It's hard to imagine a better couple than Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and his pop star wife Ciara. However, few people are aware that Wilson was previously married to a gorgeous blonde named Ashton Meem. Despite Meem's reputation for secrecy, we've uncovered some important information regarding their relationship. To learn more about Wilson's first attempt at married life, continue reading this article.
Russell Wilson's first and former wife, Ashton Meem, is a former Seattle Seahawks quarterback. She was born on September 6, 1987, in Richmond, Virginia, to Molly and Lang Meem. Meem entered the University of Georgia after attending St. Catherine's, a private all-girls school in Richmond. She later went to North Carolina State University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in communications in 2010.
Russel Wilson, her eventual ex-husband, was a high school student at the time as well.
And it was here that the two's paths crossed for the first time, beginning an eight-year romance. Ashton enrolled in the University of Georgia as a freshman after completing his high school education.
As soon as Meem found out where her lover Russell was playing, she chose to attend North Carolina State University.
With a degree in communication, it should come as no surprise that Ashton chose to work in the advertising industry.
The Virginia native interned at Lewis Media Partners and McKinney shortly after graduating from college.
Ashton Meem earned her first job as an account executive at Richmond-based Morton Consulting in 2011 after obtaining significant experience.
After some time there, she moved on to work for American Family Insurance, where she is currently employed. She now works in advertising and appears to be extremely content.
Ashton Meem & Russel Wilson in an awards ceremony Wilson surprised her with a stay in the Presidential Suite at an expensive hotel in Cary, North Carolina, on August 1, 2010. He got down on one knee and proposed to Meem there, with their dog Penny as a witness. "I had arranged for everyone in the foyer to be quiet," Wilson stated, as her parents waited outside to offer their greetings.
On January 14, 2012, the pair married at the Country Club of Virginia in front of 300 guests. The wedding took place between Wilson's NFL training at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, and his honeymoon was postponed.
Meem and Wilson had a fantastic honeymoon. Wilson was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He inked a four-year, $2.99 million deal two weeks later. But behind the scenes, things got tough. Wilson divorced in April 2014. He said via Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times:
“I have decided to divorce. Clearly, these are not easy choices. This is a challenging time for Ashton and me. I shall no longer comment on this personal matter.”
According to USA Today, Wilson made the revelation 13 weeks ago and hasn't uploaded a photo of his wife on social media since.
Wilson and Meem's breakup sparked speculation regarding the reasons why. Many believe Meem cheated on her husband with his former teammate Golden Tate. Former Seahawk Percy Harvin allegedly punched Tate during the 2014 Super Bowl week.
Tate reacted in a long personal essay on The Cauldron:
“I had no affair with Russell Wilson's wife and no involvement in his divorce. Anyone who knows us laughs at that. His ex-wife, Ashton, is my girlfriend's best friend. Russell knew the accusations against me were untrue, detrimental to my image, and an attack on my character when I was in Seattle. “Whoever spread the rumor was simply negligent.”
"The uneducated minority of people, bloggers, and everyone else promoting ridiculous allegations should cut it out," he wrote on Twitter.
No one has admitted infidelity, and no proof exists to back up the claims. Only Tate's girlfriend, Elise Pollard, spoke up to back him in debunking the allegation.
“A blogger made up the story,” she allegedly wrote on Instagram. “Golden, Russell, Ashton, and I all know.”
Picture of Ashton Meem & Russel Wilson torn in the middle Ashton is expected to have a net worth of $4 million by 2021, mostly due to her divorce from NFL player Russel Wilson.
It's important to keep in mind that even though Meem runs her own enterprises, she received a sizable sum as alimony when she divorced Russel.
Wilson is also extremely wealthy, with a fortune estimated at $135 million. The 31-year-old quarterback seemed to have been unfazed by the divorce deal.
Russell inked a four-year, $140 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks in 2019, as well. A record $65 million signing bonus was also part of the deal, as well as $107 million in guaranteed money.
Instead of competing with their husbands' celebrity status, Meem appears to choose a quieter life away from the spotlight. She hasn't allegedly remarried (yet), although Wilson has married Ciara, according to reports. Aside from her child with Future, he has three more children with her.