This story is kind of a mess, so I apologize in advance. Over the weekend, Chad Ochocinco (Johnson) was arrested for allegedly assaulting his wife, Evelyn Lozada, and the next day, he was freed after posting a $2500 bond. In the wake of this scandal, Ochocinco has been let go not only from his spot on the Miami Dolphins team, but VH1 also cancelled his reality show as well. So regardless of whether or not the guy is guilty, there have already been grave consequences for these allegations.
TMZ has also uncovered some court records showing that this was not Ocho’s first brush with domestic violence — in 2000, he was arrested on misdemeanor battery charges (and plea bargained out) after slapping a girlfriend in the face while accusing her of cheating on him. For that incident, he received probation, but who knows how far this latest round of charges will go in the legal system. For the moment, however, Ocho is a single man again, for Evelyn has already filed for divorce. And get this — they’ve only been married since July 4th:
Chad Johnson’s wife of 6 weeks has filed for divorce … TMZ has learned. Evelyn Lozada filed legal docs moments ago in Florida, claiming her marriage is “irretrievably broken.”
The trigger for the divorce was the domestic violence incident over the weekend, in which Chad Johnson was arrested after allegedly head-butting her during an argument. Evelyn claimed she found a receipt for a box of condoms in his car.
According to the divorce docs, the couple had a prenup — but that won’t be a big deal since the marriage was shorter than Kim Kardashian’s.
FYI — Evelyn and Chad JUST got married on July 4th in St. Maarten … and the whole ceremony was recorded for a VH1 reality show (VH1 has since pulled the plug on that … for obvious reasons).
[From TMZ]
This truly seems like an scary situation, and the spin (from Ocho’s team, I imagine) is that the box of condoms was supposed to be a plot point for the reality show. Apparently, Ocho also told cops that Evelyn started the physical abuse on Saturday evening, and she’s now spoken out with a simple statement: “I am deeply disappointed that Chad has failed to take responsibility for his actions and made false accusations against me.” Now Ocho has posted this statement to his webpage:
I would like to apologize to everyone for the recent events that have occurred. I would like to wish Evelyn well and will never say anything bad about her because I truly love her to death. I will continue to be positive and train hard for another opportunity in the NFL. To all the fans and supporters I have disappointed, you have my sincerest apologies. I will stay positive and get through this tough period in my life.
[From OCNN Report]
With those words, Chad’s certainly working the PR angle as much as possible, right? While I realize that declaring someone “guilty” before they’ve been tried in a court of law is something that we’re not supposed to do, this guy certainly has a history (however minor) of domestic violence, so it’s easy to believe that he’d be guilty of battering his wife as well. Obviously, she had a damn good reason to file for divorce after only six weeks of marriage too, and she undoubtedly regrets marrying the guy in the first place.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet and WENN
I’m going to try to say this very carefully. In no way is what Chad did right. No woman deserves any violence from a man ever. He was wrong and he will pay the consequences. period.
My issue with Evelyn is that I dont think you can condone one type of violence and dismiss another. Anyone who watches Basketball wives knows that Evelyn is violent, and when Jen filed a lawsuit against her assistant for slapping her the whole cast stood against her. Sometimes you get what you give. IJS. I just wish people would realize that respect for another persons body is not negotiable, ever.
I agree with your sentiment. But I’ve never seen Basketball Wives, she’s an angry sort?
She pretty much spent the whole of last season, screaming and cussing. Mad at her best friend for not supporting the marriage ironically. And she threw a wine bottle at another chicks head.
Classy
Even more than the wine bottle incident. She has lunged over tables where the women are eating multiple times to try to kill the other cast members.
Everyone in Florida knew that their marriage was a sham and was only for ratings/money and he was constantly hitting up South Beach cheating. Not surprised that they filed early at all– but surprised that they so conveniently pinned it on DV. Not to sound insensitive, but it is a tidy way to blamelessly end a marriage for Evelyn.
She did WHAT? When did the bottle come to be the weapon of choice for the discerning unbalanced club rat?
