Tareq Salahi presents himself as the depressed and abandoned victim of a cruel adulteress after his wife Michaele Salahi ditched him for the much richer and more famous Journey guitarist Neal Schon.

Well, sources are telling The Huffington Post that the former Real Housewives of DC househusband isn’t as badly off as he would like the public to believe. Insiders are revealing that Tareq is making quite the hefty profit off his schtick as the woebegone hubby and has made an estimated $100,000 in interviews alone since Michaele publicly left him in September.

And he apparently anticipates making much more — particularly since he filed a $17M lawsuit against the high-flying new couple claiming they “profited unfairly off Tareq’s misery… and sabotaged his career in the process” after “publicly humiliating him with their torrid affair.” Does his lawyer need to start writing scripts for Revenge or what!?

“Tareq emailed me days after Michaele left saying Neal was going to suffer huge from this financially and that we needed to figure out how to make millions off of [the split],” a source close to Tareq reveals.

The source adds,”Tareq was the controlling and the calculating one. Everyone close to Michaele is very happy she got away from him.” Indeed, Michaele has accused Tareq of abuse and psychotic manipulations in divorce filings urging a judge to expedite their legal separation because she was afraid of Tareq. Even their former RHODC co-star Stacie Turner has commented that Tareq seemed controlling towards Michaele.

Tareq obviously wasn’t going to take these allegations lightly and retaliated by accusing Michaele of being a “well-known and documented liar” that fabricated her past as a Redskins Cheerleader and misled the public into believing she suffered from M.S.

But insiders are claiming it was Tareq who called the shots in their marriage and used Michaele to generate income. “When they were together, Michaele was not allowed to handle any of her own business dealings,” the source adds. “Tareq would do anything for money, and now that Michaele is gone, he lost his paycheck and is desperate. Tareq put his own divorce documents in the press just so he could comment for money.”

Tareq, of course, denies he has anything to do with the leaked documents — yet one has to wonder as the alleged grifter seems to be a daily staple on sites such as TMZ.

Not only does Tareq deny he is leaking divorce information, he is highly incensed that anyone would assume he is making bank from his wife playing him for a fool! “I don’t know how anyone can profit from a divorce,” Tareq scoffs.

And as to be expected, he is placing all the blame on his soon-to-be-ex-wife! “Michaele destroyed us, and the truth is she is selling interviews which, in fact, will be proved once all the emails and texts are subpoenaed.” Oh for love of all things decent!

Now, Tareq happily awaits vindication once his lawsuit against Neal and Michaele heads to court (presuming any judge would take it seriously in the first place!). “I can’t wait for the jury trial and to close this painful chapter in my life,” Tareq laments.

Well, we can’t wait to hear what any legal professional of sound mind has to say about all of this either, Tareq!

[Photo Credits: Anthony Dixon/WENN.com & HPMG News/TMZ]

TELL US – DO YOU THINK TAREQ IS MAKING MONEY FROM LEAKING DIVORCE DOCUMENTS AND INTERVIEWS?

The only thing worse than two desperate famewhores is two desperate famewhores in the middle of a desperate for media attention divorce! Tareq Salahi and Michaele Salahi have been slinging arrows at each other in the press for months ever since Michaele soon-to- not-be-Salahi ditched her broke hubby for Journey guitarist Neal Schon.

It was the first of many decisions that caused the former Real Housewives of DC stars to get TMZ on speed dial and excoriate each other daily by releasing salacious details and back and forth he-said/she-said nonsense — including an underwear auction! If it weren’t so entertaining, I’d be annoyed.

In the latest, Tareq has released legal documents alleging Michaele lived beyond her means (he’s one to talk!) and was having an affair! Responding to Michaele’s divorce petition, which accuses him of abuse, Tareq decided to call his soon-to-be-ex-wife out for lying claiming she fabricated her past as a Redskins Cheerleader and pretended to have M.S. when in fact she doesn’t!

Adding to the accusations, Tareq’s documents state Michaele “lived beyond her means, routinely spending thousands of bucks on hair extensions and beauty treatments and throwing lavish parties for him — in one case $16k.” Ok, that’s a bit pot meet kettle, but moving on…

Tareq is also insisting that Michaele and Neal were involved in an long-term affair, citing some of Neal’s own comments as proof. In a total TMI gross-out comment, Tareq claims Neal boasted about having sex with Michaele in his dressing room while she was still married.

