Sources say Paula Patton wanted to leave Robin Thicke after the Miley Cyrus scandal, but she stayed to save face during awards season.

Paula Patton and Robin Thicke Are Separating

After a 20-year relationship, actress Paula Patton and Robin Thicke decided to separate earlier this week.  The couple released a statement to People confirming their mutual decision "to separate at this time."  

But, as more details emerge about what actually made the couple end their nine-year marriage, it looks like the decision was more one-sided than they lead on.  Thicke's antics may have pushed Patton a bit too far, starting with his VMA performance with Miley Cyrus.

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A source revealed to Us Weekly on Tuesday, "The Miley Cyrus fiasco was a big test of their relationship."  The insider continued, "He asked her to help him out as a friend and a wife, and defend him and the performance. He begged her to speak out for him and be there for him."

As Patton defended her husband in the media, insisting that she was "not that uptight" on The Today Show in September, Thicke continued to get caught in alleged cheating scandals with fans in public places.  

However, despite the rumors, Patton did not speak out against her husband.  According to the insider, it was only because Thicke asked her to stay quiet.

"She agreed to be the good wife after he begged and pleaded," the source revealed.  "Then he asked her to stick with him through awards season, and she agreed. She attended the Grammys with him as a favor."

Now that the award season is coming to an end, it seemed that Patton ended the relationship after the terms of their agreement expired.  TMZ reported that Thicke even cancelled his tours to fly to Vancouver, where Paula is filming a new movie, to try and change her mind.  

Patton was spotted for the first time at LAX on Feb. 26, but had no comment on the status of their relationship. 

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