Did anyone else notice that the only time he drops the personal pronouns is when he speaks about the incident explicitly. Don’t apologise to me, fool. He’s sorry about the current events rather than explicitly saying that he’s sorry for what he did to cause this situation. He certainly makes no reference to his recidivism in regards to his earlier assault and if a man can go on for years without addressing his problem, he’s not sorry for shit, he’s just being transparently disingenuous. I’m sure that in a few days, he’ll get pissy about how the world doesn’t want to forgive him and women just like to say that men are dogs and take no responsibility for their roles in their various mellees. I wonder how many blogs will endorse his behaviour and demonize her as a gold digger, a louth-mouthed scold who is a hoochie, too. How many women on those blogs will freeze out the victim in a bid to show people that she’s not like those uppity types of girls and they’re so much more laid back. I’m sure that some girls will say that he was left with little recourse because a man can only take so much nagging from a woman because they push and push and push until the man loses self-control and in a fit pique does something nasty. It’s almost an endorsement for violence because that first woman didn’t understand what a man is ‘but I would never do that you, boo. You are a man and she’s triffling. You know what I mean, some sad punk will ingratiate herself the abuser and sell out the victim.
I haven’t seen BW either. Wasn’t this guy on DWTS? And his real name is Johnson, not Ochocinco? What does it mean, the name? I know cinco is “five” in English. Does the ocho word blend in to a name? I am confused.
Edit – I looked it up. HA – it means 85 in Spanish – his player number.
Thank God someone else said it! Ev is EVIL she has been a TERROR to everyone on BBW! Now she is a victim and she is a monster! I believe she did start it! BBW season 1-3 as evidence! She is always trying to check someone and she finally got checked. She has attacked women for various reasons and now this. She said cheating was okay as long as he protected himself on BBW so why is she tripping over a reciept? I am shocked that no one is looking at HER past behavior, but something he did 12 years ago makes him a villian? This amazes me. Yes, its wrong to hit women, but I will bet all the tea in China she started it.
I was listening to the radio this morning and they were like poor Evelyn. Really! What about poor Jennifer! She terrorized that girl for MONTHS. Poor Kenya? She threw a bottle at the girl for talking about her. Poor Meeka. She attacked her everytime she saw her. Now this woman is taking a “stand against violence” really? When anyone tried to stand against her she turn the entire cast again them. Google her!
I dont usually show strong opinions about things in comments, but im sick of hearing poor Evelyn when she has been doing this to people for years!!
SMMFH
ITA with you. I never really liked Evelyn but this past season ended any sort of wavering on my opinion of her. She made me like Jennifer, which I didn’t before. She was violent and nasty and thought that her relationship with Chad was gold. She talked crap about Jennifer’s ex but got inflamed when Jennifer gave her opinion of Chad. I don’t condone violence but I have a hard time believing Chad just headbutted her. She’s the one who found the receipt, she’s the one who would’ve been furious. Seeing how aggressive she is, I am inclined to believe Chad told the truth that she headbutted him. Or at least something else happened to make it go that far. I just don’t believe Evelyn is this innocent little victim she’s trying to portray herself to be. We all watched her on BBW and there is no denying that she is an angry and hostile person.
I watch Basketball Wives religiously — guilty pleasure — and Evelyn is a bully. What she did to Jenn, Royce, Suzie, and Tami was bullcaca. I strongly believe NO ONE, man or woman, should ever hit another person. So for her to play this victim card is BS. I do NOT condone what Chad did but Evelyn should learn that KARMA always wins. Perhaps this will be a good lesson for her to learn. Seriously, she tried to use a wine bottle as a weapon — that is assault with a deadly weapon. Heed your actions for their come back tenthfold.
I couldn’t agree more. I don’t condone violence in any situation, but given her past behavior I have a hard time believing she’s an innocent victim in all of this. Her tantrums and violent episodes are so epic, she makes Naomi Campbell look tame by comparison. Evelyn should have been prosecuted herself for assault and battery multiple times already. Her behavior is disgusting and I can’t imagine a more classless person than her.
I’m with you and in top of that she’s a bully so there you go KARMA is a BITCH. Ha!!!!
