Former NBA star Dwight Howard filed for divorce from his wife, Amber Howard, who performs under the stage name Amy Luciani, citing an irretrievably broken marriage with no prospects for reconciliation. The filing came Monday in Georgia, just hours after Luciani posted an emotional Instagram video accusing Howard of drug addiction and other behaviors that she said led to Child Protective Services removing his daughter from their home.
Howard, 40, and Luciani, a rapper and former “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta” cast member, married on Jan. 11, 2025, after announcing their engagement the previous month. The couple has no children together, and Howard is seeking exclusive use of his mansion in suburban Atlanta. This is not the first time divorce papers have been filed in their short marriage: Luciani initiated proceedings in July 2025, six months after their wedding, but the case was later dismissed. Howard also filed his own petition around the same time but withdrew it.
In her Instagram video posted over the weekend, Luciani, legally known as Amber Rose Howard, tearfully claimed Howard’s alleged drug use was destroying their marriage and harming his children. “This is what I’m f**king losing my marriage to,” she said, adding that she had returned to the relationship after an earlier divorce attempt because of their vows, but that the situation had “gone way too far.” Luciani further accused Howard of coaching their son to lie about her and said CPS had taken their daughter away as a result. She urged Howard to seek help for his alleged addiction, emphasizing that the issues were “not even about me, it’s about the kids.”
TMZ reported it could not independently verify Luciani’s claims about CPS involvement, and Howard’s representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Royce Reed, Howard’s ex-girlfriend and the mother of his 17-year-old son, reacted to the video on social media, though details of her response were not specified in reports.
According to court docs obtained by TMZ, Dwight filed for divorce on Monday morning. He listed the date of marriage as January 11, 2025, but said they are not separated, with no hope of reconciliation.
Dwight said the marriage was “irretrievably broken.” He noted that they had no children.
The NBA star demanded exclusive use of his Georgia mansion.
The divorce filing marks the latest chapter in Howard’s personal life, which has been marked by a series of public accusations dating back to his rookie season with the Orlando Magic in 2004. Howard, an eight-time All-Star and 2020 NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers, has fathered five children with five different women and has faced repeated legal and public scrutiny over his relationships and parenting.
Timeline of Key Accusations Against Dwight Howard
- 2008-2012: Custody and defamation disputes with Royce Reed. Reed, the mother of Howard’s son Braylon, accused him of being an absent father and harassment. Howard sued Reed for defamation after she violated a gag order in their custody agreement, resulting in a judgment against her. No criminal charges were filed against Howard.
- 2014: Child abuse allegation. Howard was investigated by Florida authorities for corporal punishment after Reed reported he used a belt to discipline their then-6-year-old son, causing bruises. The case was closed without charges, with officials noting cultural differences in discipline practices.
- 2021-2024: Sexual assault and battery lawsuit by Stephen Harper. Harper filed a civil suit in July 2023, alleging Howard sexually assaulted him during a July 2021 encounter at Howard’s Georgia home involving a third person dressed as a woman, identified as “Kitty.” Harper claimed he was forced into non-consensual acts after agreeing to meet Howard via Instagram. Howard denied the allegations, calling them “frivolous” and claiming the activity was consensual. He countersued for defamation, alleging Harper doctored evidence due to “unrequited love.” The suit was dismissed in August 2024 after Harper allegedly deleted text messages.
- 2024: Renewed grievances from Royce Reed. At the end of 2024, Reed publicly accused Howard of endangering their son, including allowing inappropriate situations, though specifics were not detailed in reports. This followed ongoing tensions over child support and custody.
- 2026: Drug use and child endangerment claims by Amy Luciani. In her recent video, Luciani accused Howard of drug addiction, coaching his son to lie about her, and behaviors leading to CPS intervention. These remain unverified.
Throughout his career, Howard has also faced persistent rumors about his sexuality, which intensified during the Harper lawsuit but were not part of formal accusations. He has denied many claims, often attributing them to personal vendettas or misunderstandings. Howard last played in the NBA during the 2021-22 season and has since competed in overseas leagues.