Tareq is using the following quote taken from Neal to substantiate his claims. Neal reportedly said of Michaele, “I have tennis shoes on and she’s, like, nine feet tall over me. And she looks down at me like she’s standing on stilts and says, ‘I love you. And that’s never gonna change.’ And when that happened I said, ‘Get over her! This has taken 15 years.’” Oh lord, can these three just go away already?

My take: Tareq is apparently desperate for spousal support or something and trying his darndest to look like the bamboozled and taken advantage of husband! Sadly, he’s more like the man who cried wolf and most of us don’t believe him for an instant!

DO YOU BELIEVE TAREQ’S CLAIMS THAT MICHAELE WAS THE SPEND THRIFT ONE IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP OR ARE THEY BOTH TO BLAME? DO YOU BELIEVE MICHAELE AND NEAL WERE HAVING AN AFFAIR?

Santa Claus came early, y’all!  Forget about that cookbook, those cozy socks or that chic handbag you’re hoping to see under the tree – Real Housewives of D.C.’s famewhorusband Tareq Salahi has given you the most wonderful gift. His belly could definitely shake like a bowl full of jelly… ironic, no?

Tareq is finally responding to estranged wife Michaele Salahi’s recent allegations. It’s humorous, it’s mythical, it’s everything you would think it could possibly be. Tareq is quite “fra-gee-lay” in the following interview. Perhaps he should have asked Santa for a leg lamp instead of a plastic, White House party-crashing bride.

Tareq, who has filed for divorce from his better other half, spoke with the Huffingtonpost.com defending himself against Michaele’s claims of abuse. He begins, “She’s a piece of work. First it was she found true love with Neil Schon [of] Journey and now that she lawyered up, they are grasping for a way out so she doesn’t have to pay up her side of our financial obligations.”  Don’t stop believin’, Tareq!  She’ll come clean about her cheating ways and you’ll get your money! Will the Journey jokes ever get old (Perhaps in 2012, but not yet!)?

Tareq is still in contact with his former lady love. He says, “When I spoke to Michaele yesterday, she said she didn’t know her lawyer wrote those things and was sorry… I doubt that. She is very calculating and devious. So now, she says, after 12 years, I’m suddenly controlling or abusive… [w]hen in fact I loved her, and did everything to support my wife and put her on a pedestal to make her a shining star.”

“I really think Michaele thinks she’s still on Real Housewives and needs to create drama,” Tareq continues.  Well, someone certainly does, but I won’t name names! Seriously, why did these two part ways (besides that whole “she became a Journey groupie” situation)? It’s like they are the same person.

Tareq is quick to note that his wife is famous (poor choice of words) for twisting reality in her favor. He even goes as far to call her a liar, reminding ‘fans’ that “Michaele is a well-known and documented liar from The Real Housewives of D.C., to our personal life with her other false statements such as being a Redskins cheerleader,Victoria’s Secret model, college graduate, her M.S… Everything was a lie in our marriage.” So, Tareq was just as fooled as the rest of us about Michaele’s cheerleading past? Seriously? Even the Redskins knew she was never on the sidelines, but Tareq… he coveted those fake pom-poms until his marriage fell apart. I’m not even going to touch his accusations that the M.S. claim was a lie. Shame… on both of them.

It’s sad, really. Poor Tareq is just an innocent party, victimized by his soon to be ex-wife’s web of deceit. He reveals, “Michaele abandoned her home, committed adultery and lied to all her friends. Michaele lied about her real home [when] filming the Real Housewives.”  Truly? Michaele is the only one who lied about her real home? How tragic for Tareq to spend a full Bravo season filming and pseudo-living in a house that wasn’t. Even. His. He must be devastated to learn that truth. I bet Michelle Obama isn’t her half-sister either. Tareq must feel so betrayed — Why else would he have crashed attended that White House dinner?

It gets better. Tareq was totally blinded by Michaele. He thought she was “just a small town girl.” Too much? While it’s hard for him to admit, he shares, “Michaele lied to her husband about attending college. Michaele lied to her own friends, family and cast about an eating disorder. Michaele lied to the public about loving our dog Rio. In short, nearly everything [she] told me was an apparent lie.” Wait, she lied about not eating?!? I don’t buy it. However, when she starts pretending she loves a dog when she’s clearly a cat lady person, that’s when I draw the line. B*tch.