Evelyn and chads relationship was as fake as the Kim and kanye one from the onset. I’m not suprised but I thought they would at least make it a year (considering how fame obsessed they both are).
Naye I totally agree. Don’t condone the behavior but you shouldn’t talk out of both sides of your mouth. There has been evidence since the start of their relationship that Chad was cheating on her.
If you truly watch Basketball Wives, you should know that Evelyn put out on the table for Chad to tell her IF he did something stupid i.e. cheat. He put out there for her that he does not know how to be with one person but he will try for her. She DAMN WELL knew what she was getting herself into. The smell of money can be a huge recipe for delusion.
Now I do want to be clear that I don’t like saying that a woman must have done something to deserve it. No woman deserves it ever. But I do think she may have put her hands on him first. That being said, he should have walked away (IF THATS THE CASE) and unfortunately he will now pay the consequences.
To any men on this blog or mothers with sons, inform them that A)violent women are NOT SEXY and B) walk away and find a witness. PERIOD!
Naye, you’re perfectly clear, and you stated your opinion well. I’ve not watched an ep of BBW, but WOW.
Didn’t she cancel their wedding (at considerable cost) and then they ended up going through with it at a later date? Dumbshits.
I totally agree, cosign, and give your statement a 2 thumbs up!
If my husband had hidden a box of condoms from me like that than yup-I’d divorce him to.
Especially if he headbutted me in the face. (which is what he did) An assault like that and it would be totally over.
however if you told people on national tv that it was ok for him to cheat as long as he USED said condoms what then?
DING DING DINGGGG!
THIS!
(though Domestic violence is never, ever, ok)
What is this guy’s name? Ochocinco or Johnson. In other articles they put Ochocinco in brackets.
ANYWAY. I don’t like this Evelyn girl. I don’t know him. So whatever really happened, good they get divorced.
His real name is Johnson. He changed it to Ochocinco (Spanish for the number on his jersey) for whatever reason at some point, and then he recently changed it back to Johnson.
I’m guessing the media is using both names since people probably recognize “Chad Ochocinco” more readily than “Chad Johnson.”
My kids are sports fans, which is the only reason I know this 🙂
And now I have to break the news to my son that he will NOT be wearing his Ochocinco jersey anymore 🙁
His original name is Johnson, and he changed it to Ochocinco (to match his football #), but he’s either changed it back to Johnson, or is in the process of changing it back.
He changed it back to Johnson because she wouldn’t take ochocinco as a last name
He was born Chad Johnson. Legally changed his name to Chad Ochocinco in 08. Legally changed it BACK to Chad Johnson last month when he was signed to the dophins. To ‘reconnect with his former self’ or something like that.
But most people know him as Chad Ochocinco as that was his name when he was on dancing with the stars and during his time with the Bengals.
Thanks guys for filling me in. I am german and not familiar with US sports.
Bad. Real bad.
I strongly suggest you watch a few scenes of her on Basketball wives before you make any conclusions. I guarantee you’ll see things differently. Also read about the boycott petition that was started to get rid of the show.
^I keep reading comments to this effect
So there has been TV coverage of her acting like a rage monster so then he knew exactly what he was getting into then right?
They’re both guilty then for exacerbating what seem to be a really volatile relationship. It doesn’t make her any more guilty than him though. And I still maintain that men need to just WALK AWAY. I’m not saying her actions didn’t precipitate things but I just can’t justify violence towards women in any capacity.
I agree with you that they both have issues. Question though, you’re saying its not ok for men to hit women but what about women who hit men? Why should women be held less accountable when they get violent towards men? No one deserves to get hit period.
@Jezi-The difference is based on physical strength, not gender. Speaking in generalities for the sake of argument:
A woman could hit a man and *maybe* (though unlikely) give him a black eye or a bruise whereas a man could potentially kill a woman with one fatal blow. Would you say it’s ok for a 200 lb kid to hit a 125 lb kid? While in that scenario we both agree that neither should be hitting each other, I still maintain it’s just an unfair advantage for the 125 lb kid and the 200 lb kid should know better.
