01of 13Getting to Know Each OtherErika and Tom Girardi.BravoErika, 49, and Tom, 82, first met over two decades ago, when she was a cocktail waitress at the L.A. restaurant Chasen’s, where Tom was a regular.Then 27, divorced and with a young son, Thomas, now 27, “marriage was the furthest thing from my mind,“Girardi told PEOPLE in 2018.But fate intervened, and after a year-long friendship, Tom, a powerhouse attorney famed for the landmark case that inspired the filmErin Brokovich, asked her out.Their connection was immediate. “Tom did not grow up with a silver spoon in his mouth,” says Girardi, who shared her own painful past in her book,Pretty Mess. “We both came up the hard way. And we appreciate growth.“A few months after they met, Girardi moved in; six months after that, Tom proposed. They wed in 1999, at the same restaurant where they met.It was the second marriage for Erika, who was previously married to ex-husband Tommy Zizzo, and the third marriage for Tom.
01of 13
Getting to Know Each Other
Erika and Tom Girardi.Bravo
Erika, 49, and Tom, 82, first met over two decades ago, when she was a cocktail waitress at the L.A. restaurant Chasen’s, where Tom was a regular.
Then 27, divorced and with a young son, Thomas, now 27, “marriage was the furthest thing from my mind,“Girardi told PEOPLE in 2018.
But fate intervened, and after a year-long friendship, Tom, a powerhouse attorney famed for the landmark case that inspired the filmErin Brokovich, asked her out.
Their connection was immediate. “Tom did not grow up with a silver spoon in his mouth,” says Girardi, who shared her own painful past in her book,Pretty Mess. “We both came up the hard way. And we appreciate growth.”
A few months after they met, Girardi moved in; six months after that, Tom proposed. They wed in 1999, at the same restaurant where they met.
It was the second marriage for Erika, who was previously married to ex-husband Tommy Zizzo, and the third marriage for Tom.
02of 13
Addressing Their Age Difference
Tom and Erika Girardi.Bravo
Erika was 27 when she met Tom, 33 years her senior.
03of 13’An Enigma Wrapped in a Riddle and Cash’Tom and Erika Girardi.BravoIn 2015, Erika was introduced as the newest cast member onThe Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.The couple largely kept their relationship off camera, but Tom made occasional appearances throughout the subsequent five seasons.In a 2017 episode, Erikadiscusses her marriagein an interview that plays during a scene of the pair at dinner.“People are always like, ‘Oh you guys don’t see each other a lot,’ but when we do see each other, it’s 100 percent full-on attention,” Erika says. “This is what people don’t understand: It’s not a detriment to the relationship, it’s actually helpful. It’s better than someone being in your face all the time and you’re not even present.”
03of 13
‘An Enigma Wrapped in a Riddle and Cash’
In 2015, Erika was introduced as the newest cast member onThe Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
The couple largely kept their relationship off camera, but Tom made occasional appearances throughout the subsequent five seasons.
In a 2017 episode, Erikadiscusses her marriagein an interview that plays during a scene of the pair at dinner.
“People are always like, ‘Oh you guys don’t see each other a lot,’ but when we do see each other, it’s 100 percent full-on attention,” Erika says. “This is what people don’t understand: It’s not a detriment to the relationship, it’s actually helpful. It’s better than someone being in your face all the time and you’re not even present.”
04of 13A Tale of Two PersonasErika Girardi.David Livingston/GettyWhen Erika was introduced onTheReal Housewives of Beverly Hills, she offered viewersnot just one Housewife to love, but two.There was Girardi herself — the down-to-earth, loving wife of a top-trial lawyer who rises above the drama and always has an understanding ear for her fellow Housewives to seek for advice. And then there was her musical alter-ego Erika Jayne — the bold, sexpot singer with legions of dedicated fans and an unapologetic attitude.“I wanted to create again,“Girardi told PEOPLE in 2018of how Erika Jayne came to be. “I had to be brave enough to say, ‘I’m not fulfilled.’ “She also admitted that starting a music career at 35 raised some eyebrows.“People told me I was insane,” she said. “Erika Jayne was born out of rebellion. I like to break the rules.”
