Billy Joel and Katie Lee Joel Split Up
After months of speculation that Billy Joel and 3rd wife Katie Lee Joel were having marital problems – the pair are officially splitting up.Various reports have linked Lee with Yigal Azrouel, a fashion designer who has frequently escorted her to events.
Reps for the pair said in a joint statement.
“After nearly five years of marriage, Billy and Katie have decided to separate. This decision is the result of much thought and consideration. Billy and Katie remain caring friends, with admiration and respect for each other.”
Reps for the Joels also insisted that Azrouel was just a friend and that Billy was happy to skip the parties, fashion shows and fundraisers that his younger wife enjoyed.
“Their decision to separate was absolutely unrelated to Yigal,” Joel’s spokeswoman, Claire Mercuri said.
“It was really the age difference that caught up with them,” said a friend of the couple. “They grew apart. She is very career-oriented. She loves going out. She loves the city. When Billy isn’t touring, he’d rather be on Long Island with his motorcycles and boats.”
Still, the friend added, “I can’t imagine the stories about Yigal helped.”
One ally of Lee said, “Billy is no one to talk. It wasn’t like he was a monk when he was on tour.”
Joel is believed to have a prenuptial agreement.
As recent as last week, Joel was said to have purchased Lee a restaurant in Sag Harbor – now it is being said that he was looking at the space “only as real estate investment.”
He and Lee married in October of 2004. His nine-year marriage to model Christie Brinkley, the mother of their daughter Alexa, ended in 1994. His nine-year marriage to Elizabeth Weber ended in 1982.
“Billy’s doing fine,” Mercuri said. “He’s looking forward to resuming his Face2Face Tour with Elton John.”
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