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In his new memoir "Hitmaker: The Man and His Music," Tommy Mottola apologizes to ex-wife Mariah Carey for his controlling behavior during their five-year marriage.
In the book, which hit bookshelves on January 15, Mottola acknowledges his overbearing ways, but asserts that his behavior paved the way for Carey's prolific music career. He writes, "No I did not hypnotize Mariah. No, I did not hypnotize her into selling 200 million albums. No, I did not chain her to the recording studio in the mansion we built after we were married. If it seemed like I was controlling, let me apologize. Was I obsessive? Yes. But it was also part of the reason for her success."
On Tuesday, the former head of Sony Music confirmed to "Today" show host Matt Lauer that "[the book] will be the first time" he has told the pop star that he's sorry.
"I have nothing but the greatest respect for her in the world," Mottolla told Lauer. "I feel great about all of the things that she has achieved as a result of all of the work that we did.”
In a 2007 sit-down with Interview magazine, Carey said of her marriage to Mottola: "I understand him not wanting me to go out and hang out all night, but going to a spa with friends every now and then, or doing things on my own would have made a world of difference...With Tommy it felt like I had this controlling situation where I wasn't allowed to be myself."
Mottola divorced his first wife, Lisa Clark, in 1990 and tied the knot with a then-23-year-old Carey in 1993. He was 43 at the time. The pair separated in 1997 and divorced the following year in March 1998. Mottola is now married to Mexican singer Thalia. Carey is married to actor and TV personality Nick Cannon.
Watch the video above for more on Mottola's new memoir. Then, click through the slideshow below for seven other celebs who wrote memoirs that touched on divorce.