Chris Rock is ready to love again. The comedian, 61, made his relationship with Simone Henault public on Tuesday, March 31, when he was spotted enjoying a romantic outing at a park in the SoHo neighborhood of New York City. The couple was photographed sharing a kiss on a bench during their afternoon stroll, signaling a new chapter in Rock’s personal life.
Earlier this month, the actor and DJ were also seen leaving restaurant Giorgio Baldi and entering a car together in Santa Monica, Calif. This sighting added to the growing speculation about their relationship. Rock was previously married to Malaak Compton-Rock from 1996 to 2016. Their marriage ended due to infidelity, and they have two children together: Lola Simone, 23, and Zahra Savannah, 21.
Before meeting Simone, Chris Rock was romantically linked to Lake Bell. In July 2022, a source confirmed that the pair were in a “pretty new relationship.” They were said to be having fun and spending time together despite Rock’s busy touring schedule. However, it remains unclear when the alleged exes parted ways.
During an episode of Kevin Hart’s 2022 series, Hart to Heart, Chris Rock expressed his reluctance to get married again. “I think I’m good,” he said. “At some point I’ll have a woman and whatever, and hopefully she’ll be with me for a while. One day I won’t be able to make it up the steps and I’ll put her in my will. ‘I can’t get up the stairs — somebody get me my will! I gotta put Angie in my will.'”
In a May 2017 interview, Chris Rock reflected on the emotional impact of his divorce from Malaak Compton-Rock. He described the experience as requiring him to “f—— start over,” noting that he had to “reset” his life. “It’s not a breakdown, but something in your life broke down,” he said.
Rock admitted to cheating on Malaak with three women and took responsibility for his actions. “Your significant other, if they really love you, has a high opinion of you. And you let them down,” he explained. Despite the pain, he remained focused on his career and avoided letting his frustration over the divorce affect his work.
“I asked myself, ‘Do I want to be angry for a year?’ It’s not a cool place to be. It’s not healthy,” he said. He also spoke about seeking inner peace and a spiritual connection without going through a crisis. “I wanna find some peace, ‘cause people usually find that peace in a horrible time. Why does that have to be? Maybe I can find God without being in shambles. Maybe I can reach a higher plain spiritually without being in a near-death experience.”
