black Keys) was cheating on her. Given her middle-of-the-night tweet, it seemed like she just learned about his affair at that moment, and she reacted by slapping him. The cops were called and Branch was arrested for domestic violence. She spent hours in jail, then she was released because she’s still breastfeeding their infant daughter. She immediately sought legal counsel and filed for divorce. Within a week, there was some kind of settlement between Branch and Carney, where he dropped the domestic violence charge and Branch agreed to take an anger management class or something. Now, weeks later, it looks like Branch and Carney are possibly reconciling?
Michelle Branch and Patrick Carney are giving their marriage another shot, because they’re backing off their divorce, at least for now … to try to work things out. According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Michelle and Patrick are pressing pause on their divorce for at least 6 months, during which time they will try to reconcile.
After the cooling-off period, the singer and The Black Keys drummer will then decide if they want to dismiss their divorce entirely or move forward with the split.
The docs say, during the reconciliation effort, Michelle and Patrick may resume living together as husband and wife and participate in counseling sessions to help their marriage.
It’s quite the turn of events for Michelle and Patrick — she filed for divorce last month, on the heels of her arrest for domestic assault and allegations of infidelity on Patrick’s part.
Michelle and Patrick have 2 young kids together and they’ve been married for more than 3 years.
MB cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for divorce … but now it looks like they think there’s at least a chance they might be able to iron out those differences.
Ugh. I feel so sorry for her. I’ve felt sorry for her throughout this mess. Their daughter is only seven months old and their son is four years old. Michelle also has a teenage daughter from her first marriage. I hate to think of how Carney is manipulating her and how he’s likely playing on the “we need to stay together for the kids” thing. Just the fact that he orchestrated Michelle’s arrest is reason enough to divorce his ass and never look back. But she’s probably thinking about custody of the kids and what’s best for them and all of that.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.
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- 148241, Michelle Branch and Patrick Carney arrive at Universal Music Group’s 2016 GRAMMY After Party at The Theatre At The Ace Hotel in Los Angeles. Los Angeles, California – Monday February 15, 2016. Photograph: © Joe Sutter, PacificCoastNews.,Image: 507007536, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS – DIRECT SALES ONLY – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Photoshot – sales@photoshot.com London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: Joe Sutter, PacificCoastNews / Avalon
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- 148241, Michelle Branch arrives at Universal Music Group’s 2016 GRAMMY After Party at The Theatre At The Ace Hotel in Los Angeles. Los Angeles, California – Monday February 15, 2016. Photograph: © Joe Sutter, PacificCoastNews.,Image: 525551398, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS – DIRECT SALES ONLY – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Photoshot – sales@photoshot.com London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: Joe Sutter, PacificCoastNews / Avalon
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- 148241, Michelle Branch and Patrick Carney arrive at Universal Music Group’s 2016 GRAMMY After Party at The Theatre At The Ace Hotel in Los Angeles. Los Angeles, California – Monday February 15, 2016. Photograph: © Joe Sutter, PacificCoastNews. Los Angeles Office: +1 310.822.0419,Image: 532164765, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS, DIRECT SALES ONLY UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE IN CAPTION – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251 Madrid: +34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: Joe Sutter, PacificCoastNews / Avalon
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- , Los Angeles, CA – 02/15/16 -Universal Music Group’s 2016 Grammy After Party -PICTURED: Michelle Branch -PHOTO by: Vince Flores/startraksphoto.com -VIF62750 Editorial – Rights Managed Image – Please contact www.startraksphoto.com for licensing fee Startraks Photo New York, NY Image may not be published in any way that is or might be deemed defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification or question you may have. Startraks Photo reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this image. If you violate our intellectual property you may be liable for actual damages, loss of income, and profits you derive from the use of this image, and where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or statutory damages. Featuring: Michelle Branch Where: Los Angeles, California, United States When: 15 Feb 2016 Credit: Vince Flores/startraksphoto.com
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- , Los Angeles, CA – 02/15/16 -Universal Music Group’s 2016 Grammy After Party -PICTURED: Michelle Branch -PHOTO by: Vince Flores/startraksphoto.com -VIF62756 Editorial – Rights Managed Image – Please contact www.startraksphoto.com for licensing fee Startraks Photo New York, NY Image may not be published in any way that is or might be deemed defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification or question you may have. Startraks Photo reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this image. If you violate our intellectual property you may be liable for actual damages, loss of income, and profits you derive from the use of this image, and where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or statutory damages. Featuring: Michelle Branch Where: Los Angeles, California, United States When: 15 Feb 2016 Credit: Vince Flores/startraksphoto.com
She’s not the brightest black hole in the galaxy or the sharpest crayon in the Crayola Caddy.
