August 31, 2012: “It’s the hardest thing in the world to walk away from someone that you really love,” Evelyn Lozada told “Nightline” in an exclusive interview. “But you have to walk away because I have to protect myself.”
In her first interview since she filed for divorce from the former Miami Dolphins receiver, formerly known as Chad “Ochocinco,” after an argument between them became physical, Lozada talked about ending her six-week-long marriage to Johnson, what she says happened the night they argued and how she is coping. She said she will not get back together with Johnson and refuses to talk to him.
“I believe he loves me. I believe he needs to get help,” she said. “He’s a good guy that made a bad choice. He loves football and he’s very driven and a great dad. He made a bad choice that destroyed his life, and I hate that I’m connected to that.”
In April, Change.org started an online petition asking the VH1 producers not to reward Lozada with a reality show spinoff for her circus animal antics on “Basketball Wives.” Over 32,000 have shown their support in favor of removing the show.
“This is not a hate petition against Evelyn Lozada,” the petition states. We simply will not support violence. It hurts to see violence amongst women on television for entertainment purposes. It is not ok for women to hit each other on TV.
Lozado is also slated to appear on “Good Morning America.”