Fans of the hit Bravo show Real Housewives of Beverly Hills were left speechless recently when star Erika Girardi, also known as Erika Jayne, announced that she had filed for divorce from her husband of 21 years, Tom Girardi. While the couple's 33 year age difference has often been a storyline on the show the couple seemed to genuinely care for and love each other.
"After much consideration, I have decided to end my marriage to Tom Girardi. This is not a step taken lightly or easily," the reality star said in a statement to CNN. "I have great love and respect for Tom and for our years and the lives we built together. It is my absolute wish to proceed through this process with respect and with the privacy that both Tom and I deserve. I request that others give us that privacy as well."
Tom has appeared a handful of times on the RHOBH alongside his wife and the two have always seemed to have a strong relationship despite those who accused her of marrying an older man for money. During a talking head interview, Erika dismissed those who constantly criticized her marriage. "I've dealt with this forever: the younger woman that married the wealthier, older man," she said. "I mean, I'm tired of having to justify my 20-year marriage. Go get a 20-year marriage, then come f--king talk to me." She went to add, "Yeah I married a guy that's 33 years older than me, and yeah he's got a lot of money, but you know what? He's a f**king good man. And that is the most important thing."
The two first met in 1999 when Erika was working at the Los Angeles restaurant Chasen's where Tom used to frequent. “After a year of working in the restaurant, one night I decided to slip Tom my telephone number,” she wrote of how they eventually began to date in her 2018 memoir, Pretty Mess. Tom had his secretary initially reach out on his behalf, something that Erika did not appreciate. “I told her, ’Tell Mr. Girardi if he wants to take me out on a date, he needs to call me himself and ask me and give me enough time to prepare,’” she wrote. “You know how men are, especially if they are successful. They expect you to drop everything right away. That’s not how I work, I don’t care who you are.”
While fans were shocked that the seemingly solid couple are splitting, they were even more shocked to learn that Erika didn't sign a prenup before their wedding. “I don’t have a prenup,” the 49-year-old performer explained to Andy Cohen during an appearance on Then & Now in 2018. “But let me tell you something, let me be very clear. I’m married to a very powerful lawyer. A prenup wouldn’t stand in his way anyway. So it doesn’t matter whether you had one or you didn’t, it’s gonna be all Tom’s way, I assure you.” She went on to add, “He’ll rip that piece of paper to shreds in two seconds!”
Source: CNN