Chris Rock has spoken candidly about his past infidelity and a five-year period of abstaining from pornography, reflecting on how these personal issues impacted his marriage and subsequent divorce. In a recent interview with GQ, Rock admitted he was "not a great husband" and had "tested my powers" by cheating on his ex-wife, Malaak Compton-Rock. He noted that this behavior led to him being "severely humbled."
Rock, who shares two children with Compton-Rock, previously addressed his infidelity in his 2018 Netflix comedy special "Tamborine." He told GQ that he no longer watches pornography, stating, "I haven’t watched porn in five, six years." He acknowledged that his actions were not something he was proud of but a necessary part of his journey.
"Nobody has a successful divorce, so that takes time," Rock said about the period following his 2016 split from Compton-Rock. He explained that the financial implications of the divorce necessitated extensive touring to rebuild his finances. Looking back, he attributed the divorce to his own shortcomings, including not listening, not being kind, and harboring a sense of entitlement, famously stating, "I thought, 'I pay for everything, I can do what I want.' That shit don’t f**cking work!"
He also elaborated on the common belief that men cheat seeking "something new," but pointed out that the outcome is often a damaged relationship: "Your woman finds out, and now she's new. She is never the same again. So, now you have new, but you have a bad new."
The comedian also discussed seeking therapy to improve his personal life and revealed he has been diagnosed with a nonverbal learning disorder. He explained that this diagnosis helped him understand the insensitivity of some of his past behaviors and how they affected others. He shared that he previously blamed his interpersonal difficulties on fame, rather than acknowledging his own unique challenges.
Rock's interview coincides with the release of his A24 dramedy "Misty Green," which premiered on Apple TV+ on October 9.