Vanilla Ice’s wife files for a divorce after 16 years of marriage

Vanilla Ice’s wife has filed for a divorce.

The 48-year-old rapper’s spouse Laura Giaritta – who wed the ‘Ice Ice Baby’ hitmaker in 1997 – decided to call it quits on their relationship on Tuesday (10.18.16) in Palm Beach County, Florida, following 16 years of marriage.

Although Laura has only recently filed the legal documents, it has been reported the pair have actually been separated for "a few years".

Speaking about the couple’s romance, a source close to the pair told TMZ: "He and Laura have actually been separated for a few years now, and she’s just making the split official."

The pair’s divorce comes eight years after Vanilla Ice – who has daughters Dusti Rain, 18, and KeeLee Breeze, 16, with Laura – was arrested for domestic battery.

The musician was detained for allegedly hitting Laura but the case was later dropped after she explained to police that her partner had only pushed her.

But that wasn’t the first time the pair have come to blows as Vanilla Ice admitted to ripping out Laura’s brunette locks from her head in 2001 but claimed he only did so to prevent his partner from hurtling herself out of his car’s window whilst they were in the midst of a blazing row. He later pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct.

Following the incident he was put on probation and was ordered to undergo family therapy sessions.