Zellweger and Chesney Speak Out on Annulment

We reported yesterday that Oscar-winning actress Renee Zellweger (can’t believe she didn’t change her name when she got to Hollywood – Louis B. Mayer would have never stood for it!) was seeking an annulment of her four-month marriage (after a four-month courtship) to country singer Kenny Chesney, listing “fraud” in court papers as the reason for the annulment. Tongues wagged – what could the “fraud” be?

Both Zellweger and Chesney released statements on Friday seeking to “clarify” the situation, also know in the PR biz as damage control. The actress said the “fraud” accusation was “legal language and not a reflection of Kenny’s character. I would personally be very grateful for your support in refraining from drawing derogatory, hurtful, sensationalised or untrue conclusions.”

Chesney — who will participate along with George Strait, Alan Jackson, Willie Nelson and Martina McBride in CMT’s “One Country” hurricane relief benefit concert scheduled for Oct. 1 at Reliant Stadium in Houston — said “it’s an incredibly sad time,” and “I just hope everyone can respect the privacy that I know Renee has already asked for.”

Yet another, this time joint, statement said the split was due to “the miscommunication of the objective of their marriage at the start. Renee and Kenny value and respect each other and are saddened that their different objectives prevent the success of this marriage. They are disappointed that the legal term ‘annulment-fraud’ has been publicly misunderstood and exaggerated.”

Hmm.