Sylvester Stallone denies reports that an argument over his new dog led to his wife Jennifer Flavin filing for divorce

• Sylvester Stallone denied that an argument over his new dog was the reason Jennifer Flavin filed for divorce.
• Stallone told TMZ that the relationship did not end "on such a trivial argument."

Sylvester Stallone denied a report that an argument over his dog was the reason why Jennifer Flavin filed for divorce in August.

Flavin filed for divorce from Stallone after 25 years of marriage, accusing him of hiding marital assets in court documents that were obtained by People.

On Wednesday, Stallone responded to a report from TMZ, citing anonymous sources close to the former couple, that said Flavin had filed for divorce after a major argument over whether or not Stallone could get a new dog. TMZ initially reported that the alleged argument invoked other issues in their relationship.

"We did not end the relationship on such a trivial argument," Stallone said in a statement to TMZ, also acknowledging that the two did have issues over how to care for the dog. "We just went in different directions. I have the highest respect for Jennifer. I will always love her. She's an amazing woman. She's the nicest human being I've ever met."

Representatives for Stallone and legal representatives for Flavin did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.

Stallone posted on Instagram in early August about adopting the dog, who is named Dwight after his character in the series "Tulsa King."

"So incredibly happy with my newly acquired four legged friend," he wrote in the caption of the post.

As People reported, Stallone also recently covered up a tattoo of Flavin on his bicep with a tribute to his dog and "Rocky" costar Butkus, who died, leading some to speculate that their marriage was on the rocks. Stallone clarified to TMZ that he'd wanted to freshen up his 14-year-old tattoo of Flavin, but it got messed up, leading the artist to fix it by covering it with the dog tribute. According to Stallone, he still has a large back tattoo of his estranged wife.

In a statement provided to Insider on Wednesday, Stallone said that he loves his family, and that they were "amicably and privately addressing these personal issues." He and Flavin share three daughters: Sophia, 25, Sistine, 24, and Scarlet, 20.

In a statement to People, Flavin said that she would "always cherish the more than 30-year relationship that we shared."