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It seems that Phil Collins has not had it easy over the past few years.

The former Genesis and solo star can be considered one of the most talented musicians of his generation, with a number of Grammy Awards under his belt.

But in 2014, the drummer opened up about his depression, alcohol, loneliness, divorces, and inability to play the drums anymore.

Back then, he explained how his failed marriages had a detrimental effect on his life and career.

(He has been married three times, and has five children.)

Heavy stuff.

Now, in the ongoing legal dispute over his and his ex-wife Orianne Bates’ mansion in Florida, he will be quizzed under oath over claims he did not shower or brush his teeth for a year.

The idea is to paint the picture of a difficult marriage, bringing into question Collins’ hygiene and habits, so that the jewellery designer can get what she claims she was verbally promised by her former spouse.

That would be half of their former Miami beachfront home, which Collins sold for $51 million this year.

The couple split up seven years after marrying in 1999, only to reunite in 2016, moving in together at Collins’ Miami mansion.

But that rekindling didn’t last long as Collins filed an eviction notice against Orianne after she secretly married another man, Tom Bates, 32, in August, per NewsAU.

At that time, Collins was ordered to pay a record-breaking divorce settlement of $46,76 million.

Although they have two sons together, Orianne is clearly after more and is forcing her ex-husband to reveal the deepest and darkest parts of his private life:

A judge in Los Angeles this week rejected Collins’ bid to have the case dismissed. He will now be quizzed in a filmed deposition.

…Orianne has alleged Collins abused alcohol and prescription medication, did not brush his teeth, stopped showering and became “depressed, abusive and incapable of having sex”.

According to Orianne’s lawyer Richard Wolfe, they anticipate Collins’ deposition sometime in December.

IOL reported a source as saying:

“Orianne is adamant she wants the world to know her truth and feels that justice would be Phil giving her half the proceeds of the house, which she insists he verbally promised when they split.

“So questions about Phil’s mindset, mental state, personal behaviour and acts are all potentially on the table. Certainly if her lawyer could convince a jury that Phil’s mind was impacted by alleged drug and drink use then that helps her case.

“Certainly while matters about his hygiene and intimate interactions with her may seem frivolous, this potentially paints a picture of the unusual nature of their relationship.

“The ball now is in Phil’s court about how much he wants to bring out publicly or discuss because these depositions will be videotaped.”

Collins’ lawyers have said Orianne’s claims are “scandalous, scurrilous, unethical and, for the most part, patently false or grossly exaggerated”.

They added the claims are “totally immaterial” to the dispute over the house.

Meanwhile, Orianne’s team say “she just wants what’s right” and that “she would simply walk away if they split the house profits”.

[sources:newsau&iol]