Lea Salonga confirms separation from husband Robert Chien
Lea Salonga revealed that she and her husband Robert Chien have been separated “for a while,” although she expressed that she’s happy for him.
Salonga admitted the status of her marriage with Chien in an interview with entertainment journalist MJ Marfori via TikTok on Wednesday, Jan. 21, even as she talked about the importance of supporting their child, Nic Chien.
“Kids are wonderful… We’re both so busy but thankfully, the dad and dad’s partner are the ones [like] pag may sipon ka, I will send you food. I will make sure that you’re well,” she said, referring to Robert, an American with Chinese-Japanese blood who had set up a business in the Philippines in the early 2000s following their marriage.
“It’s not a secret that we’ve been separated for a while. And now he’s happy and I’m happy that he’s happy,” she continued.
While the theater superstar revealed that Robert is in a relationship with someone new, she opted not to reveal further details about the end of their marriage.
Despite this, she spoke about supporting her son Nic as he navigates life as a trans man.
“Children are not customizable. Every kid is like a blind box. You don’t know what you will get, but chances are it is the one you don’t want but that is what you will get… My job as his mom was to try and figure out how to get things done,” she said.
Salonga said that while she’s aware that not all parents won’t agree with how she’s raising Nic, she reiterated that she’s willing to do everything she can to help him.
“I am aware of folks who will not understand or have a very negative opinion of the decisions we made for his health and own navigation of the world as a trans man. The only thing I have to do is what I need to do to help my child,” she said.
Salonga and Chien tied the knot in January 2004, with the Broadway star even dedicating a song to him during her wedding march. They welcomed Nic two years later.
The Disney legend is part of the cast of “Les Misérables World Tour Spectacular” as Madame Thénardier. Meanwhile, Nic is part of the cast of the Philippine staging of “Spring Awakening” as Moritz.
The mother and son worked together in the local staging of “Into the Woods” last year. /ra
