…four children together — 30-year-old son John David, 27-year-old daughter Katia and 13-year-old twins Olivia and Malcolm.
In 1995, they renewed their wedding vows in South Africa with Archbishop Desmond Tutu officiating.
Throughout the years, Pauletta has stood by her husband’s side no matter what the rumors or the fact that scores of women were trying to get to her man. It’s who she feels, believes and knows who she is to him that keeps the peace.
“He’s a sex symbol. Everybody’s around him. And when we’re out, they push me over and run me over to get to him. That part is not so cute,” Pauletta tells Ebony.
Nonetheless, Pauletta does not allow other women or rumors to distract her from her marriage, but remains confident in her relationship with Denzel. “He has and knows he has that stability in me as his wife. That gives him strength, regardless of if he misuses it. I can’t dwell on that. But I do know that gives him a great platform to go and fly.”
Denzel and Pauletta share that it is their overcoming such trials that have made their relationship thrive. Denzel says, “We live in a time — and it’s not for me to judge anyone — when people give up too easily.
It’s a disposable society; get another [spouse].” Pauletta agrees saying, “For me, the ‘love’ in the love story is how you come through the trials. The passion, the lust — that’s easy. The love story is how you come out in love after hardship.”
Talking about their long-lasting marriage with Oprah Winfrey, Denzel said: People who say they knew (if their spouse was the one) right away are lying! It’s a marathon, not a sprint.”
He admits time apart with months spent away filming has probably helped their marriage rather than hinder it.
He explained: ‘Hollywood gets a bad rap; it’s just a place with some footprints in cement. I don’t live there, I live in…