In the next dramatic chapter of this imploding celebrity marriage, actress Tisha Campbell-Martin is now claiming that estranged husband Duane Martin has been an abusive spouse since they married in 1996.
The former “Martin” sitcom star has already accused her husband, who is best known for Above the Rim, “Real Husbands of Hollywood” and “All of Us,” of an assortment of transgressions, including a financial scam and hiding large sums of money from her.
Campbell-Martin, 50, who also starred in the classic films House Party, Boomerang and School Daze, told the courts that Duane Martin even punched her with a closed fist, and has been physical with her as recently as last month, TMZ reports.
The wife reportedly filed for a restraining order against Duane Martin, 53, claiming that back in December, he “grabbed me by my arm to try to get me in the bedroom.” She also told the court that she had filed a police report regarding multiple instances of physical abuse.
According to the legal documents obtained by TMZ, the mental and emotional abuse began almost from the outset of their marriage 23 years ago that produced two children, Xen, 16, and Ezekiel, 8. Most painfully, Campbell-Martin says her husband beat her down mentally about her significant weight gain and how it cost her movie and TV roles in the ensuing years.
When the actress was asked why she is bringing up the matter of physical abuse now, Campbell-Martin replied, according to TMZ: “I can no longer live in fear of retaliation,” she said. “The need [to] press criminal charges for his acts overshadows the embarrassment of making his crimes against me public through this report.”
Campbell-Martin’s pleas were apparently sufficient enough as the judge granted her the temporary restraining order. Martin is required to keep a distance equal to the length of a football field from his estranged wife as they continue to hammer away at their divorce.