BTW, I’m not saying this woman ISN’T a total monster (I don’t watch that show-all I know about Evelyn is from the comments I read on this board) and that Chad is evil. I always liked CJ-I thought he had a lot of personality and I was happy when we got him (“we” meaning the Pats).
I’m also not excusing Evelyn’s bad behavior that everyone here is describing, I just think it’s not ok for a man to hit a woman, EVER, under any circumstances, especially when he has a >100 lb advantage on her and even if it’s “just” a head-butt.
I understand about physical strength being an issue but women can use objects to hit. I don’t believe its right for either men or women to hit. Why I say this is because I am guilty of doing this to my husband. I had a lot of anger issues from his infidelity and I started hitting him a lot. Whenever I got mad. The final straw when I realized I had to stop, I threw a Costco sized shampoo bottle at his back. I left a serious sized bruise on his back and I felt horrible. I felt like Chris Brown. So even though my damage to him was minimal in comparison to what he could’ve done to me, it was still wrong on all levels. I live with knowing I did that and regret it immensely. Never touched him again after that.
No that is true that women can definitely inflict pain on a man, no doubt. It’s just the basic idea of it generally being easier for a man to REALLY hurt a woman physically, with much less effort.
That is crazy about your hubs but I can see how it would get to that point if you had a ton of unresolved anger. Sometimes that anger manifests itself in a physical way and I can see how it would be cathartic for you to hurt him physically since he burned you emotionally.
Anyway, the fact that you recognized it and that in hindsight you see how wrong it was, makes such a big difference because in the end it’s all bout accountability.
And I also agree that it’s not fair for women to escape all condemnation/all personal responsibility by skating by on the “he’s man, he shouldn’t hit me but I can hit him” excuse. Man or woman, you should respect your partner enough to not engage in violent behavior.
Thanks hon. Yes you nailed it. I was so angry and lashed out in the wrong way. I definitely took responsibility for it and was so ashamed. I can’t understand how people don’t feel bad about it and continue to do it. It was such a low point.
But yes you are right, their power is definitely a lot more than ours. It’s so sad.
I am in no way trying to condone violence in any way, there are a few reports that she was the one who head butted him. I’ve watched BBW so I know how she behaves so that is not far fetched. I refuse to jump to any conclusions because of that.
Does violence women to women count? She is known for that:
1. Throwing an unopened wine bottle at Kenya’s head.
2. Sleeping with Tami’s husband and then call her a “non”M#$%$F%$%”Factor after she found out.
3. Throwing a glass at Royce’s face
4. Jumping across the table to slap her ex BFF.
5. Calling said BFF a snitch for reporting being slapped by her assistant.
6. Sat back and watched as Tami belittled and berated Keisha for being “soft”
The list goes on and on, so as I said I’ll reserve my judgment on this one.
Y’all know these reality shows are not exactly real and are usually scripted, right? Most of the “stars” are encouraged to act in a way that will get people talking.
The irony I find is that Evelyn did a broadcast claiming that she knows how Chad is and the groupies on the road. As long as he protects himself and respects her as wife she is cool with it. So, was it a plot point that went bad? Why is she frontin’ like cheating isn’t a dealbreaker when obviously it is? Probably because she knew he was cheating while engaged to her and didn’t want to look foolish.
But didn’t she make those comments before the marriage? And wasn’t the engagement called off at least once because of his cheating? Maybe post engagement/wedding he promised to stop, or slow down, or at least stop with certain women. If so, she has every right to call him on it even if she was in histrionics. And assault is never excusable
This is great. 2 lame reality careers finished with 1 stroke
Someone accused of domestic violence should probably not include love her to death in a statement….
+1 Stupid word choice.
Yes love her to death wasn’t the best words.
I was thinking the same thing.
Ha!! My thoughts exactly. I winced when I read those words. PR fail!
Ugh, I noticed that too.
“Love her to death” indeed. EXTREMELY poor choice of words, as illustrated by the number of women “loved to death” in this country every day.
…Kim K. is pleased to let go of that record.
Re: cheating. These women are actually surprised when an athlete cheats on them? Are they really that naive?
My suggestion to her: Marry an accountant, definitely less risk for cheating that an athlete.
