Melika Payne was romantically involved with a well-known RnB singer before marrying Carl Payne. The couple will celebrate 31 years of marriage in November 2023; however, they once faced a hurdle that nearly ended their union.
Carl Payne is a Hollywood actor chiefly recognized for his roles in '90s sitcoms like "The Cosby Show" and "Martin." He has since expanded his repertoire in the entertainment industry as a comedian and podcast host; however, he has kept his personal life relatively private.
Carl Payne found love and married Melika Payne (maiden name unknown) in 1992, and the couple expanded their small family, welcoming a few children into their union. Before their romance, Melika already had another child from a previous relationship.
Carl Anthony Payne II and Melika Payne attend the 2022 BET Awards at Microsoft Theater on June 26, 2022, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
Carl Payne's Wife: Melika Payne Had a Son with Bobby Brown
Melika was romantically involved with acclaimed singer Bobby Brown (he later married Whitney Houston) in the 1980s, and the pair welcomed their son, Landon Brown, in 1986. It's unclear when, but the former couple separated when Landon was young.
Regardless of their split, Landon developed a close relationship with both his parents, and despite a busy career, he spent plenty of time with his dad. "He came to pick me up all the time, take me around the world," Landon recalled.
(L-R) Landon Brown and Bobby Brown attend the TV One Urban One Honors at The Eastern on December 2, 2022, in Atlanta, Georgia. | Source: Getty Images
He followed Bobby's footsteps into the entertainment industry, dabbling in film and music. He once shared a sweet post about his mom in 2012. Alongside a dark and grainy photo of the two with smiles that amplified their resemblance, he joked:
"People give me so much drama for not looking just like my dad; lol, now you know why."
Melika Payne Once Filed for Divorce
In 2014, news emerged that Melika had filed for divorce from Carl, citing irreconcilable differences. According to documents obtained by TMZ, she had requested sole physical and joint legal custody of their son.
Melika also reportedly wanted spousal support from her husband. The pair had allegedly separated two years before she filed to end their marriage, but it appears they managed to reconcile and expand their family further.
In 2019, Carl shared a heartfelt appreciation post in honor of his wife, writing, "To my beautiful wife, THE mother of our [four] amazing sons ..you have held me down for over 25 years. Thanks for EVERYTHING. Love [you] to the moon and back."
Carl Payne Shared the Secret to a Long-Lasting Marriage
In his October 2022 appearance on "Fox 5," Carl touched briefly on his role in "Martin," where he starred alongside Martin Lawrence, Tisha Campbell, and Tichina Arnold. He also shared insight into how he maintained his marriage with Melika.
"Learn how to fight," the actor candidly stated before clarifying that his secret to his long-lasting union was communication and "growing together." He reinforced his advice, saying he and Melika had to "learn how to argue" and pick their battles.
The couple found that their arguments were not worth having most of the time. They haven't shared much about the rest of their children, but Carl once posted a sweet birthday tribute for presumably their eldest, Malek. In 2016, he was on set with the youngster directing a film called "Misguided Behavior."
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