Bijou Phillips initiates divorce proceedings a week after her husband, Danny Masterson, is sentenced to 30 years to life for rape convictions.

Santa Barbara, CA — Actress and model Bijou Phillips Masterson has filed for divorce from her husband, Danny Masterson, shortly after he received a 30-year to life prison sentence for two counts of rape. Phillips filed her divorce petition on Monday in a Santa Barbara court, as per court documents reviewed by USA TODAY, with TMZ being the first to report the development.

Citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the divorce, Phillips listed the date of their separation as “TBD.” In her petition, signed on September 15, she requested spousal support, a return to her maiden name, Bijou Phillips, and full legal and physical custody of their 9-year-old daughter, Fianna Francis Masterson. The petition also included provisions for Masterson to have child visitation rights.

The couple, who had been married since October 2011, was thrust into the spotlight due to Danny Masterson’s high-profile rape trials. USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for both Bijou Phillips and Danny Masterson for additional comments and information.

Throughout Danny Masterson’s legal battles, Bijou Phillips steadfastly supported her husband. She visibly expressed her emotions during the reading of the guilty verdicts on May 31 and again during the September 7 sentencing hearing when the judge imposed the maximum sentence allowed by law on the 47-year-old actor. Although eligible for parole after serving 25½ years, Masterson could potentially face a life sentence.

A jury composed of seven women and five men had found Danny Masterson guilty of two counts of rape, both of which occurred in Masterson’s Hollywood-area home in 2003, during the peak of his fame on the Fox sitcom “That ’70s Show.” The jury, however, could not reach a unanimous verdict on a third count, which alleged that Masterson had also raped a longtime girlfriend.

Masterson continues to assert his innocence, and his legal team has expressed their intent to appeal the convictions, citing issues with evidence and constitutional concerns.

In a character reference letter dated August 14 and addressed to Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo, Bijou Phillips had referred to her husband as an “extraordinary husband” and “a life-saving partner” throughout their 19 years together. She also emphasized his role as a dedicated father to their daughter, expressing the family’s profound need for him despite the serious convictions he faced. The letter was among several sent by Masterson’s family and friends, urging leniency in his sentencing and made public by The Hollywood Reporter.

Who is Bijou Phillips?

Bijou Phillips, the daughter of “The Mamas and the Papas” singer-songwriter John Phillips and actor Genevieve Waite, initially pursued a career in modeling before transitioning to acting. Her filmography includes notable appearances in films such as “Almost Famous” and television shows like “Raising Hopes” and “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.”