Entertainment Music Savage Garden's Darren Hayes Files for Divorce from Richard Cullen After 17 Years of Marriage: Report Hayes previously announced the pair's separation in May, writing on Instagram, "We are still best friends. We always will be" By Jack Irvin Jack Irvin Jack Irvin has over five years of experience working in digital journalism, and he’s worked at PEOPLE since 2022. Jack started in the industry with internships at Rolling Stone and Entertainment Tonight, and he worked as a freelance writer for publications including Bustle, MTV News, Shondaland, L’Officiel USA, Ladygunn, Flood and PopCrush before joining PEOPLE. In his current role, Jack covers daily music news and has interviewed both up-and-coming and established artists including Dolly Parton, Michelle Branch, Ashanti, Cyndi Lauper, Normani, Carly Rae Jepsen and Coco Jones. People Editorial Guidelines Published on September 19, 2023 12:30PM EDT Close Darren Hayes. Photo: darrenhayes/Instagram Darren Hayes of Savage Garden and husband Richard Cullen are officially calling it quits. After announcing their separation in May, Hayes filed for divorce from Cullen after 17 years of marriage in Los Angeles on Monday, citing irreconcilable differences in documents reportedly obtained by TMZ. A rep for Hayes did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. Earlier this year, the 51-year-old "Truly Madly Deeply" singer-songwriter announced his split from Cullen in a since-deleted Instagram post. "After 17 years of marriage to the best person I have ever met, Richard and I have chosen to accept that our union has gently and beautifully come to rest," wrote Hayes, per multiple outlets. "In honour of this realization, we separated earlier this year and have been supporting each other emotionally throughout this massive change in our lives," continued the caption, before the musician provided more details to fans. "Because people will ask, let me answer the ugly questions to get them out of the way forever - no, there's no scandal to report, no infidelity, guilty or third party." "We are still best friends. We always will be," added Hayes. "Besides - we have a very cute and needy labradoodle to take care of - and the business of joy to attend to." Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. He and Cullen, a director and screenwriter, quietly tied the knot in 2005 and again in 2013 — that time in the United States to honor LGBTQ+ rights. In an interview with PEOPLE last year, Hayes spoke about their relationship, noting that his now-ex wasn't familiar with his career before they met on the now-defunct Gay.com. "He's never been a Hollywood person. He's just a decent human being," said Hayes of Cullen, 53. "He's been a rock, and he's been there for the highest of highs and all the lows," he added at the time. "He would live with me in a dirt shack."