Ex-Viacom chief Tom
Freston and his wife, best-selling author Kathy, are separating after 14 years of marriage, Page Six can confirm. But sources close to the power couple — who’ve been fixtures in high-flying New York and Hollywood social circles — say they have no current plans to divorce.
“They’re friends; this is not a war,” said a source close to the couple. “And there’s been no decision for divorce.”
The Frestons, who’ve been known to rub elbows with Harvey Weinstein, Graydon Carter, Oprah Winfrey, Brian Grazer, Russell Simmons and other A-listers, issued a joint statement, saying, “We’ve been together for 17 years, 14 of them married. We’ve mutually agreed to a period of separation. We love each other very much, and are moving forward with good will and kindness.”
Kathy’s books, ironically, include, “The One: Finding Soul Mate Love and Making It Last.” The split was first reported Sunday by The Daily’s Flash column.
Sources said the Frestons were seen socializing as recently as last week. But on Thursday night, the one-time Viacom CEO walked the red carpet solo and was then surrounded by family — including brother Bill and grown sons Andrew and Gilbert from a previous marriage — after he was honored by the Paley Center for Media at Gotham Hall.
Freston seemed in high spirits at the Paley gala, even grabbing a paparazzo’s camera on the red carpet to jokingly shoot the night’s entertainer, Lady Rizo.
The Frestons were photographed together in April at a party for Kathy’s tome “The Lean: A Revolutionary (and Simple!) 30-Day Plan for Healthy, Lasting Weight Loss.”
Tom walked away from Viacom in 2006 with an $85 million package. He’s since been a consultant to Winfrey through his Firefly3 and chairs the board of Bono’s ONE Campaign. Kathy’s known for appearing on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” “The Dr. Oz Show” and “The Talk.”