Rocker Melissa Etheridge has responded
to claims by her former wife that she left her and their children
penniless.
The two women announced their split
after nine years in April. In separate filings to end their
California domestic partnership, each claim “irreconcilable
differences.” Etheridge is asking the court for joint custody of
the couple's twin 3-year-old children, son Miller and daughter
Johnnie Rose. Michaels, who gave birth to the twins, says she wants
full custody of the children with visitation rights for Etheridge.
Michaels' lawyer Steven Knowles told
PEOPLE that his client is “destitute.” “Literally, she has no
cash,” he said.
In responding to the allegations,
Etheridge told celebrity glossy Us that the women were
“working things out.”
“No,” she said, “it's not [true].
It's always one person's perspective, and one person's perspective
through hurt and fear, and anger. You're going to get a pretty dark
picture.”
When asked if she was dating anyone,
she answered: “Suffice it to say, I am a very happy woman. Yes.”