Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model Hilary Rhoda has filed for divorce from ex-New York Rangers star Sean Avery – six years after her mom filed for a restraining order against the hockey player and accused him of harassment.
TMZ reported that the pair separated on July 17 – weeks after she took their son, Nash Avery, on a trip to Hawaii without Sean – and that the model cited ‘irreconcilable differences’ as the reason for their split.
Hilary, 35, and Sean, 42 – who played hockey in the NHL for 13 seasons – first met at the bar Warren 77 in New York City in 2009 and got engaged four years later – in November 2013.
They tied the knot at the Parrish Art Museum in New York in October 2015, and together, they welcomed their son, Nash, in July 2020.
However, Hilary and Sean’s relationship was not exactly picture perfect – with a source telling New York Daily News early on in their relationship that Sean – who struggled to find work after leaving hockey – was ‘brainwashing’ the model, while ‘freeloading’ off her.
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model Hilary Rhoda has filed for divorce from ex-New York Rangers star Sean Avery – six years after her mom filed for a restraining order against the hockey player
TMZ reported that the pair separated on July 17 – weeks after she took their son, Nash Avery, on a trip to Hawaii without Sean – with the model citing ‘irreconcilable differences’
Hilary, 35, and Sean, 42 – who played hockey in the NHL for 13 seasons – first met at a NYC bar in 2009 and got engaged in November 2013. They are seen in 2020 (left) and 2016 (right)
The couple tied the knot at the Parrish Art Museum in New York in October 2015. They are seen at the wedding
The insider claimed that he once renovated her Southampton home without telling her, and then ‘presented her with a $100,000 bill’ for it.
His actions seemed to cause a major wedge between Hilary and her mother, Marianne Rhoda, who did not come to their wedding
In 2016, Page Six reported that Hilary filed an explosive lawsuit against her mother, claiming that Sean faced ‘a constant barrage of ad hominem attacks’ from her, which left him ‘extremely exasperated.’
Hilary and Sean welcomed their son, Nash, in July 2020. The family is seen in December 2020
Hilary also alleged that her mom – who was also her manager – had stolen ‘substantial funds’ from her by ‘manipulating her familial role to improperly seize and abuse enormous power over her finances.’
Then, in a countersuit, Marianne denied the allegations, and claimed she was trying to protect her daughter from Sean. She also requested a restraining order against her son-in-law, after he reportedly ‘harassed her.’
‘During a course of time in the summer of 2016, [Sean and Hilary] were living in the same area in the Hamptons and he was harassing her,’ her lawyer told the outlet.
‘They were running into each other, belonged to the same gym, and he’d issue profanities at her and make obscene gestures. He was driving in his car too close to her and scaring her.’
Aside from the Rangers, Sean, who hails from Canada, also played for the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, and Dallas Stars during his hockey career.
A source claimed early on in their relationship that Sean (seen in 2018) – who struggled to find work after leaving hockey – was ‘brainwashing’ the model, while ‘freeloading’ off of her
Their romance caused a major wedge between Hilary and her mother, Marianne Rhoda, who also acted as Hilary’s manager up until 2016 – when Hilary sued her
Hilary accused her of stealing from her in the lawsuit, adding that Sean (seen with Hilary at their wedding) faced ‘a constant barrage of attacks’ from her, which left him ‘exasperated’
The athlete has since retired from the sport, and tried his hand at numerous other jobs before focusing his career on advertising and fashion.
He spent some time working at a creative agency called Lipman, and he also previously interned for Vogue magazine.
He briefly worked in real estate, and tried to enter the restaurant business before giving both up. He has also dabbled in modeling and acting, and released a memoir in 2017.
Aside from the Rangers, Sean, who hails from Canada, also played for the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, and Dallas Stars during his hockey career
Page Six reported that he wasn’t able to hold a job due to his ‘hot temper and inability to get along with others.’
He briefly joined Dancing With the Stars in 2014, but was kicked off after the second episode due to an alleged fight with producers.
