Many women choose to keep their ex-husband’s last name after divorce for so many reasons. Some keep it for the sake of their children, some say it’s part of their personal brand, and others say they “earned it.” Whatever the reason, the choice always seems to draw speculation of ill intent, but that makes these women no nevermind. Here are 15 celebs who’ve kept it movin’ with the last name in tow.
Porsha Stewart
Porsha Stewart has decided to keep Kordell Stewart’s last name despite their pending divorce. With all that he put her through you would think she would want no ties to a man who kept her under lock and key. Porsha explained on the Wendy Williams Show why she chose to keep Stewart as her last name: “I’m going to keep Stewart. It’s not his name, it’s my name,” said Porsha. “I was Porsha Williams and I was at one point in my life before I got married. Marriage has taught me so much. I’m a whole ‘nother woman now. So, I’m going to own that last name. It belongs to me.”
Source: WENN
Sheree Whitfield
We all got to see into Sheree Whitfield’s divorce on Real Housewives of Atlanta and it wasn’t pretty. Although she had some hardship in raising her children and found difficulty coming to agreements with her ex-husband Bod Whitfield she did keep his last name. They have two children together, so that may have been a factor in her decision.
Source: WENN
Ivana Trump
Ivana Trump has been married twice since divorcing Donald Trump, but she has kept his last name the whole time. She has three children with Donald and several businesses under that name, so it makes sense.
Source: WENN
Tina Turner
Tina Turner is world renowned for her talent and name so it’s not surprising that she kept it after her divorce from Ike Turner. She was in an extremely abusive relationship, but she divorced Ike in 1978 after 16 years of marriage. She later remarried German music executive Erwin Bach in 2013 after a 27-year relationship.
Source: WENN
Pilar Sanders
The divorce between Pilar Sanders and Deion Sanders is quite messy, but it looks like Pilar will keep her last name after the dust settles. The two have chosen to end their 14-year marriage, but they do have three children together.
Source: WENN
Kimora Lee Simmons
When Kimora Lee Simmons remarried people wondered why she didn’t change her last name to. She obviously was no longer with Russell Simmons, but Kimora had business reasons as to why she kept the name. In an interview with Detroit Radio Station WJLB’s Morning Show Kimora had this to say on the issue: “Oh my G-d! Cause then… I don’t know! Would my companies still be the same? Ive already been Kimora Lee Simmons for 10 years. I don’t know. Would you ask Ivana Trump that? When it comes to my brand, My brand is KLS (Kimora Lee Simmons). It would be hard to change it to KLH… I think professional the name remains the same, but in my personal life I am definitely a Hounsou… Russell doesn’t care. I worked as hard for that name as he did!”
Source: WENN
Jessica Canseco
Jessica Canseco was reintroduced to the world when she starred in VH1’s Hollywood Exes. She was married to famous baseball player Jose Canseco in 1996 and they were divorced by 1999, but she has kept his last name. They have a daughter together.
Source: WENN
Nicole Murphy
Nicole Murphy was married to Eddie Murphy before he was a household name and has kept his last name since their divorce. She has stated that she would change her last name if she remarried. Nicole Strahan has a nice ring to it.
Source: WENN
Jennifer Williams
Who could forget the drama filled divorce of Jennifer Williams on Basketball Wives? By season three we all knew her marriage to Eric Williams was clearly done. Drinks were flying and Jennifer was out the door. Anyway since the divorce has been finalized she has kept his last name — one reason being she “earned it.”
Source: WENN
Demi Moore
While Demi Moore was married to Freddy Moore she took his last name and kept it once they divorced in 1985. She went on to keep his last name even after she married and divorced Bruce Willis after 13 years of marriage. She did finally change it to Kutcher after she married Ashton Kutcher in 2005. They divorced in 2013.
Source: WENN
Camille Grammer
This divorce was quite messy. Remember how Kelsey Grammer filed for divorce from Camille Grammer while having an affair with a flight attendant with whom he fathered a child? Yes and the icing on the cake was that he then married his mistress two weeks after the divorce was finalized. Camille Grammer was very hurt by the whole ordeal, but she did decide to keep his last name for the sake of their children. She won $30 million in the divorce settlement.
Source: Instagram
Andrea Kelly
Most were shocked to find out that R. Kelly was even married, but since VH1’s Hollywood Exes show we’ve come to know Andrea Kelly pretty well. She married R. Kelly in 1996 and divorced him in 2009. She walked away with quite a settlement ($50 million) and his last name. The two have three children together.
Source: WENN
Phylicia Rashad
Phylicia Rashad was married to NFL wide receiver Ahmad Rashad in 1985. Although they divorced in 2001 she has kept his last name. They have a daughter together, Condola Phylea Rashad.
Source: WENN
Shaunie O’Neal
Shaunie O’Neal had no problem keeping Shaquille O’Neal’s last name after their seven-year marriage ended. She has stated that she kept his last name for the children and that she “earned it.”
Source: WENN
Valerie Jarrett
When Senior Adviser to the President Valerie Jarrett was asked about her marriage by a reporter she had this to say “Married in 1983, separated in 1987, and divorced in 1988. Enough said.” Although she didn’t have much to say about her marriage to William Robert Jarrett she did keep his last name after they divorced. The two have a daughter together.
