Sylvester Stallone has admitted he was foolish for delaying his marriage to his wife, Jennifer Flavin, saying he wished he had wed her earlier.
Speaking during an appearance on the television program CBS Sunday Morning on Monday, September 28, the actor reflected on what he would change in his life if given a second chance.
The couple first met by chance at a restaurant in 1988 before marrying in 1997, marking 29 years of marriage this year.
Procrastination and Childhood Reflections
After pausing to consider what he described as a difficult question, Stallone confessed that he wished he had married Flavin about eight years earlier. He admitted to procrastinating repeatedly and noted that he was still learning about relationships the hard way, before offering a direct apology to his wife.
Asked whether a lack of affection from his parents during childhood influenced his hesitation, Stallone acknowledged that parental upbringing plays a significant role in personal development.
He explained that individuals dealing with childhood difficulties are not to blame for how they evolve, comparing an infant to a pile of wet clay. He added that if a child is dropped twice, it leaves permanent marks that force a person to carry those issues throughout life.
Learning to Love and Past Struggles
Stallone explained that learning to love is a habit that eventually bore fruit in his relationship with Flavin, remarking that while it took about 60 years, they ultimately succeeded.
The actor is best known for portraying iconic action heroes in film franchises such as Rocky and Rambo, while Flavin built a career as a model.
Despite their enduring marriage, the couple previously navigated severe relationship hurdles that brought them to the brink of legal separation.
In August 2022, Flavin filed for divorce, accusing Stallone in court documents of intentional dissipation, depletion, and waste of joint marital assets, according to People magazine.
The pair reconciled one month later, after which Stallone told The Hollywood Reporter that he had mistakenly prioritized his work over his family, calling it a tragic error he would not repeat.