04of 13
A Tale of Two Personas
Erika Girardi.David Livingston/Getty
When Erika was introduced onTheReal Housewives of Beverly Hills, she offered viewersnot just one Housewife to love, but two.
There was Girardi herself — the down-to-earth, loving wife of a top-trial lawyer who rises above the drama and always has an understanding ear for her fellow Housewives to seek for advice. And then there was her musical alter-ego Erika Jayne — the bold, sexpot singer with legions of dedicated fans and an unapologetic attitude.
“I wanted to create again,“Girardi told PEOPLE in 2018of how Erika Jayne came to be. “I had to be brave enough to say, ‘I’m not fulfilled.’ "
She also admitted that starting a music career at 35 raised some eyebrows.
“People told me I was insane,” she said. “Erika Jayne was born out of rebellion. I like to break the rules.”
05of 13Common GroundBravoErika gave insight in a 2017 interview as to what made her then 17-year marriage solid, stressing the importance of mutual interests.“You have to be friends. You have to be friends and you have to have a common ground,” Erika toldBravo’sThe Daily Dish. “You have to like the same things. You have to see the world the same way. You have to have the same interests. And when you are genuinely rooting for the other guy — you know Tom is very supportive of me and I am very supportive of him — and I think that’s what makes it work.”
05of 13
Common Ground
Bravo
Erika gave insight in a 2017 interview as to what made her then 17-year marriage solid, stressing the importance of mutual interests.
“You have to be friends. You have to be friends and you have to have a common ground,” Erika toldBravo’sThe Daily Dish. “You have to like the same things. You have to see the world the same way. You have to have the same interests. And when you are genuinely rooting for the other guy — you know Tom is very supportive of me and I am very supportive of him — and I think that’s what makes it work.”
06of 13Answering the Question Everyone AsksErika Girardi.Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via GettyErika gave a rare glimpse into her sex lifein a conversationwithRHOBHcastmateGarcelle Beauvaisin an episode that aired in April 2020.“It’s OK. People always ask that. They’re always [like] what’s going on? Is it 20-year-old f—ing all day long? No,” she said. However, she said the arrangement was fine with her. “We got bills to pay.”
06of 13
Answering the Question Everyone Asks
Erika Girardi.Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty
Erika gave a rare glimpse into her sex lifein a conversationwithRHOBHcastmateGarcelle Beauvaisin an episode that aired in April 2020.
“It’s OK. People always ask that. They’re always [like] what’s going on? Is it 20-year-old f—ing all day long? No,” she said. However, she said the arrangement was fine with her. “We got bills to pay.”
07of 13Spotlight on ErikaBruce Glikas/WireImageIn 2019, it was announced that Girardi wouldstar as Roxie Hartin the Broadway production ofChicago(which was cut short in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Her rehearsals were documented on season 10 ofRHOBH, and castmatesKyle Richards,Lisa Rinna,Dorit Kemsley,Teddi Mellencamp Arroyaveand Sutton Stracke flew to N.Y.C. for Erika’s Broadway debut.Tom — it was later revealed — never got to see Erika perform as Roxie.“Well, you know, Tom wasn’t able to come to the show,” Erikasaid during the season 10 reunion. “He was gonna come the last week and COVID happened, so he never saw the show.”
07of 13
Spotlight on Erika
Bruce Glikas/WireImage
In 2019, it was announced that Girardi wouldstar as Roxie Hartin the Broadway production ofChicago(which was cut short in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Her rehearsals were documented on season 10 ofRHOBH, and castmatesKyle Richards,Lisa Rinna,Dorit Kemsley,Teddi Mellencamp Arroyaveand Sutton Stracke flew to N.Y.C. for Erika’s Broadway debut.
Tom — it was later revealed — never got to see Erika perform as Roxie.
“Well, you know, Tom wasn’t able to come to the show,” Erikasaid during the season 10 reunion. “He was gonna come the last week and COVID happened, so he never saw the show.”
