Sylvester Stallone has branded himself a 'coward' for his cruel 1994 break-up with future wife Jennifer Flavin via a FedEx letter in a candid new interview.

The Rocky star, 78, who shares three daughters with Flavin, 56, first met the model in the late '80s when she was 19 and he was 42, and they started dating soon after.

However in 1994, Stallone left Flavin, now 54, heartbroken when he revealed that he had cheated on her with supermodel Janice Dickinson in a shocking, handwritten six-page letter.

He believed that Dickinson had become pregnant with his daughter, however, after DNA tests proved that he was not the father, he eventually returned to Flavin, marrying her in 1997.

Speaking with Fox News host Sean Hannity on Tuesday alongside his wife, the regretful star said: 'That’s the most insincere breakup you can get... You put it down in words ‘cause you don’t have the guts to do it face to face.'

Calling himself a 'coward' the one-time lothario said his 'history with relationships' caused him to send the ill-advised letter.

Sylvester Stallone has branded himself a 'coward' for his cruel 1994 break-up with future wife Jennifer Flavin via a FedEx letter in a candid new interview - pictured last month

Sylvester Stallone has branded himself a 'coward' for his cruel 1994 break-up with future wife Jennifer Flavin via a FedEx letter in a candid new interview - pictured last month 

The Rocky star, 78, who shares three daughters with Flavin, 56, first met the model in the late '80s when she was 19 and he was 42, and they started dating soon after

The Rocky star, 78, who shares three daughters with Flavin, 56, first met the model in the late '80s when she was 19 and he was 42, and they started dating soon after

However in 1994 (pictured), Stallone left Flavin, now 54, heartbroken when he revealed that he had cheated on her with supermodel Janice Dickinson in a shocking, handwritten six-page letter.

However in 1994 (pictured), Stallone left Flavin, now 54, heartbroken when he revealed that he had cheated on her with supermodel Janice Dickinson in a shocking, handwritten six-page letter.

He said he avoided a face-to-face split with Flavin because  'a part of me didn’t want to' break up.'

Flavin said in the wake of the split in 1994: 'It was pretty sloppy. You can’t just write somebody off in a letter after six years. 

'It’s not like I was going to try to beg him to come back to me or anything. I just wanted to talk.'

They married on May 17, 1997 at the posh Dorchester Hotel in London, and with Stallone's reputation as a playboy, few predicted they would last long.

'I'm not naïve about what may go on when I'm not around – he's a 45-year-old man – I can't change the way he is,' Flavin told People at the time.

'Still, he's not a cheating dog every day of the week,' she added. 'We spend five out of seven nights together, so I don't know where he'd find the time.'

In 2022 Flavin filed for divorce from the Rocky legend following a 25 year marriage - but just one month later, it was confirmed the pair had reconciled. 

Stallone has previously told THR he regretted focusing on his career over his children.

Speaking with Fox News host Sean Hannity on Tuesday alongside his wife, the regretful star said: 'T hat’s the most insincere breakup you can get... You put it down in words ‘cause you don’t have the guts to do it face to face'

Speaking with Fox News host Sean Hannity on Tuesday alongside his wife, the regretful star said: 'T hat’s the most insincere breakup you can get... You put it down in words ‘cause you don’t have the guts to do it face to face'

He believed that Dickinson had become pregnant with his daughter, however, after DNA tests proved that he was not the father, he eventually returned to Flavin, marrying her in 1997 - pictured with Dickinson in 1994

He believed that Dickinson had become pregnant with his daughter, however, after DNA tests proved that he was not the father, he eventually returned to Flavin, marrying her in 1997 - pictured with Dickinson in 1994

He shares Sophia, 28, Sistine, 26, and Scarlet, 22 with Flavin (pictured last month) and

He shares Sophia, 28, Sistine, 26, and Scarlet, 22 with Flavin (pictured last month) and 

With ex-wife Sasha Czack, Stallone welcomed son Seargeoh, 45, and the late Sage Stallone, who tragically passed away at 36 following a heart attack in July 2012 - seen with Sage in 1990

With ex-wife Sasha Czack, Stallone welcomed son Seargeoh, 45, and the late Sage Stallone, who tragically passed away at 36 following a heart attack in July 2012 - seen with Sage in 1990

He shares Sophia, 28, Sistine, 26, and Scarlet, 22 with Flavin and with ex-wife Sasha Czack, son Seargeoh, 45, and the late Sage Stallone, who tragically passed away at 36 following a heart attack in July 2012.

He added: 'I was so career-oriented and now I go, "OK, I don't have that much runway up ahead and I want to start asking them about their lives."

'I ask them about their day and they started at first a little monosyllabic. Then I heard one say, "I was just thinking about you." Oh my God. I've never heard that before in my life. When a daughter knows you care, she's there forever.'