So, let’s break this down. Tareq was a doting, clueless husband, who is not at all shady or fame hungry while Michaele was brilliant enough to make up these falsities on her own. Sure, and he’s just friends with Michael Lohan because they share the same hobbies. I don’t know about you, but I’m about to pour a glass of Oasis wine and watch an episode of “Lifestyles of the Chubby and Irrelevant” if you’d care to join me. Those Salahis, bringing the Christmas cheer all year long!

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF TAREQ SALAHI’S INTERVIEW?  WAS HE IN THE DARK ABOUT MICHAELE’S ALLEGED LIES?  DO YOU THINK EITHER OF THEM WILL EVER JUST GO AWAY?

In today’s not so shocking news, former Real Housewives of DC star Michaele Salahi is accusing her estranged husband, Tareq Salahi, of physical violence in a new lawsuit.

In the suit, uncovered by TMZ, Michaele wants a judge to grant her a separation asap as she states Tareq is a violent control freak who uses psychotic scare tactics and physical violence to control her.

Michaele, who famously ran away with Journey guitarist Neal Schon back in September, says she did so to get away from Tareq because she feared for her safety.

As for the physical abuse claims, Michaele says the final straw came on September 11 when she returned home a few hours late from running an errand. She alleges Tareq waited for her in the dark, in the basement and told her she needed to learn a lesson. Michaele ended up fleeing with Neal two days later.

Tareq is of course denying the allegations, telling TMZ that Michaele is a “chronic liar” while calling her allegations “absurd.”  Tareq insists he truly loved her and did all he could to support her during their marriage.

Last month, Tareq filed a $17 million lawsuit against Michaele and Neal  for what he called “publicly humiliating him with their torrid affair.”

[Photo Credit: INFPhotos.com]

TELL US – THOUGHTS ON THE LATEST? DO YOU BELIEVE MICHAELE’S CLAIMS?

After filing for divorce, the former epic fail star of Real Housewives of DC, is now claiming his soon-to-be ex-wife Michaele Salahi and her new beau, Journey guitarist Neal Schon owe him $17M for “for publicly humiliating him with their torrid affair.” Oh for goodness sakes!

Last week, Tareq’s fameseeking attorney sent a letter to the attorneys of Michaele and Neal, claiming they “profited unfairly off Tareq’s misery… and sabotaged his career in the process,” thus owing him $17M in retribution! CAREER?! What career?

Tareq also claims Neal emailed him photos of his penis, rubbed their affair in his face by having on-stage make-out sessions and taunted him through the press with a $10,000 lingerie shopping spree after he sold his wife’s nether-things online. Tareq, I feel your pain, we were all brutalized by the thought of Michaele purchasing thongs! Ick.

According to Tareq’s lawyer, the “large-scale publicity” Journey received when Michaele left him for Neal “skyrocketed ticket sales for Journey’s most recent tour — all while torpedoing several pending TV deals Tareq had previously made with his wife” before she ditched him for someone more famous.

Tareq is also scaring us all by claiming the love-birds have already started taking steps to get their own reality show! And because of all the lost anticipated revenue resulting from Michael’s affair he is now $2M in debt. Which is why he believes he deserves a $17M settlement for “suffering” (and to keep him warm at night as I am guessing he’ll be single for many, many years to come otherwise!).

As for Michaele and Neal, TMZ caught up with the happy-seeming couple at Dulles International Airport where they were coming into town for Thanksgiving. Neal’s reaction upon learning about the $17M extortion attempt demand? He burst out laughing!

Needless to say the very well-off Journey guitarist finds Tareq’s actions ridiculous. “That’s pretty amazing — I think some people just don’t like to work,” Neal sniped. “I think it’s just funny,” Michaele commented on Tareq’s latest cray-cray scheme. “I heard about it, it just can’t be real.”

While she is DC, Michaele revealed she plans to get together with fellow loony, Tareq — and I’m sure we’ll be hearing about it in the tabloids very soon! “We’re going to have a settlement meeting. We already have moved forward with our lives, so it’s just kinda, going through the motions and getting closure with it,” she shared, adding that the divorce is definitely moving forward because her marriage was over “the day” she left Tareq.

