Reality television star Erika Jayne has publicly discussed her new romantic relationship with private security guard John 'Shrek' McPhee, confirming they have been dating for six months.
Keeping Her New Beau Away From The Bravo Spotlight
The 54-year-old Real Housewives of Beverly Hills personality revealed a key detail about her budding romance: none of her co-stars from the hit Bravo show have met her new boyfriend. Speaking to Us Weekly, Jayne explained her reasoning, stating, "No, no one's met him. I kind of like it like that."
She elaborated that her desire for privacy stems from past experiences playing out publicly, notably her marriage and divorce from now 86-year-old disgraced lawyer Tom Girardi. "It's because I like him and I know how bad these things are for your relationship," Jayne said. "I've gone through too much on this. I would like to keep that relationship special and over here if I could."
How They Met And His Reality TV Connections
Jayne shared that she and McPhee first met earlier this year in London. Interestingly, McPhee is no stranger to the world of reality TV himself. On her Diamonds In The Rough podcast in July, Jayne disclosed that McPhee works as a private security guard for The Hills star Heidi Montag.
She recalled approaching him at an event after Montag had appeared. "I walked up and I introduced myself and I was like, 'Hey, my name is Erika, and I've seen a couple of podcasts. I'm a fan,'" Jayne recounted. McPhee, who carries the nickname 'the Sheriff of Baghdad', maintains a low public profile despite a significant social media following.
He is reportedly very close to Heidi Montag and her husband Spencer Pratt, having worked for them for years, and even serves as godfather to their eight-year-old son, Gunner.
Looking Forward And Reflecting On The Past
During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with host Andy Cohen, Jayne offered more insights. She admitted that amongst her friends, she is known for having "the worst taste in men," but was quick to add, "I'd like to say the person I'm currently dating is a very nice person."
She also confirmed that the couple plan to spend the upcoming holidays together. A notable aspect of their relationship is that McPhee has never seen The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and is unfamiliar with the show that documented the collapse of her previous marriage.
That prior relationship with Tom Girardi ended in a very public and acrimonious divorce, compounded by Girardi's legal troubles. He was recently sentenced to seven years in prison for embezzlement, a stark contrast to Jayne's current efforts to build a more private and peaceful romance.
