Model Hilary Rhoda files for divorce from ex-Rangers star Sean Avery after seven years of marriage
Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Hilary Rhoda has filed for divorce from ex-New York Rangers star Sean Avery, six years after her mother filed for a restraining order against him and accused him of harassment.
The couple split on July 17, according to TMZ, just weeks after Hilary took their son, Nash Avery, on a trip to Hawaii without Sean. The model cited 'irreconcilable differences' as the reason for their split.
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Hilary, 35, and Sean, 42, met at the New York City bar Warren 77 in 2009 and got engaged four years later in November 2013. They got married in October 2015 at the Parrish Art Museum in New York, and their son, Nash, was born in July 2020.
The relationship was not without its flaws. A source told the New York Daily News early on in their relationship that Sean - who struggled to find work after retiring from hockey - was 'brainwashing' the model while 'freeloading' off her.
According to the insider, he once renovated her Southampton home without informing her and then "presented her with a $100,000 bill" for it. His actions appeared to sever ties between Hilary and her mother, Marianne Rhoda, who did not attend their wedding.
In 2016, Page Six reported that Hilary filed an explosive lawsuit against her mother, alleging that she subjected Sean to a "constant barrage of ad hominem attacks," leaving him "extremely exasperated."
Hilary also claimed that her mother, who also served as her manager, stole "substantial funds" from her by "manipulating her familial role to improperly seize and abuse enormous power over her finances."
Marianne then denied the allegations in a countersuit, claiming she was trying to protect her daughter from Sean. She also sought a restraining order against her son-in-law, alleging that he 'harassed her.'
"During the summer of 2016, [Sean and Hilary] were living in the same area in the Hamptons and he was harassing her," according to her lawyer. "They kept bumping into each other, they went to the same gym, and he'd curse at her and make obscene gestures. He was driving too close to her and frightening her."
Sean, who is from Canada, has also played for the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, and Dallas Stars during his hockey career. After retirement, he worked in a variety of other fields before settling into a career in advertising and fashion. He previously interned for Vogue magazine and worked at a creative agency called Lipman. He also briefly worked in real estate and attempted to open a restaurant before abandoning both. Besides, Sean has also dabbled in modeling and acting, and published a memoir in 2017.
According to Page Six, he was unable to hold a job due to his "hot temper and inability to get along with others." He briefly appeared on 'Dancing With the Stars' in 2014, but was fired after the second episode for allegedly fighting with producers.
In 2014, he was set to star in the off-Broadway play 'Negative Is Positive' but reportedly walked off the set a few days before the show's opening after an altercation with a lighting director. 'He's really volatile,' the playwright told the outlet. 'He didn't like being criticized, and he would focus on people he didn't like.'
Sean briefly attempted to return to hockey in February 2022 when the Orlando Solar Bears signed him; however, he did not play in a single game as the team released him two days later. The sports star has been involved in a number of controversies over the years and has been accused of bullying people both on and off the ice. He was fined by the NHL in 2007 for allegedly making a derogatory remark about Toronto Maple Leaf's player Jason Blake's battle with leukemia during a pre-game altercation.
In 2008, he was suspended for 'conduct detrimental to the league or the game of hockey' after publicly criticizing two other NHL players for dating his ex-girlfriends. Later, Red Wings manager Ken Holland stated that he traded Sean because of his "lack of respect."
Sean was charged with criminal mischief in 2019 after crashing his scooter into venture capitalist Jonathan Schulhof and his wife Kimberly Kravis' minivan while their three children were inside. "I wasn't sure if a crime had been committed. It's part of being on the streets of New York City," he allegedly testified.
Hilary modeled for brands such as Hollister and Abercrombie as a teen before signing with IMG Models. She later appeared in advertisements for Max Mara, Balenciaga, Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana, Givenchy, Gucci, Gap, Ralph Lauren, Estee Lauder, and Victoria's Secret. She has also appeared on the covers of major magazines such as Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Time, and W.
Sean's most recent Instagram post about Hilary was in April. He wrote at the time, 'Happy Birthday to the most beautiful woman in the world who continues to evolve as a creative and, more importantly, an incredible mother.' However, Hilary hasn't shared anything on social media with her ex-husband since June of last year, when she wished him a happy Father's Day. It was reported in March 2021 that they were selling their New York City apartment together, which was listed for $2.67 million.
Hilary dated New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez for several years before meeting Sean. Previously, she defended her ex-husband to ML Hamptons, saying, "He gets a bad rep sometimes because he isn't afraid to speak his mind. That, I believe, is one of his best qualities. It can sometimes hurt him because some people don't understand his humor or don't realize he's not completely serious."
"Some people misunderstand him and think he's a jerk, but if you know him or are friends with him, he's one of the kindest and gentlest people you'll ever meet. He'd do anything for anyone and is extremely generous," she added.
As mentioned earlier, their divorce comes just weeks after she took a solo trip to Hawaii with their two-year-old son, Nash. She is said to have asked for physical custody of the child but wants to share legal custody with the hockey player. The couple had signed a prenuptial agreement, according to TMZ.