“My heart has always been with Neal,” she gushed. I guess that means absolutely no regrets about abandoning Tareq for someone with actual money and an actual career.

[Photo Credit: Beiny/Slater/WENN.com]

THOUGHTS ON THE SALAHI’S LATEST ATTEMPTS TO STAY IN THE MEDIA? DO YOU BELIEVE TAREQ’S CASE HAS ANY MERIT? WOULD YOU WATCH A REALITY SHOW STARRING MICHAELE AND NEAL?

Stacie Turner, star of ghost of reality shows past, Real Housewives of DC, is speaking out about fabricated reality TV drama and is really fed up!

The classy, articulate, and extremely refreshing Stacie, who says she initially turned down a spot on Housewives fearing it would be too “intrusive,” has always presented herself as the type of person that would not engage in catty, famewhoring behavior. Now she is commenting on the constant altercations and misbehavior happening on reality shows and wondering just how much of it is actually real!

Speaking to Sister2Sister, Stacie expresses her displeasure at the extreme behavior exhibited to generate ratings and C-List celebrity. “I just think that at this point, people have flipped tables. They’ve had fights… that now, it’s almost a competition to see how outrageous you can make the show,” Stacie laments, echoing what many fans are starting to suspect.

“I think in the first or second season it really is real because the people are real people. They’re not actors; they don’t know what to expect. By season four, you’ve got to outdo for ratings. And it becomes, you know, it’s all about entertainment.” Here’s looking at you, Real Housewives of Atlanta!

Stacie believes the decorous behavior (save for those Sahalis) displayed on RHODC, which “lacked the typical catfighting and hair-pulling seen on the other ‘Housewives’ shows” is one of the reasons Bravo issued a cancellation notice! Except Stacie feels that was a mistake as not all viewers want to watch the non-stop arguing!

“I think based on the tons of fan mail that we’ve gotten, there was a segment of viewers that were really happy to see something that was a little different, but for whatever reason the powers that be decided to cancel,” Stacie explains of how a little too much realness may have discouraged the network from continuing the series.

Regardless, she has no regrets! “I’m proud of the way that we portrayed ourselves on ["RHODC"], and relieved that the overall takeaway that I’ve gotten is that other women could identify with me, and see a woman who was doing positive things.”

Stacie is so over reality TV — she no longer watches, preferring shows with “positive portrayals” of women. Adding that she’s never seen Basketball Wives or Basketball Wives LA, two shows obviously known for outlandish antics.

So what does Stacie watch? Vh1’s Single Ladies, a fictional show. “I liked that it was circled around a business owner who’s trying to do her own thing. I like shows like that,” Stacie declares, hoping networks will seek to provide reality shows that exhibit that same positivity!

THOUGHTS ON STACIE’S INTERVIEW? DO YOU AGREE WITH HER THAT REALITY SHOWS HAVE BECOME TOO DRAMA DRIVEN AND NEGATIVE? AR YOU READY FOR SOME MORE POSITIVE REALITY SERIES OR DO YOU LIKE THINGS JUST THE WAY THEY ARE?

Discussing why D.C. may have been canceled, Stacie quickly dispels the myth that poor ratings led to the show’s demise (although most fans found it boring) and believes it was the Salahi scheme that caused the cancellation.

“People tried to say it was poor ratings. We had some of the highest ratings for all of the shows,” Stacie protests. “We had a character that did something that’s never been done before on national television,” she says alluding to ultimate grifters, Michaele and Tareq Salahi crashing the White House. As for Stacie’s opinion of the Salahis: “Both of them are nuts!”

She does feel that Michaele is the better of the two (if you can imagine) and corroborates accounts that Tareq was a very negative influence in her life. “I did get to see a side of [Michaele] that made me sympathetic toward her,” Stacie admits. “I think the relationship between her and Tareq was not positive in any way, shape or form. So if running off with a rocker is gonna make her happy… then great for her.”

As for Stacie’s life post-television – she’s doing great – and has maintained her friendship with out-spoken Brit, Cat Ommanney! “Life is good! I’m really, really busy on a couple fronts, besides just the normal family stuff,” she says, referring to her thriving real estate business and her charity, Extra-Ordinary Life.

