Erika Jayne's Bold Move: Abandoning Tom Girardi to 'Rot' Against All Odds - A RHOBH Shockwave - lulu

   

Erika JaynePhoto Credit: Presley Ann/Getty Images

Erika Jayne has never been one to sugarcoat anything. Whether she’s tossing one-liners in full glam or dodging lawsuits in Louboutins, the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star has made one thing clear: she’s going to do what’s best for Erika. And when it came to Tom Girardi? She left him in the dust. Now, some of her so-called friends aren’t loving her icy approach. But let’s be real, can you really blame her? After years of suffering, I think it’s time for Erika to be able to live again. 

RHOBH’s Erika Jayne slammed by friends for leaving Tom Girardi to “rot”

If you thought the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills drama peaked with pantygate or Dorit Kemsley smoking a cigarette, think again. Erika’s decision to distance herself from the disgraced former attorney has divided fans and friends alike. While some applaud her for cutting ties, others, especially within her own inner circle, are raising their perfectly arched brows. Some close to Tom are allegedly enraged that Erika left him during his time of need. According to Radar sources, “The second that things started unraveling, Erika ran for cover and left him to rot. She ditched him the moment the money ran dry.”

Even though Erika has been dismissed due to the judge ruling that the Pretty Mess singer had “no actual knowledge” of Tom’s wrongdoings, she is still being sued. Tom’s bankruptcy trustee is still going forward with the lawsuit against her. The trustee is suing Erika for $24 million and is alleging that she used the embezzled money for personal reasons. The insider shared that Tom’s friends are looking forward to seeing Erika squirm in the hot seat. One added, “They don’t buy her Miss Innocent act and think she ought to face some justice, too. They haven’t forgotten how she bailed on Tom the moment it suited her, and they’re furious.”

Are Tom and Erika divorced?

Now for the million-dollar question: Are Erika and Tom actually divorced? As of 2025, the answer is still no. Despite filing for divorce back in November 2020, just weeks before Tom’s legal empire came crashing down. The divorce has not yet been finalized. And the reason? It’s complicated. Think less “amicable split” and more “financial and legal hellscape.” In 2024, Erika told Entertainment Tonight that “Being divorced is the least of my concerns.” Erika also told Hot Mic Podcast in mid-November 2024, “The great thing about Tom when I was married to him was he did want me to succeed. Now, is he egotistical and narcissistic and obviously went down in flames and the ending was terrible and heartbreaking? Yes.”

It’s easy to assume that Tom’s ongoing conservatorship has slowed down the divorce proceedings, the bankruptcy cases tied to his law firm Girardi Keese, and a mountain of lawsuits. There’s also the awkward fact that Erika might still be on the hook for some of Tom’s financial mess, depending on how the court sorts it all out. Could it also be that there is no money to fight over, which is both tragic and ironic, coming from someone who once bragged about spending $40,000 a month on glam? But while the diamonds may be leased and the private planes grounded, Erika’s determination to legally separate herself from Tom hasn’t changed.

 

Erika Jayne needed to take a step back

But here’s the thing: Tom isn’t just some confused old man. He’s the man at the center of one of the biggest legal scandals in recent history. He was accused of stealing millions from plane crash victims, burn victims, and orphans. Erika has always maintained she knew nothing, but whether you believe her or not, the facts about Tom’s dealings are damning. So when Erika implies with her attitude that he can rot, she’s not just talking about a bitter ex. She’s sending a message to a man who allegedly ruined lives.

Let’s also not forget that while Erika was being dragged through the mud, losing work, facing lawsuits, and getting grilled in every interview, Tom was quietly tucked away in a care facility. The public dragged her name through the tabloids while he conveniently disappeared from view. So yeah, maybe a little bitterness is justified. The lack of a finalized divorce also adds another layer of drama to her RHOBH storyline. Viewers have watched Erika shift from defensive to cold and calculated. She’s not just emotionally over it. She’s done. And if that means leaving Tom to deteriorate in a facility while she rebuilds her life one hair extension at a time, so be it.

 

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