He was also set to star in the off-Broadway play Negative Is Positive in 2014, but reportedly walked off the set a few days before opening after getting into an altercation with a lighting director.
‘He is really volatile,’ the writer of play told the outlet. ‘He didn’t like to be criticized, and he’d zero in on people he didn’t like.’
In February 2022, he briefly attempted to return to hockey when the Orlando Solar Bears signed Sean – however, the team released him two days later and did not play him in a single game.
The sports star has faced numerous controversies over the years, and was often accused of bullying people on and off the ice.
In 2007, he was fined by the NHL for allegedly making a nasty comment about Toronto Maple Leafs player Jason Blake’s battle with leukemia during a pre-game confrontation.
The athlete has since retired from the sport, and has tried his hand at numerous other jobs. He worked in advertising, and previously interned for Vogue magazine. The family is seen in May
He briefly worked in real estate, and tried to enter the restaurant business before giving both up. He has also dabbled in modeling and acting. Sean and Hilary are seen in 2018
The sports star has faced numerous controversies over the years, and was often accused of bullying people on and off the ice, with one former coworker calling him ‘really volatile’
He was also suspended in 2008 for ‘conduct detrimental to the league or the game of hockey’ after he publicly slammed two other NHL players for dating his ex-girlfriends.
Red Wings manager Ken Holland later said that the reason he traded Sean was due to his ‘lack of respect.’
Sean was charged with criminal mischief in 2019, after he crashed his scooter into a minivan while three kids were inside. He is seen in court
Sean was charged with criminal mischief in 2019, after he crashed his scooter into venture capitalist Jonathan Schulhof and his wife Kimberly Kravis’ minivan while their three kids were inside.
‘I didn’t really know if there was a crime committed. It’s part of being on the streets of New York City,’ he reportedly said during his testimony.
Hilary modeled for brands like Hollister and Abercrombie as a teen, before she was signed by IMG Models. She then went on to star in campaigns for Max Mara, Balenciaga, Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana, Givenchy, Gucci, Gap, Ralph Lauren, Estee Lauder, and Victoria’s Secret.
She has also graced the covers of many big magazines including Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Time, and W.
In 2007 and 2013, Forbes included her on their list of the world’s 15 top-earning supermodels.
Hilary has starred in campaigns for Anna Sui (left), Max Mara, Balenciaga, Valentino (right), Dolce & Gabbana, Givenchy, Gucci, Gap, Ralph Lauren, and Estee Lauder
She also appeared in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in 2012 (pictured)
She hasn’t posted anything with her ex-husband to social media since June of last year, when she wished him a happy Father’s Day (pictured). His last post of her was in May
Before meeting Sean, she dated New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez for several years.
She previously defended her ex-husband to ML Hamptons, explaining, ‘He gets a bad rep sometimes because he isn’t afraid to speak his mind.
‘And I think that’s one of his best qualities. Sometimes it can hurt him, because some people don’t understand his humor, or they don’t understand that he’s not being totally serious.
‘Some people misunderstand him and think he’s a jerk, but if you know him or you’re friends with him, he’s one of the kindest people and one of the gentlest people. He’d do anything for anybody, and he’s very generous.’
The news of their divorce comes weeks after she jetted off on a solo trip to Hawaii with their two-year-old son, Nash.
She reportedly requested physical custody of the youngster, but wants to share legal custody with the hockey player. And according to TMZ, they have a prenup.
It’s unclear when things went wrong between the two stars, but the last photo they shared together online was in April – when Sean posted a sweet tribute for Hilary’s birthday.
‘Happy Birthday to the most beautiful woman in the world who continues to evolve as a creative and, more importantly, an incredible mother,’ he wrote at the time.
She hasn’t posted anything with her ex-husband to social media since June of last year, when she wished him a happy Father’s Day.
In March 2021, it was reported that they were selling their New York City apartment together, as it was put on the market for $2.67 million.