You’re right, I think that 90 percent of them cheat. I don’t condone that, but they CONSTANTLY have women throwing themselves at them. I went to an event featuring some of the Philadelphia Eagles, who were signing autographs. These two scantily clad young women — they smelled like they had had a few drinks — asked one of the players to sign his name on their butt cheeks. The player said politely “we’re not allowed to do that, miss,” and they just laughed and asked if he could sign it on their cleavage. He said no again. I know they saw the wedding ring on his finger, they just didnt care.
That’s just a really gross and sadly unsurprising story….smh….
I can’t justify cheating but between the women like the ones you described, the hours on the road/away from home and the money, adoration, and fame that is bestowed upon these athletes, it just seems like a recipe for inevitable infidelity.
Can you imagine having to CONSTANTLY watch your back and worry that every groupie is trying to get with your husband? Ugh. No thanks.
I don’t think any man who is an accountant would do something as stupid as marrying her.
LOL!
She is a violent hot head on BBall Wives so I’m not going to believe for a second she didn’t fight with him the way she does those girls i.e. all up in their faces. If they were fighting in the car, its a small space and two people fighting I can see someone getting headbutted. So jury is out. I won’t condemn till court which unfortunately our media seems to forget the whole due process aspect.
Ochocinco should have walked away before it got to this point and Evelyn should value herself more than to marry a man who cant respect her both physically or emotionally.
So many of these athletes are big dummies. Now he has to pay her off and pay child support to his various baby mommas, so he’d better find work soon, even as a backup. I don’t feel sorry for him because he put himself in this position.
I read that the average career of a pro football player is 18 months, so it’s not like they are Rockefellers with money constantly coming in. People like Brady, the Mannings, etc., that are in the game for years are the exception. And by the time they are fifty, their health is going to be ruined. I’m a football fan, but the human body just wasn’t meant to have three 350 pounds guys jumping on it week after week.
On a slightly unrelated note, I watched about fifteen minutes of basketball wives and I thought it was stupid and boring so I turned off. Some black women were complaining because they said it portrays “us” in a negative light. I’m sorry, I’m a black woman and they don’t represent me. They are just making THEMSELVES look bad!
Under no circumstance should a man hit a women, I dont care what she did !! repeat I dont care what she did or say period !! walk away !! Used to like Chad, but that like is gone, get off my facebook dont want to look at your face !! There is a big differance between women arguing & fighting, men should never, ever hit a women !!!!
It’s not ok for anyone to hit anyone. Not just men hitting women. Sometimes women can be just as violent.
What a disaster – two messed up people bringing out the worst in each other.
I wish reality TV would stop rewarding people behaving horribly with fame and fortune.
Two losers being given money for their vile behavior. Glad it’s over. It’s unfortunate it ended in violence. With their personalities that ending seemed inevitable. The fight over what she gets in the divorce will last longer than the marriage. I wouldn’t be all that surprised to seem them reconcile. Big bucks in that.
Meh I kinda believe chad. He’s not a violent guy and this lady has a reputation for bring crazy.
The abuse was supposedly him headbutting her, which he claims she did.
Best thing for his career is getting far away from her. Nobody wants this drama on their team
I don’t think it’s fair to assume that Chad is guilty in this instance. I would never condone any sort of abuse, but it’s not always the man dishing it out; sometimes women abuse their partners, and that’s just as bad.
Evelyn is a complete hothead, and more than a little cray-cray. I think it’s entirely possible that she headbutted Chad, instead of the other way around.
So, did she make the decision to divorce based upon him being cut by the Dolphins, and VH1 cancelling the show, and therefore, the cash-flow being cut off? Or did she decide to divorce based on principle?
Seems very fishy to me. IMO, she decided to cut the line after realizing no influx of cash.
I hope his legal team has sense enough to create a video compilation of her behavior from BBWives. Yes, he should have walked away. No, it should not have gotten physical. But for her to play the victim, like she doesn’t get down with violence- She needs some STFU in her life. I’ve only watched a few episodes of the show here and there and she seems like a terribly mean woman.
