Secretly Wed Nearly Three Years, Kadeem Hardison And Chante Moore to Divorce

Jet, Sept 25, 2000

Singer Chante Moore and actor Kadeem Hardison recently decided to call an end to their secretive marriage of almost three years.

Hardison, who starred on the hit NBC sitcom "A Different World," filed for divorce in Los Angeles Superior Court citing irreconcilable differences. The couple had been together for almost seven years and married in November 17, 1997. Their daughter, Sophia Milan Hardison, was born September 27, 1996. His petition called for joint custody.

The two had been extremely secretive about their union all along. During a JET interview last year when Moore was asked if fans could expect wedding bells soon, she responded: "I'll keep that a little private. But, we are very, very happy. And we will be together, definitely." Moore made similar comments in an EBONY interview last fall, saying "We're together. We're very happy."

Moore, a sensuous balladeer, had a hugely successful hit last year with the single Chante's Got a Man. That tune was about Black male/female relationships.

The Moore/Hardison breakup after a very secretive marriage is reminiscent of Janet Jackson and Rene Elizondo. Jackson also denied that she was married. And that marriage was not revealed to the public until Elizondo filed for divorce.

Moore and Hardison did not reveal their asset division or other arrangements in the divorce petition.