The relationship between Evelyn Lozada and Chad Johnson, formerly known as Chad Ochocinco, was a whirlwind of romance, high-profile media attention, and a devastating end. This article explores the highs and lows of their relationship, from their initial meeting to the shocking events that led to their divorce.
Evelyn Lozada at the premiere of Netflix's "Green Eggs And Ham" in 2019.
The Beginning of a High-Profile Romance
Chad Johnson, a former professional football player, and Evelyn Lozada, a star on "Basketball Wives", began their relationship in early 2010. The couple’s relationship quickly escalated, and by November of that same year, Johnson and Lozada were engaged to be married.
A Lavish Wedding and a Reality Show That Never Aired
The couple tied the knot in grand style on July 4, 2012. Their wedding was a lavish ceremony filmed for the reality TV show "Ev and Ocho," which was intended to chronicle their early days as newlyweds. However, the show never aired due to subsequent events.
Evelyn says the headbutt wasn't the first time Chad hit her and apologizes to those she has hurt!
Chad Ochocinco and Evelyn Lozada marry at Le Chateau des Palmiers on July 4, 2012 in St. Maarten, Netherlands Antillies.
Read also: Inside Evelyn and Chad's Wedding
The Incident That Ended It All
Surprisingly, their marriage ended soon after the ceremony took place. In fact, it only took about six weeks for Lozada to file for a divorce following an incident of domestic violence. On August 11, 2012, Lozada claimed Johnson physically assaulted her after an argument. According to a police report obtained by ABC News, the incident occurred after Lozada found condom receipts in Johnson's car. The dispute ended with Johnson allegedly head-butting Lozada, resulting in a 3-inch laceration on her forehead.
The police report states that after the incident, Johnson began screaming, "I don't give a [expletive]. I don't give a [expletive] about my career," prompting Lozada to run to a neighbor's house, where she called the police, according to the report.
The Aftermath: Arrest, Charges, and Divorce
Johnson was arrested and charged with simple domestic battery for his involvement in the incident, according to ESPN. The outlet reports that nearly 24 hours after his arrest, he was let go from the Miami Dolphins. Lozada officially filed for divorce days later, saying the union was "irretrievably broken," according to TMZ.
Lozada's lawyer, Michael B. Gilden, told "The Insider" in a statement: "Given the recent events that have taken place, Evelyn has decided to file for divorce and move on with her life."
Following the alleged head-butting incident with Evelyn Lozada, Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson avoided jail time but was sentenced to 12 months' probation and a batterer's intervention program, according to a sentencing video obtained by TMZ. A warrant was issued for Chad Johnson in May 2013.
Read also: The Life of Chad Everett Harris
Statements and Reflections
After the incident, Lozada fled to the home of a neighbor, who called the police. The 911 call was released on Tuesday, according to NFL.com, and in it, the neighbor can be heard telling the police to be discreet because of Johnson's status as "a very high-profile person."
On Tuesday, according to Entertainment Tonight Online, Lozada issued the following comments as part of an exclusive statement regarding the incident: "It is with great sadness and much trepidation that I release this statement addressing the domestic violence incident that happened this past Saturday. I am deeply disappointed that Chad has failed to take responsibility for his actions and made false accusations against me, it is my sincere hope that he seeks the help he needs to overcome his troubles."
I wish Evelyn nothing but the best, I have no negative words to say about her, the only thing I can say is I love her very much," said Johnson.
"I will continue to be positive and stay training hard for another opportunity in the NFL. I appreciate all my fans and supporters and if I have disappointed you in any way, you have my sincerest apologies. Once again I will continue to stay positive and appreciate all the support during this tough period in my life," he said.
Johnson's Troubled Past
To the surprise of many, though, TMZ reports that this isn't Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson's first arrest for domestic assault.
Read also: "Married to Evil": Chad Graves
TMZ Sports reported that Johnson was "found guilty of battering a woman" 12 years ago, just prior to beginning his brief college career at Oregon State University. Back on Feb. 7, 2000, the then-22-year-old Johnson allegedly slapped his girlfriend after accusing her of cheating. TMZ reports that he was found guilty of domestic battery, and he was sentenced to three years probation, 45 days in jail, a 100-yard restraining order and participation in a 12-month counseling program. He avoided jail time by agreeing to complete 30 days of community service.
Aftermath for Johnson
His reality show has been cancelled. He's been cut from the Dolphins, the third team to take a chance on him in the last three years. And most likely, his relationship with Lozada-who rose to fame as the star of the reality TV show Basketball Wives-is over.
To top it all off, his once-solid personal reputation has been destroyed as well.
Later Reflections and Reconciliation Attempts
In 2019, Lozada addressed her relationship with Johnson and revealed that she surprisingly does not harbor any ill feelings about their marriage. She told Page Six that despite their tumultuous relationship she doesn't "have an ounce of hate" towards Johnson. "I am cool with Chad," she told the outlet.
However, the peaceful front was short-lived when Lozada blasted Johnson after he addressed their breakup online. Johnson tweeted, "Sis, i lost my temper for three seconds years ago & it cost me a lifetimes [sic] worth of work in less than 24hrs." Lozada, infuriated by Johnson's recollection, released a tearful video on Instagram blasting her ex for his tweet.
"For this man to sit up there and say that he lost his temper for three seconds is infuriating to me." Lozada explained, adding, "It wasn't the first time. If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233.
Evelyn Lozada's Other Relationships
Since gaining public attention in 2010, Evelyn Lozada's romantic life has been widely publicized. After her marriage with Chad Johnson ended, the model also got into a few high-profile relationships. Unfortunately, it’s been rocky in the love department despite trying multiple times over the years.
Evelyn Lozada’s longest relationship to date was with Antoine Walker.
Here's a brief overview of her other significant relationships:
- Jamal Hairston: Evelyn Lozada was involved in was with Jamal Hairston, a media personality. When they started dating, they were both teenagers, with Lozada and Hairston being 14 and 16, respectively. They share a child.
- Antoine Walker: Evelyn Lozada’s longest relationship to date was with Antoine Walker. Walker is a former professional basketball player and a three-time NBA All-Star. He and Evelyn Lozada were together for a decade, but somewhere along the line, things fell through. Although the two were engaged to be married in 2007, they didn’t see it through, and by 2008, they parted ways.
- Carl Crawford: Carl Crawford is a former professional baseball left fielder. He and Lozada began dating in 2013, and their relationship became widely publicized in the media. Things moved pretty quickly with the pair, as by December, they announced their engagement. Afterward, in March 2014, they welcomed their first and only child, Carl Leo Crawford. However, the couple’s engagement came to an end in August 2017.
- Lavon Lewis: It was on the set of this show that Lozada found her most recent heartthrob, Lavon Lewis. The two became engaged in December 2022, months before the show officially aired on Peacock. However, their engagement unfortunately came to an end in October 2023, following the realization that their lives are not compatible.
About Evelyn Lozada
Evelyn Alexandra Lozada (born December 10, 1975) is an American television personality, model, and spokesperson. She starred in Basketball Wives, an American reality television series franchise on VH1 for five seasons, before joining the cast of Basketball Wives LA for four seasons. After quitting the show in 2021, she returned to the franchise again in 2023, for the second time, as she joined the eleventh season.
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