How long were Remy Ma and Papoose separated? Rapper files for divorce after estranged wife’s recent comments

Shamele 'Papoose' Mackie filed the “complaint for divorce” on Thursday, May 22, 2025, to initiate the legal proceedings amidst his estrangement from his wife, Reminisce Smith, aka Remy Ma. The 47-year-old rapper shared screenshots via his Instagram handle to call out his estranged spouse.

Papoose and Remy Ma have been married since 2008, but rumors of their relationship troubles surfaced in 2023. The pair confirmed their separation last year in December during a public fallout on social media. Although their split became official five months back, Remy Ma recently claimed that she and her husband have been estranged for years.

In an 82-minute Instagram live session via her handle (@remyma), the Whuteva rapper revealed that she and Papoose,

“haven't even slept in the same bed since May 2022.”

Thus, the famous couple featured in Remy & Papoose: Meet the Mackies and Love & Hip Hop: New York are seemingly separated for three years.

Although the pair continued to maintain secrecy around their split, infidelity allegations against Remy Ma surfaced in 2023 during her rap battle with Geechi Gotti, per Vibe. Later that year, reports of a physical altercation between Papoose and Eazy The Block Captain emerged, which the former’s wife refuted in an X post.

In December last year, the pair accused each other of cheating, with Remy Ma posting screenshots of a text exchange. She called out Shamele and his girlfriend, Claressa Shields. In response, the rapper called his estranged wife a “narcissist” and alleged that she cheated on him with the Philadelphia rapper.

Papoose also proclaimed that he had fought with Eazy The Block Captain. Remy Ma didn’t admit to the cheating allegations, but she confirmed her relationship with the latter in January, according to Vibe.

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Papoose filed for divorce after Remy Ma reacted to Claressa Shields’ recent comments

Shamele Mackie’s professional boxer girlfriend was a guest on The Breakfast Club radio show earlier this week. During the chat with the hosts, Claressa addressed Papoose and Remy Ma’s divorce situation as the “elephant in the room." She said,

“That takes time, and like I said, that's not my place to speak on, you know what I’m saying? Like, it'll get handled. I just know that from my perspective, I'm with him every day, and when I'm not with him, we're on the phone every day and we're talking and we're Facetiming. And you know, we love each other.”

Responding to Charlamagne tha God, Claressa Shields said that the divorce and other situations in Mackie’s life don’t stop her from giving it all to the relationship, as they “are together all the time.” The boxer also asserted during the conversation that she had no “ill will” towards Pap’s estranged wife, Remy Ma.

The I'm Around rapper seemingly responded to Claressa’s remarks and accused Papoose of slowing the legal process. She criticized her spouse while shading Shields during her Instagram Live session, according to Complex. She said:

“If you can’t afford to retain a lawyer since the lawyer that you gave has not been retained yet, I told you I’ll pay for [the divorce]. If someone that loves you over there wants to pay for it, great. That will make me happy. Everything is signed and ready to go.”

Hours after Remy’s Instagram Live session, Pap posted about filing the complaint for divorce and, thus, starting the legal proceedings. He wrote in his post,

“The only reason I haven’t filed previously Is for the sake of my daughter. She has to go to school. When two individuals behave like civilized adults. You can get a divorce peacefully/privately. And that was my intentions.”

Accusing Remy Ma of clout chasing, Pap claimed it could

“lead to an embarrassment for my child.”

He continued,

“You just lied for a hour straight. But actions speak louder than lies. You just called me YESTERDAY trying to get back with me. And I said NO!”

For those unaware, Remi Ma and Papoose married in 2008, when the former was incarcerated for six years in prison. They remarried during the season finale of Love & Hip Hop: New York Season 6 in 2016 and welcomed their only daughter, Reminisce Mackenzie, two years later.