Erika Jayne

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Erika Jayne
Jayne in 2019
Born
Erika Chahoy

(1971-07-10) July 10, 1971 (age 52)
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Other namesErika Girardi
Occupations
  • Singer
  • television personality
  • actress
Years active1990–present
TelevisionThe Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
Spouses
  • Thomas Zizzo
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1991; div. 1996)​
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 2000; sep. 2020)​
Children1
Musical career
Genres
Instrument(s)Vocals
Labels
  • EJ
  • RM
  • Pretty Mess
Websiteerikajayne.com

Erika Girardi (née Chahoy; born July 10, 1971),[1] known professionally as Erika Jayne, is an American singer, television personality and actress.[2]

Early life[edit]

Erika Girardi was born in Atlanta, Georgia,[3] on July 10, 1971, to single mother Renee Chahoy.[4] Her father left when Erika was 9 months old. She graduated from North Atlanta High School. At 18, she moved to New York City.[5]

Career[edit]

Acting and reality television[edit]

Her first two on-screen appearances were (uncredited) murder victim Suzanne Morton in the episode "Prescription for Death" and Tim Pruiting's (uncredited) girlfriend in "The Violence of Summer" in the first season of NBC's legal drama series Law & Order.[6] She also had roles in independent films Alchemy (1995) and Lowball (1996).[7][8]

In 2015, she joined the cast of Bravo's reality television show The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills for the show's sixth season.[9] The New York Times estimated that she earned more than $600,000 for the 2021 season.[10]

In December 2016, she guest starred on The Young and the Restless with her former Real Housewives cast member Eileen Davidson, who plays Ashley Abbott on the show. She returned as real estate agent Farrah Dubose for one episode in 2017 and two in 2018.[11]

In 2017, she competed on season 24 of Dancing with the Stars. She and her partner, Gleb Savchenko, were eliminated in week five.[12]

She was a red carpet host for the American Music Awards in 2017[13] and 2018.[14] She co-hosted the pre-show for the Billboard Music Awards in 2018.[15]

In 2018, she competed on Lip Sync Battle. She lost to Taye Diggs.[16]

In 2019, she was cast as Roxie Hart in a Broadway production of Chicago. She opened on January 6, 2020, at the Ambassador Theater and was due to stay with the show until March 29. Due to COVID-19, production was shut down and her last performance was March 11.[17]

In March 2024, Bravo aired a two-part documentary, Erika Jayne: Bet It All on Blonde, focusing on her 2023 residency at the House of Blues Music Hall in the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.[18] In the documentary, she said she had contemplated suicide during the darkest days of her legal struggles. "I thought about killing myself many times," she said, adding that her son talked her out of it.[19]

Music[edit]

According to her autobiography, Pretty Mess, music producer Peter Rafelson came up with the idea of changing her name to "Erika Jayne."[20] Jayne's first single, "Roller Coaster" was released on January 1, 2007. The song placed at number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. Jayne's debut album, Pretty Mess, was released in the United States in August 2009.[21] She released several standalone singles from 2010 to 2018, including number one singles "Painkillr" and "How Many Fucks."

Throughout her music career, Jayne has performed at several gay nightclubs and LGBT pride events, including LA Pride. In 2018, she embarked on her first headlining concert tour, Erika Jayne Presents: The Pretty Mess Tour, visiting 13 cities across the United States. In April 2023, she announced Bet It All on Blonde, a Las Vegas concert residency at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay[22] that ran select weekends from August to December 2023.[23]

Personal life and legal issues[edit]

While living in New York, she met Thomas Zizzo,[24] who was working as a DJ at a club in Manhattan. The couple married in December 1991 at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Soon thereafter she gave birth to a son, Thomas Zizzo Jr. He is a police officer in Los Angeles.[25] After the couple divorced in 1996, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dream of becoming a singer.[26]

In January 2000, she married Los Angeles personal-injury attorney Thomas Girardi, who was 33 years older than her and already twice divorced. They met in 1998 when she was working as a cocktail waitress at Chasen's, a Los Angeles restaurant where he was a regular.[27][28] He was known for helping win the trial that made Erin Brockovich into a household name.[10]

In November 2020, she announced her separation from Girardi and filed for divorce.[29] One month after the divorce announcement, the couple were named in a lawsuit for allegedly embezzling funds meant for families of the victims of the fatal 2018 Lion Air plane crash.[30][31] Media outlets reported that the divorce could be a "sham" to hide assets.[32] In December 2020, a Chicago-based law firm asked a federal judge to order Jayne to stop selling designer clothing online amid an effort to recover $2 million in money owed to clients.[33]

