Erika Jayne's new rumored boyfriend has been revealed as John 'Shrek' McPhee after the pair were spotted holding hands in Los Angeles last week.
This is the first time the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star was spotted in public appearing to be in a new relationship - as seen in photos obtained by The U.S. Sun - since she and her ex, Thomas 'Tom' Girardi, divorced in 2020 after 21 years of marriage.
McPhee, for his part, revealed on Megyn Kelly's podcast in May that he's been 'divorced several times,' however, Daily Mail can exclusively reveal that there was a vital fact about him that he did not disclose to the public.
According to court documents obtained by Daily Mail, the 55-year-old retired U.S. Army special operations sergeant major was in the middle of a divorce when he gave his interview on The Megyn Kelly Show.
McPhee filed for divorce in North Carolina where he resides (it's unclear how often he travels to Los Angeles), against his most recent wife, Jennifer Blanton, in February 2025 after 10-and-a-half years of marriage. The couple wed in July 2014 and then, per his complaint for divorce, they separated in September 2023.
The Army veteran filed for an 'absolute divorce' - the term for divorce used in North Carolina after a couple has been separated for over a year - and for 'equitable distribution' of their property, including assets, debts and divisible property.
Erika Jayne, 54, is reportedly dating celebrity bodyguard and retired US Army special operations sergeant major John 'Shrek' McPhee, 55, after they were spotted holding hands while running errands in Los Angeles on July 7
McPhee has refused to disclose information about his most recent marriage after admitting on The Megyn Kelly Show that he's been 'divorced several times'
His ex, Jennifer, filed her response and a counterclaim against him on May 5, days before his Megyn Kelly interview.
In the court docs, Blanton argued that they separated in November 2023, disagreed that he is 'entitled to a more than 50 percent share of the marital property' (she is also seeking an equitable distribution), and denied that they need to hire an expert witness to value and investigate the marital businesses and assets.
In her counterclaim, Blanton, a realtor and an employee of the Department of Defense who is based in Alaska, states that she is in need of post-separation support and alimony - commonly known as spousal support - since she claims he was the 'primary wage earner' and she 'relied on the Plaintiff (McPhee) to pay her reasonable monthly expenses and day-to-day living expenses.'
She claims that she makes half of his salary. She writes in her filing that McPhee, as an owner and operator of multiple business entities, 'earns at least $17,000 per month.'
She notes that, included in that monthly salary, he receives money from the government for being a military retiree - both Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Disability.
In addition to spousal support, she is requesting McPhee pay for her attorney's fees and that his businesses, G.R.O.M. Incorporated and Sheriff of Baghdad, be part of the equitable distribution.
The court filed a judgment for absolute divorce on June 27, meaning both of the parties are no longer legally married. The court also held McPhee responsible for the taxes on the divorce, and stated other issues will be sorted in the future.
With the divorce still pending, the parties are due back in court later this month for a hearing on temporary post-separation support for Blanton.
McPhee filed for divorce from his ex-wife, Jennifer Blanton, in February 2025 after 10-and-a-half years of marriage. The divorce was finalized in June
Court documents obtained by Daily Mail reveal McPhee's monthly income is $17,000, which was what his ex had claimed he earned from his multiple businesses (pictured working as Heidi Montag's bodyguard)
McPhee told podcast host Megyn Kelly in May that having long-lasting relationships in the military can be 'hard' because 'no one understands your level of commitment'
The Army veteran (pictured with Megyn Kelly) still has issues to resolve with his ex when he's due back in court later this month to discuss paying her temporary spousal support
Daily Mail has reached out to attorneys for McPhee and Blanton for comment.
McPhee reportedly has two children - his son followed in his footsteps by enlisting in the U.S. Army.
When asked about his dating life on The Megyn Kelly Show on May 26, McPhee explained it's a 'hard life' and that most military couples end in divorce.
'I started out married at 9/11, I've been divorced several times. It's a hard life, you know? I think it's a hard life because no one understands, like, your level of commitment,' he said. 'And I say that in a way, like, you're choosing something that might cause your death over and over.
'People don't see that as rational, but they don't understand... So I would say being married was like being in prison. You could call home, and you ain't going there anytime soon... That's how marriage works in the Army.'
The self-described 'Sheriff of Baghdad' noted: 'Only guys that had perfect relationships, their marriages survived the war.'
Since going public with Erika Jayne, fans picked up on John's career as a celebrity bodyguard for The Hills alum Heidi Montag. He has proudly sported a 'Team Heidi' T-shirt and appears to be good friends with the reality star's husband, Spencer Pratt.
McPhee retired from the Army in 2011 after 20 years of service deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq, and he regularly offers his expertise to civilians, law enforcement, and militaries worldwide.
Erika, for her part, is still legally married to her ex Tom Girardi. Their divorce has been held up for nearly five years due to multiple lawsuits against him and her
Girardi was sentenced to seven years and three months in federal prison last month and is due to surrender by July 17 (pictured August 2024)
Jayne, for her part, is still in divorce proceedings against Tom Girardi. Their divorce has been on hold due to his federal lawsuit, in which he has been found guilty in August 2024 of four counts of wire fraud for embezzling $15 million from his clients.
The 86-year-old former attorney, who's suffering from dementia and Alzheimer's, was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison last month and was fined $35K as well as ordered to pay restitution of $2.3M.
He has to surrender to federal prison to serve his sentence by July 17.
A hearing for their divorce, however, is scheduled for the beginning of August to discuss dismissing the divorce since it's been nearly five years.
On June 13, during an episode of Diamonds in the Rough with Teddi Mellencamp, Erika shared her reaction to her ex being sentenced to prison, which is something she found out 10 minutes before performing.
'It just hurts. It reopens old healing wounds, and it is something that, you know, I had a sold-out crowd in a theater just for me, and I was so grateful. My happiest place in the whole world to be is on stage. So while I was happy … there’s a little piece [of me] that was like, "Ugh,"' she recalled.
'I was very disappointed because those people [in the audience] were there for me, and I felt like five percent of myself was feeling sorry for myself. I was 95 percent there, and five percent of myself was feeling sorry for myself.'
She went on to say that she struggled to 'fight back thoughts and emotions' during her performance.
Jayne, who has one son -a 32-year-old LAPD officer Thomas 'Tommy' Zizzo Jr. - has her own set of lawsuits that are currently ongoing, including a lawsuit brought by Girardi's bankruptcy trustee for allegedly using misappropriated funds to support her extravagant lifestyle- as seen on RHOBH. She's consistently denied any wrongdoing.
The TV personality is currently filming the 15th season of the Real Housewives with her costars from last season - except for Garcelle Beauvais. Joining the returning cast for the upcoming season is fashion designer Rachel Zoe.