Neither are you it would seem.
Not sure why you had to go for the attack, but you do you and enjoy your day.
OMG I hope she is not getting back with him. This question was asked during a girlz dinner party a few years back, we were about 8 ladies all in our late 30’s, all with families or divorced with kids. Let me tell you that I was floored that half of us said they would take the guy back if he cheated, and the other half said no way. Very divided. To each their own life I guess.
I feel for her. She just had a baby and her emotions must be in overdrive. To find out about his cheating, then the idea of being a single mom and him probably preying on that? It’s a lot. I hope that she is safe and gets what she needs to be happy.
A WHOLE DAMN MESS. Girl needs therapy. She shouldn’t have slapped him, but dude had her jailed over it so she’d have a domestic violence record and he could hold custody over her as a threat. WHY IS THIS A MARRIAGE ANYONE WOULD WANT TO SALVAGE?
I can’t imagine reconciling with someone after that – especially when there are 3 kids, including a teenage daughter, to set an example for. But if they do, I hope they work on their relationship issues with a good therapist/counselor.
He. Had. Her. Arrested.
There is no way in hell staying together is a good idea for her or the children. I hope this is just a play by her to buy time to get a new life in order a la Katie Holmes’ escape from her abusive ego maniac.
This. I know it’s wrong to slap someone but I’m so torn about her situation, she just had a baby and he was out banging someone else, then he called the cops and had her arrested?!? He sounds manipulative as hell.
I’m going to cross my fingers that she has a plan that isn’t apparent to outsiders here because my first response was “Oh, girl, no. That’s not the move.”
Were it *just* the cheating, then I could sit back and say, “Okay. You want to work it out, by all means.” But he called the police on her! He had her arrested! The only reason she was let out early was because she had to breastfeed her child. There is no way. There should be no way. (I did read that he co-wrote half her album that’s coming out soon and he’s the drummer?? Some were thinking that she decided to drop the divorce proceedings to make touring easier. Could not be me. Mind, that’s maybe why I’m single!)
My local radio station does a celebrity news round up every morning, and their take on this today was, “Good for them. That was looking pretty rough there.”
Like, how and why are we celebrating anyone returning to an abusive relationship?! (Whether you believe Patrick was assaulted, or Michele was emotionally mistreated, it applies either way).
It actually amazes me how many people think being in a terrible marriage is better than being single. That idea is so ingrained in our society and it’s so toxic.
My two cents: the arrest showed her how much worse things could get and how powerless she would be in family court, and she decided staying would be easier. (I do IPV work. We don’t talk enough about legal and financial abuse, let alone the misogynistic hellhole that is family court, from which the Men’s Rights movement sprung.). IDK anything about their specific situation, I do know TN family court. The arrest (regardless of how idiotic it seems) puts her at a serious disadvantage there. IJS- she may be manipulated and brainwashed, and it’s just as possible that’s she is clear-eyed and well advised. I support her either way, it’s a crappy crappy crappy position to be in.
Oh god, I hope it’s not this.
I was thinking this too that the TN courts would not protect her and side with him. I live next door in MO and our courts are the same. Family courts in the Mid South usually favor the men. It is why women wait to divorce when they become empty nesters. My heart goes out to her. Hopefully she can get away from him someday. She is in a bad situation.
This comment nails it.
On one side of the decision she has a toxic partner to deal with, on the other she has custody taken away with a baby, a youngster & the toxic partner with sole childrearing responsibilities…it’s a hell hole & a hell hole.
She’s going to have to stay with Turd Blossom for quite a long while.
Girl, no. This relationship is toxic AF.
What a terrible idea.