08of 13
Shocking Split
Erika Girardi and Tom Girardi.Steve Eichner/AP
“It is my absolute wish to proceed through this process with respect and with the privacy that both Tom and I deserved,” she added. “I request others give us that privacy as well.”
E! News was first to report the news of the split.
TheReal Housewives of Beverly Hillsstar previously revealedduring an appearance onAndy Cohen’s Then & Nowin 2017 that theydo not have a prenup in place.
09of 13
Requesting Support
Amy Sussman/Getty
Reps for the former couple had no comment.
Reps for Tom and Erika did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
10of 13
Tom and Erika Get Sued
Tom Girardi.Business Wire/Getty Images
A month after their divorce news, the former couple got sued forallegedly using their split to embezzle money.
“Tom has resorted to embezzling the proceeds of settlements that should have been directed to his clients — including, as the basis for this Complaint, the widows and orphans who lost loved ones in the tragic crash of Lion Air Flight 610 — in order to continue funding his and Erika’s lavish Beverly Hills lifestyles,” the documents state.
Tom’s law firm, Girardi & Keese (GK), is also named in the suit, which claims both Tom and the firm “are on the verge of financial collapse and locked in a downward spiral of mounting debts and dwindling funds.”
Edelson PC and Erika declined to comment on the case, and Tom did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
11of 13The Former Couple List Their Pasadena MansionErika and Tom Girardi’s house.Shawn Bishop. inset: shutterstockAmid a slew of legal troubles, the twolisted their $13 million Pasadena mansionwithTed Clark & Heather Lillard at Compassin May. The stunning 74,914 square-foot estate, built in 1928, boasts four bedrooms and nine bathrooms, a library, a chapel and a guest suite with its own private entrance. The property also includes a pool, pavilion, multiple patios and rose garden.PEOPLE previously reportedthat Erika has been living in another Los Angeles residence since filing for divorce from Tom in November. Her new place was last valued at $1.5 million, according to Realtor.com.
11of 13
The Former Couple List Their Pasadena Mansion
Erika and Tom Girardi’s house.Shawn Bishop. inset: shutterstock
Amid a slew of legal troubles, the twolisted their $13 million Pasadena mansionwithTed Clark & Heather Lillard at Compassin May. The stunning 74,914 square-foot estate, built in 1928, boasts four bedrooms and nine bathrooms, a library, a chapel and a guest suite with its own private entrance. The property also includes a pool, pavilion, multiple patios and rose garden.
PEOPLE previously reportedthat Erika has been living in another Los Angeles residence since filing for divorce from Tom in November. Her new place was last valued at $1.5 million, according to Realtor.com.
12of 13The Housewife and the HustlerABCTom and Erika’s legal controversies were explored in anew ABC News Originals documentarythat was released on HULU on June 14.In a teaser for the special, titledThe Housewife and the Hustler,various legal experts, those accusing Tom ofembezzlementandReal Housewivesstars speak on the scandals surrounding the former couple, all of which came to light following Erika’sdivorce filinglast year.
12of 13
The Housewife and the Hustler
ABC
Tom and Erika’s legal controversies were explored in anew ABC News Originals documentarythat was released on HULU on June 14.
In a teaser for the special, titledThe Housewife and the Hustler,various legal experts, those accusing Tom ofembezzlementandReal Housewivesstars speak on the scandals surrounding the former couple, all of which came to light following Erika’sdivorce filinglast year.
13of 13
Erika Girardi’s Attorneys Withdraw from Representing Her
Jerritt Clark/Getty
“The relationship of trust and confidence that is essential to a properly functioning attorney-client relationship has broken down and, in the good faith assessment of counsel, the relationship is irreparable,” the lawyers wrote in the documents.
The firm also said they have advised Erika to seek new representation and have warned her of “the potential consequences of not timely securing replacement counsel.”
As of the June 15 filing, theReal Housewives of Beverly Hillsstar had not identified new counsel to the firm.
A rep for Erika did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
source: people.com
