Chris Lighty's Wife: Divorce Not the Cause of Suicide
The hip hop industry is still reeling from the death last week of Violator founder and manager to the stars Chris Lighty, who was found dead as the result of an apparent suicide on Thursday outside of his New York home. The mystery surrounding the circumstances of his death became further complicated today following commentary from his wife, who said she could not imagine why Lighty would take his own life. Early reports had suggested that domestic troubles may have been a factor.
“My husband was too smart of a man. He was a genius. No smart man is going to leave his children for fighting with his wife,” Veronica Lighty told the New York Daily News, speaking out for the first time since her husband's death. “That makes absolutely no sense."
Other reports suggested that financial woes were to blame, alleging that Chris owed the IRS $5 million. But Veronica said that, too, was false, and the Associated Press has reported that the late Lighty paid down most of his tax debt with the recent sale of a condo in Chelsea.
Veronica said that she and her husband had their ups and downs but that they loved each other deeply.
“We had a passionate relationship. We fought all the time,” she said. "My husband was obsessed and adored me. He was one of the most beautiful people that I have ever met in my life."
While Mrs. Lighty revealed to the Daily News that she "retracted" the divorce papers she filed last year, she also said her husband "had a lot of weight on his shoulders."
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(Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage)