Antonio Banderas on rumors of a split with Melanie Griffith

Antonio Banderas, 49, is currently doing press for his new film with Laura Linney and Liam Neeson, The Other Man. Banderas is rumored to be having trouble in his marriage of 13 years to Melanie Griffith, 52. Griffith is currently in rehab and there are stories that Banderas threatened to leave her if she didn’t get sober. A reporter for ExtraTV asked Banderas about Griffith, and his response was so heartfelt and honest that I really got the impression that he loves Melanie and would do anything for her. Bandera’s co-star, Laura Linney, was sitting right next to him when he was asked about Melanie and she looked a little scared for a moment, as if she thought the question was inappropriate. The kind of gentle response from Banderas quickly put her at ease, though:

Antonio Banderas is not leaving his sometimes drug-addicted wife Melanie Griffith, who checked into rehab last week for a ‘routine’ visit.

“She’s doing fantastic and very little of what is being published is true,” he told Extra TV. “I am not going away. I am staying with my family and my wife who I love very much.”

Fox News reported that Griffith’s trip to rehab was not planned but rather the result of Banderas’ refusal to continue putting up with her insane demands, such as insisting all her food be yellow.

[From The Huffington Post]

I saw Antonio and Melanie on Oprah in 2004 when he was promoting the second Shrek movie. I found her a little crass as she made a reference to how well endowed Antonio was. You could tell that she was really into him, and that he meant the world to her, and he didn’t seem overly embarrassed by her remark from what I remember. Banderas seems like a great father and husband and good for him for speaking out for Melanie. There’s something kind of dreamy about Banderas and although we’ve heard some rumors of a possible affair he does strike me as a devoted husband. Antonio and Melanie have a daughter together, Stella, who turns 13 later this month. Melanie also has a son, Alexander, 24, from her second husband, Steven Bauer, and another daughter, Dakota, 19, with Don Johnson.

Antonio and Melanie are shown out with their daughter, Stella, on 4/3/09. They’re also shown at events in June, July and September, 2008. Credit: WENN.com