Phil Collins’ Ex-Wife Puts Out Public Message After Their Costly Divorce

Despite their tumultuous history, Orianne Cevey recently lauded her ex-husband Phil Collins as “the best dad ever” in a heartfelt Father’s Day post.

She shared several touching photos of Collins with their sons, including a nostalgic throwback. In the caption, Orianne wrote:

“Happy Father’s Day to all the Dad out there but especially to the best Dad ever to my kids. Thank you for the beautiful and talented sons we have together and VERY HAPPY FATHER DAY FROM ME.”

Phil Collins and Orianne Cevey divorced in 2008 after nine years of marriage, during which they had two sons, Nicholas, now 22, and Matthew, 18. Their split was notably bitter, culminating in a reported $47 million settlement for Cevey. The tension between them reignited when Orianne was evicted from Collins’ Miami mansion after she refused to leave with her then-new husband, Thomas Bates.

Inside the Turbulent Divorce of Phil Collins and Orianne Cevey

Orianne’s actions had surprised many, especially when she moved Bates into Collins’ mansion after their secret Las Vegas wedding. She even hired security to prevent Collins from entering his own home. During their divorce proceedings, Orianne made several startling claims about Phil, including allegations that he had lost his musical talent and was abusing painkillers. She also accused him of not showering for almost a year from 2019 to 2020, saying his poor hygiene made him a recluse.

The eviction process saw Orianne and Bates removed from Collins’ mansion, eventually leading to their separation. In December 2021, Orianne attributed their failed marriage to the pandemic. Reports from DailyMail.com revealed that she had found Bates on a male escort site where he described himself as a “sexy intellectual” with degrees in philosophy and political science.

Their relationship was fraught with conflict. After moving into Collins’ mansion, Orianne reportedly assaulted Bates multiple times and once threatened to harm him by cutting off his genitals, as claimed in their divorce filings. Bates alleged that Orianne secretly removed his belongings when he returned from Thanksgiving with his parents, prompting the threats.

Bates, who previously worked as a male escort under the name Ryan for Cowboys 4 Angels in Los Angeles, met Orianne at a luxury hotel in Miami Beach before their turbulent relationship unfolded in Fort Lauderdale.