Coronavirus: Mary-Kate Olsen's emergency divorce rejected

Mary-Kate Olsen's request for an emergency divorce from her husband has been rejected by a judge in New York, who said it wasn't an "essential matter".

The fashion designer filed for separation last month, but the coronavirus outbreak had led to a hold up in court.

Olsen's been married to Pierre Olivier Sarkozy, who is 17 years her senior, for five years.

The 33-year-old rose to fame as a toddler, along with her twin sister Ashley, starring in American sitcom Full House.

After a childhood in the public eye, both quit acting in 2012 to focus on a career in fashion, co-founding their own brand The Row.

Mary-Kate first filed for divorce in Manhattan in April, but was facing problems after the COVID-19 outbreak led to delays in court.

In a bid to speed up the divorce process, she filed for an emergency divorce, claiming her husband was forcing her out of her home.

Mr Sarkozy, a 50-year-old banker, is the half-brother of former French president Nicolas Sarkozy.

The couple, who met in 2012, have been married for five years.

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New York Supreme Court spokesman Lucian Chalfen said a judge determined the matter was not essential.

He said: "Currently, we are only accepting essential/emergency matters for filing. The original filing was rejected by the New York County Clerk because they did not follow the essential matter procedure.

"They refiled under the essential matter procedure and the matter was referred to the ex-parte judge, a New York State Supreme Court judge. He determined that it is not an essential matter, so they can't file anything at this point."

Although both Olsen twins now largely avoid the spotlight, Mary-Kate has previously spoken publicly about her battle with anorexia in 2004.

Like her sibling, Ashley Olsen, who is the eldest twin by two minutes, has dated several notably older men including cyclist Lance Armstrong and financier Richard Sachs.