On December 17, 2020, a Los Angeles Times article alleged that Tom Girardi "stole millions of dollars from vulnerable clients," and improperly funneled more than $20 million of victims' compensation to EJ Global, a company set up to finance Jayne’s entertainment and singing career.[34] A documentary about the couple's highly publicized legal troubles titled The Housewife and the Hustler was released on Hulu on June 14, 2021.[35] A sequel, The Housewife and the Hustler 2: The Reckoning, featuring Jayne meeting with victims of Girardi's, was released in February 2024.[36] On August 31, 2022, a judge ruled in a $5 million civil fraud lawsuit that the plaintiffs could not prove Jayne had knowledge of or involvement in the alleged fraud.[37]

Discography[edit]

As lead artist[edit]

Studio albums
Title Album details
Pretty Mess
Singles
Year Single Album Writer(s) Producer(s) Peaks Ref.
US
Dance
Club
[38] 		US
Dance/
Elec.
[39] 		US
Global
Dance
[40]
2007 "Roller Coaster" Pretty Mess Peter Rafelson, Eric Kupper Ike Dirty, Peter Rafelson, Eric Kupper 1 — — [41]
"Stars" 1 — 33 [42]
2009 "Give You Everything" Erika Jayne, Peter Rafelson Peter Rafelson 1 — 16 [43]
2010 "Pretty Mess" 1 — 19 [44]
"One Hot Pleasure" Non-album singles Luciana, Nick Clow, Dave Audé Dave Audé 1 — 24 [45]
2011 "Party People (Ignite the World)" Kalle Engstrom, Niclas Kings, Andres Carlsson Niclas Kings 1 — 25 [46]
2013 "Get It Tonight" (featuring Flo Rida) Vassal Benford, Flo Rida Vassal Benford — 20 — [47]
2014 "Painkillr" Christopher Rodriguez, Erika Jayne Christopher Rodriguez 1 25 — [48]
"You Make Me Wanna Dance" Eric Martin, Eric Levy, Ross Valory, Erika Jayne Eric Levy, Ross Valory — — — [49]
2015 "Crazy" (featuring Maino) Scott Storch, Maino, Erika Jayne Scott Storch 1 — — [50]
2016 "How Many Fucks" Justin Tranter, Myah Marie, Gage Gage 1 — — [51]
2017 "Xxpensive" Ferras, Sarah Hudson, Marc Sibley, Nathan Cunningham, Erika Jayne, Jesse Saint John Space Primates — — — [52]
2018 "Cars" Rachel West, Rachel Patricia De Rougemont, Louis Joseph Stone, Laurence Davis, Elana Cager, Eric Racy, Adam Bruce, Paul Jason Klein, Erika Jayne Eric Racy — — — [53]
2023 "Drip Drop" Alma Goodman, Megan Redmond, Emily Haber, Miles Comaskey, Owen Hobson Gold Glove — — — [54]
2024 "Bounce" Jesse Saint John, Cole M.G.N Cole M.G.N — — — [55]
"—" denotes a title that did not appear on the respective chart.
Billboard's Global Dance Tracks ranking was discontinued in 2013.

As featured artist[edit]

Year Title Album Writer(s) Producer(s) Ref.
2019 "Drip" (Brooke Candy) Sexorcism Oscar Scheller, Ashnikko, Sega Bodega, Jesse Saint John, Brooke Candy Sega Bodega, Oscar Scheller [56]


References[edit]

