Entertainment icon Erika Jayne called it quits with her husband, Tom Girardi, after twenty-one years of marriage. The couple announced their split in November 2020, bringing an end to their two-decade-long love story.
For two decades, singer Erika Jayne and her husband, Tom Girardi, sustained a long-lasting marriage filled with love and understanding. Therefore, the news of their split in November 2020 came as a shock to many, who until then, looked up to the pair as the model Hollywood couple.
With their romance hitting the red signal, reliving their best and worst relationship moments in the last two decades appears to be the next best thing.
THE ONSET OF A BEAUTIFUL ROMANCE
Erika Jayne and Tom Girardi first met in the late nineties at Chasen’s, in West Hollywood. Jayne was at the time working as a cocktail waitress in the establishment, which happened to be one of Girardi’s favorite West Hollywood hotspots.
They saw each other a couple of times after that, keeping it casual for the next one year. Jayne eventually agreed to share her contact details with Girardi, who was an attorney, a decision she almost regretted after he reached out to her through his secretary.
The singer once recounted her reaction following Girardi’s attempts to woo her through his secretary. She bluntly refused to take up the date offers, asking the secretary to inform Girardi to call himself if he wished for a date with her. He did eventually, and their romance kicked off shortly after.
THEIR ENGAGEMENT AND MARRIAGE
The pair dated for six months, all the while learning fascinating details about each other. Their love grew as the days went by, and the lovebirds soon became inseparable. Girardi proposed six months later, and Jayne said, “I do.”
In January 1999, the duo tied the knot, marking the beginning of their life together. Girardi and the “Bravo” star never had kids together during their marriage. However, the attorney is a stepfather to Jayne’s only son, Tommy Zizzo, whom she had from her previous marriage to Thomas Zizzo.
Jayne spent the first few years of their marriage by her husband’s side due to his time-demanding role as the founding partner at Girardi & Keese, in downtown L.A, among other legal obligations. The singer dedicated her time to assist him in the legal organization, attending meetings, and handling other affairs pertaining to Girardi’s occupation.
However, she soon decided to give herself a break and embrace her passion for the arts. Hence, she began her career in music and acting and landed a slot on the reality show, “The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills.”
JAYNE AND GIRARDI’S SEPARATION
Thomas Girardi and Erika Jayne enjoyed marital bliss for twenty one years while pursuing their respective careers and attaining success. At the height of their careers, the duo decided to end their union on amicable terms.
Jayne filed for divorce from Tom Girardi in November 2020, confirming the news in an exclusive statement saying:
“After much consideration, I have decided to end my marriage to Tom Girardi. This is not a step taken lightly or easily. I have great love and respect for Tom, and for our years, and for the lives we built together.”
Going further, the actress disclosed her and Girardi’s wish to pursue the process with respect and privacy. She then appealed to everyone to comply with their requests and avail them the privacy they deserved.
ERIKA JAYNE’S DEMANDS
Days after filing for the divorce, the “RHOBH” star demanded spousal support from her soon-to-be ex-husband. Court documents showed that Erika Jayne, via her lawyer, is requesting a monthly allowance from Tom Girardi post-divorce. The financial support would enable the star to maintain her lifestyle after finalizing the divorce.
In addition, Jayne filed another document, asking the court to terminate her husband’s rights to demand support from her in like terms. She also expects the 81-year-old legal practitioner to settle all her attorney’s fees accrued during the divorce proceedings.
Given Jayne’s demands, it appears the couple’s initial decision to keep things peaceful between them is nearing a crossroad.