Erika Jayne Opens Up About Tom Girardi: Piercing the Wounds of the Past

Erika Jayne is tired of discussing her separation from Tom Girardi on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Despite trying to move forward, Erika, 52, still has ongoing legal matters related to the split. She wants to put it all behind her, but every time someone brings up Tom Girardi or the situation, it feels like reopening a painful wound.

Erika expressed her frustration with constantly going over the same topics repeatedly. "No matter who you are," she remarked, "if every time you sit down, someone asks, 'So, tell us about this,' or, 'Look at this, what were you thinking?' Isn't it obvious what I was thinking at that time? That's what I dislike."

After 20 years of marriage, the reality star and Tom, 84, ended their relationship in November 2020. Just a month later, the estranged couple found themselves involved in a class action lawsuit. The lawsuit alleged that Tom's former law firm, Girardi Keese, misused funds intended for plane crash victims' families.

Erika Jayne and Tom Girardi. Getty Images (2)

Erika has never faced any criminal accusations, whereas Tom has not only faced further lawsuits but also been disbarred. In 2021, Tom was placed under a conservatorship supervised by his brother due to his diagnosis of dementia and late-onset Alzheimer's disease. Subsequently, he relocated to a senior living facility that specializes in memory care.

Although Tom and Erika are still legally married, the author of Pretty Mess, Erika, has expressed her determination to move on from the situation.

Erika explained that she is still in the process of healing, as grief is a complex journey that unfolds in waves. However, she is actively choosing to move forward and wishes for those around her to respect and support her decision. Erika further expressed that she has no regrets about her commitment to stand by her costars' questioning about Tom and his legal battles.

"I cannot change the fact that I reacted emotionally and constantly felt trapped during my time at work. Furthermore, I cannot alter the fact that I initially tried calmly explaining my perspective, but my words went unheard. As a result, I found myself raising my voice, yet still lacking acknowledgment," she conveyed to Us. "This is the reality of the situation. There was no guide or mentor to assist me along the way. I was navigating through it all alone. Yes, I had lawyers, but they weren't there to provide emotional support. ... What I kept reminding myself was that my standpoint was valid. I encouraged myself to persevere and not give up."

Season 13 of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is set to premiere on Bravo Wednesday, October 25, at 8 p.m. ET. Viewers can stream episodes the following day on Peacock.

With reporting by Christina Garibaldi