Whether you’re famous or not, finding love has proven to be a quest survived only by the strong. Some of us get lucky and meet the love of our lives when we’re kids, building a friendship with them that becomes the foundation of a loving relationship and eventual marriage. Belonging to that lucky crowd is Christian rapper megastar, Chance the Rapper. He and wife Kirsten Bennett have a history that dates back to 2003, when they were less than 10 years old. In interviews, Chance recalls meeting Bennett and falling in love with her almost immediately.
In years passed, The Bennetts have built a beautiful life together for themselves and their two daughters. As a wife and momtrepreneur, Kirsten is intentional about cultivating a home where, as she described, “love and grace” are at the center. However, it seems like tropical storms may have tainted their paradise. Here’s a bit more about Chance the Rapper’s now ex wife, Kirsten Bennett.
They Met In 2003, Reconnected In 2012
The former model and basketballer became the apple of Chance’s eye when they were only nine years old. They met at a party thrown by the real estate agency where both of their moms worked. Bennett was dancing with friends as she loved to do and Chance was smitten. Several years passed before the two would reconnect at a film festival in Austin, TX. The two made plans to meetup once they were back home in Chicago. Reports showed that they began dating in 2013, blending their lives and plans for the future.
Kirsten Has a Degree in Psychology and Background in Fashion
In 2014, Bennett graduated from DePaul University in Chicago. She shared a photo of herself celebrating her culmination from the university’s Bachelors Program. She later enrolled in fashion school and dropped out. Bennett attributes her motherhood approach to what she’s learned and continues to apply these practices at home.
The Couple Have a Child in 2015, Then Split in 2016
Two years after reconnecting with Chance, the duo became first-time parents to their daughter Kensli. They celebrated her birth with an Instagram post showing the baby girl’s hand around Bennett’s finger. The couple appeared to be in bliss. Months later, however, they split. Bennett allegedly filed papers documenting Chance as Kensli’s father, but also a desire for “shared allocation of parental responsibility and reasonable parenting time.” They’d dated on and off over the span of five years.
Soon after, Bennett dismissed her documents and filings and Chance proposed in 2018. Their wedding, which took place in 2019, was well-attended by family and celebrities. That same year, they also welcomed their second baby girl, Marli.
Kirsten Launched Children’s Lifestyle Clothing Brand, World of BOBY
In 2021, Bennett embarked on an entrepreneurial journey inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement and creating representation for all kids in a kidswear brand. The clothing is a demonstration of inclusion while amplifying the voices of children and moms of color. Through apparel, community and mental health awareness, Bennett is changing the world for the better and encourages her children to do the same.
A Carnival Video of Chance the Rapper Surfaced, His Wife “Responds”
When a video surfaced of Chance the Rapper being danced on by a Carnival dancer (whose butt he also spanked), Bennett uploaded a post shortly thereafter of an excerpt from Maya Angelou’s essay entitled, “Home”. It was a repost by author and poet, Cleo Wade, part of which said, “Most people don’t grow up. It’s too damn difficult. What happens is most people get older.” She captioned the photo: “I hope one day, we all choose to grow up,”. Weeks later, Chance celebrated Bennett in a Mother’s Day tribute on Instagram. It was not confirmed whether Bennett was responding to Chance’s actions, but the closeness of the videos allowed readers and writers to speculate.
Chance the Rapper and Kirsten Corley Bennett Announce Their Divorce
Currently, after five years of marriage, the duo announced their divorce. An Instagram post included a joint message from the couple detailing what led them to this decision. It also mentioned that they’ve been separated for some time. Still, they reached this choice amicably and with gratitude as expressed in their note. The rapper and model mogul plan to continue raising their two daughters together and ask for privacy during this time. We wish their beautiful family ease during this transition and continued success professionally.