  1. ^ "Erika Jayne". BBC. Archived from the original on July 10, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  2. ^ Agard, Chancellor (December 15, 2015). "Newest Beverly Hills Housewives Erika Girardi Teases Run-In with Bethenny Frankel: She 'Kind of Let Me Have It'". People. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  3. ^ Collar, Matt. "Erika Jayne Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  4. ^ "Erika Girardi Hopes Her Relationship with Her Mom Is Something People 'Will Be Able to Relate To'". Bravo. March 8, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2017. [better source needed]
  5. ^ "Erika Girardi on Painful Past — and Realizing She Was in a 'Wealthy Coma' After Marriage". people.com. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  6. ^ "Erika Jayne's 'Pretty Mess': 7 Revelations From 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Star's Memoir". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  7. ^ "Low Ball (1997)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
  8. ^ "Alchemy (1995)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
  9. ^ "A conversation with 'Real Housewives' star Erika Girardi, our latest reality TV obsession". Los Angeles Times. March 9, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  10. ^ a b Goldstein, Matthew; Rosman, Katherine (October 9, 2021). "The Real Trials of a 'Real Housewife'". The New York Times. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  11. ^ "Get Ready, Genoa City: Erika Girardi Is Returning to The Young and the Restless in a Major Way!". E! Online. May 2, 2018. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  12. ^ "DWTS: Erika Girardi Eliminated, Was Broken Before Final Breakthrough Performance". Peoplemag. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  13. ^ "Erika Jayne Slayed the American Music Awards Looking Ultra Glam and Chatting with A-Listers ... and We Still Haven't Recovered". Bravo TV Official Site. November 20, 2017. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  14. ^ Glicksman, Josh (October 4, 2018). "Jessie James Decker, Erika Jayne & More to Host 2018 American Music Awards Red Carpet Pre-Show". Billboard. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  15. ^ "Erika Jayne Got Revenge on Andy Cohen at the 2018 Billboard Music Awards". Bravo TV Official Site. May 21, 2018. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  16. ^ "Has the "Very Cool" Erika Jayne Forgiven Taye Diggs?". Bravo TV Official Site. February 20, 2018. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  17. ^ "Erika Jayne On Stage". New York Theatre Guide. March 28, 2024. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  18. ^ Donnelly, Matt (November 5, 2023). "Bravo Sets Two-Part Erika Jayne Doc 'Bet It All on Blonde': Watch Tense First Trailer". Variety. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  19. ^ "Erika Girardi Reveals She Contemplated Suicide 'Many Times' During Tom Girardi's Legal Troubles". Peoplemag. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  20. ^ "Erika Jayne's 'Pretty Mess': 7 Revelations From 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Star's Memoir Entertainment Tonight". www.etonline.com. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  21. ^ "Spotlight On Erika Jayne". Billboard. February 1, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  22. ^ "Erika Jayne Announces Las Vegas Residency". Paper Magazine. April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  23. ^ Gray, Mark. "'RHOBH' Star Erika Jayne Kicks Off Provocative Las Vegas Residency: 'It's a New Life'". Peoplemag. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  24. ^ Cardoza, Riley (May 5, 2020). "Erika Jayne Shares Rare Pic of Son Tommy: 'People Say We Look Alike'". Us Weekly. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  25. ^ Slater, Georgia. "RHOBH's Erika Girardi Defends Son Who Is a Cop on Social Media: 'His Job Is to Protect All'". Peoplemag. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  26. ^ "Erika Girardi Biography". Bravo. Bravo TV. 2015. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
  27. ^ "RHOBH: A Look Into Erika Jayne's 'Unconventional' Marriage With Thomas Girardi". ScreenRant. November 13, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  28. ^ "A Timeline of Erika & Tom Girardi's Relationship, from Friendship to Fame to a Surprise Split". Peoplemag. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  29. ^ Sobol, Beth; Williams, Amanda (November 3, 2020). "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Erika Jayne and Tom Girardi Break Up After 21 Years Together". E! Online. Archived from the original on November 3, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  30. ^ "Judge freezes assets of famed L.A. lawyer Tom Girardi, citing millions unpaid to clients". Los Angeles Times. December 14, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  31. ^ Tom Girardi sued by Indonesia's Lion air crash families over claims US lawyer embezzled millions of their settlement funds ABC News, June 5, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  32. ^ Yasharoff, Hannah. "Erika Jayne, Tom Girardi accused of 'sham' divorce announcement to hide from embezzlement lawsuit". USA Today. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  33. ^ Seidel, Jon (December 18, 2020). "Chicago law firm wants contempt order enforced against Erika Jayne of 'Real Housewives'". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  34. ^ "The legal titan and the 'Real Housewife': The rise and fall of Tom Girardi and Erika Jayne". Los Angeles Times. December 17, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  35. ^ "Erika and Tom Girardi's Legal Troubles Examined in The Housewife and the Hustler: Biggest Moments". People. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  36. ^ "L.A. Times Studios and ABC News Studios Announce 'The Housewife and the Hustler 2: The Reckoning' Documentary". Los Angeles Times. January 31, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  37. ^ "'Real Housewives' star Erika Jayne wins Tom Girardi fraud lawsuit". Los Angeles Times. September 2022.
  38. ^ "Erika Jayne Dance Club Songs Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  39. ^ "Erika Jayne Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  40. ^ "Chart Search | Billboard". billboard.com. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  41. ^ "Roller Coaster - track". Muso.AI. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  42. ^ "Stars - Original Version - track". Muso.AI. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  43. ^ Erika Jayne – Give You Everything, retrieved March 31, 2024
  44. ^ Erika Jayne – Pretty Mess, retrieved March 31, 2024
  45. ^ Erika Jayne – One Hot Pleasure, retrieved March 31, 2024
  46. ^ "Party People (Ignite the World) - Original Extended - track". Muso.AI. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  47. ^ Erika Jayne (Ft. Flo Rida) – Get It Tonight, retrieved March 31, 2024
  48. ^ "Painkillr - track". Muso.AI. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  49. ^ Erika Jayne – You Make Me Wanna Dance, retrieved March 31, 2024
  50. ^ Erika Jayne (Ft. Maino) – Crazy, retrieved March 31, 2024
  51. ^ Erika Jayne – How Many Fucks?, retrieved March 31, 2024
  52. ^ Erika Jayne – XXPEN$IVE, retrieved March 31, 2024
  53. ^ "Cars - track". Muso.AI. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  54. ^ Erika Jayne – Drip Drop, retrieved March 31, 2024
  55. ^ Erika Jayne – Bounce, retrieved March 31, 2024
  56. ^ Brooke Candy (Ft. Erika Jayne) – Drip, retrieved March 31, 2024

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Erika Jayne.
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