"The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Erika Jayne opened up about her relationship with her estranged husband Thomas Girardi's children. The former couple has been embroiled in a legal dispute.
As she battles her ex-husband Thomas "Tom" Girardi in court, "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Erika Jayne has the backing of her first husband, Thomas Zizzo, and their son, Tommy. Her bond with her son grew closer amidst her legal woes.
In a June 2020 interview, Jayne revealed that she and Zizzo are very close and that he has been very supportive of her throughout her ongoing court battle with her estranged husband. Jayne also shared that her mother is friends with Zizzo's mom.
Erika Jayne visits Hallmark Channel's "Home & Family" at Universal Studios Hollywood on November 11, 2019, in Universal City, California. | Source: Getty Images
Erika Jayne's Relationship with Thomas Girardi's Adult Children
Jayne and Girardi's split after two decades together shocked fans worldwide. Although the Girardi couple appeared to have had an unorthodox marriage in which they spent a lot of time apart, their relationship was seen by fans as strong.
Throughout their marriage, Jayne was also known to get along well with his adult children from his two previous marriages. It's not clear, though, how many kids Girardi has from his previous relationships before Jayne.
In season 10 of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," Jayne revealed to former housewife Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave that she and Tom loved spending Thanksgiving at his daughter's house.
Thomas Girardi attends the Annenberg Space for Photography's "Not An Ostrich" Exhibit Opening Party on April 19, 2018, in Century City, California. | Source: Getty Images
She went on to say that she counts herself lucky that Girardi has "really nice kids" who also happen to be around the same age as her. The well-known lawyer is 32 years older than Jayne.
Jayne previously lauded her husband's parenting skills, noting how Girardi accepted her son, police officer Tommy Zizzo, with open arms. Tommy is Jayne's son from a previous relationship.
Thomas Girardi and Erika Jayne Divorce
Like many others in Hollywood, Jayne and Girardi's marriage fell apart, followed by a messy legal battle. Jayne reportedly filed for divorce in November 2020, months after being summoned to testify in court concerning a fraud case.
In her divorce petition, Jayne stated that she and Girardi had "irreconcilable differences." She also requested spousal support from the disgraced attorney. In addition, she asked Girardi to cover her legal bills.
The reality star likewise petitioned the court to block Girardi from demanding spousal support from her. However, Girardi refused to pay spousal support and asked to terminate the court's ability to award spousal support to Jayne. He also demanded that she pay his attorney's fees.
Even though they battled each other in court, Jayne still cared about her ex-husband. While Jayne has the love and support of her first husband and son, she doubts that Girardi has had the same experience with his own family.
Jayne said that even though they have split up, she does not want Girardi to be in a facility where he is not properly cared for.
Thomas Girardi at Baltaire Restaurant on March 7, 2016, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
Erika Jayne on Thomas Girardi Post-divorce
Although they had "irreconcilable differences," Jayne has expressed concern over Girardi's unfortunate situation. She earlier opened up about how she felt her estranged husband was being treated by his family.
Jayne shared that Girardi was put into a facility because his family wanted to avoid public scrutiny. It was reported that the disgraced attorney was placed in a facility shortly after his brother was named his conservator back in January 2021.
Erika Jayne said that Girardi's situation and her estranged spouse's brother as a conservator bothered her. In a 2021 episode of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," she said:
"I'm ready to have a nervous breakdown. Regardless of what is going on with him legally, this is someone I was married to for 22 years."
Jayne said that even though they have split up, she does not want Girardi to be in a facility where he is not properly cared for. She added that it simply shows that a person only knows his or her real friends after getting old and becoming penniless.
The reality star, who remains close to Girardi, said she found it "tragic" that Girardi's family would greatly distance themselves from the negative publicity surrounding her estranged husband.
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