Grey’s Anatomy star and activist, Jesse Williams, has finally broke his silence regarding his divorce from Aryn Drake-Lee.

Williams appears in JAY-Z’s short film, Footnotes for 4:44, and in it, the actor opened up about how his separation has affected him.

“I was in a relationship 13 years, 13 real years, not 5 years, not 7 years – 13 years,” Williams said. “All of a sudden motherf—ers are writing think-pieces that I somehow threw away a 13-year relationship.”

Williams also talks about rumors of infidelity that have continued to permeate mainstream media.

“Like, the most painful experience I’ve had in my life like with a person I’ve loved with all of my heart – that I threw a person and my family in the trash because a girl I work with is cute.”

Williams married his longtime girlfriend in 2012. At the time, they had been dating for more than five years. The couple filed for divorce on April 11, according to documents obtained by PEOPLE.

They have two children together: Sadie, 3, and Maceo, who was born in 2015.

Jesse’s message seems to be one that we should all take heed to: don’t believe everything you read.

Clearly a divorce, especially one that takes place after being with someone for so long, is quite painful. Perhaps we should be a bit more considerate to both individuals’ feelings instead of perpetuating rumors.

Best of luck to both Williams and Drake Lee.