(Cover) - EN Movies - Katy Perry reportedly asked Russell Brand to file divorce papers as she didn't want to upset her religious parents.

The British actor revealed yesterday that the couple have decided to end their marriage after just 14 months. Russell filed the court papers in Los Angeles citing "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for their split.

TMZ reports that Katy and Russell had realised their relationship was in trouble some months ago. However, they made every effort to work on the marriage before mutually deciding "it just wasn't there".

Katy, 27, was raised in a religious home and she is said to have been worried that her parents would be disappointed by her divorce.

"We're told both Katy and Russell were on board with the divorce a few weeks ago - but they didn't want to be in town when the papers were filed," reports TMZ. "Since Katy's parents are evangelical Christians, we're told she didn't want to be the one to officially' end the marriage by filing the docs... since she was raised to believe divorce is wrong."

Russell was spotted in England looking downcast and without his wedding ring just before the announcement was made, while Katy was in Hawaii.

They are believed to have had a heated argument over the holidays and spent Christmas apart.

In a statement released by Russell, 36, he revealed he still "adored" the star and promised they will remain friends.

The divorce documents which refer to Katy by her given name Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson show there are community property assets'. This suggests the pair may not have signed a pre-nuptial agreement.

The papers do not include a date of separation.

Katy is yet to comment on the end of her marriage.

The pair famously met in 2009 at an MTV Music Awards party after Katy threw a bottle at Russell's head. He proposed four months later and they married in October last year in a lavish ceremony in India. (C) Cover Media