And this folks, is what happens when the penis does the picking…
I do not get the feeling, as some have claimed, that this relationship was an open sham. I don’t doubt that the excitement from the PR aspect of things propelled them into believing it was more than what it was/is.
I’m sure they are both at fault here. Meaning, Evelyn had her licks too. This whole situation is disgusting and sad.
This chick is total trash and this kind of stuff is really a good career move for her so lets not rush to judgement of Chad yet. He says she headbutted him and I tend to believe him, if you watch bbw you see this is the kind of stuff she does on a daily basis. She will probably profit off of this situation while he loses his reality career and his football career. I’m sure she is whoring around every bit of info she can about the whole thing. Stick to your story Chad and let the truth about this skank come out
Wow, this whole thread pretty much confirms what i always suspected about this fine, classy specimen of a woman. Every once in awhile i will pop over to Bossip and they always have stories about this chick or BBW and they aren’t exactly positive. Truthfully when i read her statement yesterday i was surprised to hear that she has “fans.” She looks really hard, and seems to always be putting on a front like she’s about to cut a B!tch. I knew a girl like that once, she never understood why people were appalled when she got physical becuase where she was from everyone acted like that, I have feeling this chick is the same.
I have never heard of these people but i saw a snippet of a comment on the ticker tape of comments down the side of my computer which drew me in.
Having read the write up, i will say that a glasgow kiss IS a reason for divorcing after 6wks. MOST DEFINITELY.
I am firmly on the side of once is enough to walk. You don’t want to be there for round 2. It may end up Nicole Brown Simpson. Ladies…no matter how sorry, provoked, in love etc JUST SAY NO and WALK.
On this issue, let’s discuss levels of violence. there is slapping, hitting, punching, then there is the glasgow kiss. None of the above are acceptable however, person has to have extreme violent tendencies to reach for a glasgow kiss when hitting their wife. That is so extreme i can’t begin to comprehend why anyone would stick around after that.
I am glad he was benched, and VH1 pulled out. I hope she sticks to her guns in the divorce.
NOT DEFENDING HIS ACTIONS but since you have never seen the show and you have never seen how violent this woman actually is, I suggest you google about this violent chick before you decide he is the only one that is so horrible…
I don’t care which one of them was in the wrong. Any body hits you, male or female, you walk. They need only do it once.
If she was/is as violent as everyone says, HE should have walked. A glasgow kiss on his partner is beyond the pale. It’s a level of rage that reads psychopath. even if momentarily.
That VH1 series is “in the can” (already filmed) but they decided not to air it.
SEE what “reality TV” has brought on society? It’s disgusting, really.
No I couldn’t!
JESUS. If you watch BBall Wives, this technically should not be THAT much of a shock. Still, JESUS. You know who I feel the worst for? Her daughter. I actually got a little choked up during the episode when she graduated from HS and she said that, even though her biological father and Antoine Walker didn’t show, she was happy to have Chad there.
Everything about Evelyn says, “Damn. There is one angry, unhappy chick.” I’ve always been a bit of an Evelyn Apologist, because I have to imagine that all that anger comes from somewhere and, whatever that is, it ain’t pretty.
Here is the thing about the kind of man who can’t/won’t/is never freakin’ going to be faithful…you have two options:
Option 1: Put your love for the dude aside and bounce.
Option 2: Put your love for the dude aside and get really good at looking the other way.
If you can’t do either one, this is the type of hot mess that can result. As for him? I don’t even understand why this type of dude gets married. I mean…has anyone read this account from one of his chicks?! (Warning, this will lead to maybe losing the entire day to wonderfing what happened to, you know, shame.)
http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/entertainment/2012/08/15/chad-johnson-was-cheating-on-lozada-with-boston-woman-for-months-report-says/
Thank goodness he blew his chance to “love her death.” She’s a lucky lady, and I hope she continues to stand her ground.
(I don’t watch any of the “…Wives…” shows, so I have no idea who she is. Reading some of the earlier comments now, she sounds like a despicable person who is likely not totally blameless in this situation.)
The irony of all of this??
He threw some shade at Jennifer Anniston once on something he was on, and who gets engaged the same weekend he becomes unemployed and headed for divorce??? lol