She also reveals she still keeps in touch with her biological father whom she met in Nigeria and plans to visit again soon.

And as for Stacie’s desire to return to the spotlight: “I mean, never say never… but for me it’s all about the image. If it was a quality show, yeah.” So, I’m guessing that rules out anything on Bravo!

Thoughts on Stacie’s comments about why RHODC was canceled? What do you think about her comments that Tareq was bad for Michaele – do you agree or disagree? Would you watch Stacie on a different reality show?

Fame whore/former Real Housewives of DC star Tareq Salahi is finding many creative and very public ways to heal his broken heart after his wife Michaele Salahi ran off with another man!

The latest with Tareq are his plans to now produce his own dating reality show! Apparently, many clueless women are just dying to date the troubled reality star!

According to TMZ, Tareq, 43, has been pitching his dating show to various networks, with the non-vomit inducing title of “Seducing Salahi.”

The dating show would shoot at his winery in Virginia and would be similar to the formula of the “Flavor of Love” and “Rock of Love” type shows — with 14 women competing for Tareq’s affection.

And get this, TMZ adds that several networks are actually interested! Yikes.

When Tareq’s not busy planning his dating show, he is also training for a “celebrity” boxing match. Tareq is planning to box fellow “celebrity” Jose Canseco on November 5. Tareq assures us via TMZ that when he steps into the ring, all he will be thinking about is the face of the man who stole his wife, Neal Schon aka the guitarist for the band Journey.

And speaking of Neal, he spent the weekend serenading his lady love Michelle on stage during a Journey concert.

The special event was for Michaele’s 46th birthday on Saturday. She came out on stage during which Neal serenaded her by singing “Happy Birthday.” TMZ summed it up best with this quote: “Sounds like a dream birthday any girl would want … in 1982.” A video of the serenading is below -

Photo credit: INFphoto.com.

TELL US – THOUGHTS ON THE LATEST WITH THE SALAHIS? WOULD YOU WATCH TAREQ’S DATING SHOW?

Michaele Salahi and her lovah Neal Schon are finally breaking their silence on their torrid love affair.

The affair became public knowledge last week after Michaele’s soon to be ex-husband Tareq Salahi publicly stated she had been missing and kidnapped. TMZ however reported the next day that the former Real Housewives of DC star had simply decided to run off with Journey guitarist Neal, whom she had been having a 2-year affair with.

In their first interview since the incident became public, the two are speaking out about their relationship and how they became a couple.

“It’s like a fairy tale. It is, it really is,” said Neal to the Daily Beast about finally being able to be out in the open with Michaele. “I’m very happy, very happy after waiting for her for 15 years. Now I want to get beyond all this media hype that Tareq has put out there. It’s really quite embarrassing.”

It gets even better as Michaele goes on to reveal that she dated both Tareq and Neal back in the late ’90s, but ultimately decided to choose Tareq after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She apparently believed she would receive better care from him.

“I chose Tareq over Neal because I thought life would be less stressful living on a vineyard in Virginia,” said Michaele. “Life on the road with a rock band…well, I thought I might not have been able to keep up.”

The two admit that the Journey concert at Tareq’s winery in Virgina early this month (Tareq was also in attendance) was a turning point in their affair relationship. “I began to see he really loved me. I had to begin to feel it completely in my soul, ” she said with Neal adding that Michaele told him she loved him that night.

“What happened was…she takes off her wedding ring…right in front of Tareq. Takes it off,” Neal explains. “And then she proceeds to come into my dressing room where I’m sitting down. I have tennis shoes on and she’s like, nine feet tall over me. And she looks down at me like she’s standing on stilts and says ‘I love you, and that’s never gonna change.’ And when that happened I said, ‘Get over here! This has taken 15 years!”

Michaele adds that she wanted to get on the tour bus and run off with Neal that night but ultimately decided to go home with Tareq to avoid humiliating him. Though she would end up doing just that about a week later.

“I didn’t want to hurt anyone, but I realized I was hurting myself,” she said of her decision to finally leave Tareq, whom she refers to as “controlling.” Neal chimes in adding that Tareq would order Michaele around, take away her money, phone and car so she had to be dependent on him, and also tell her when she could and couldn’t leave the house.

“I was going crazy,” says Michaele. “Because when you want to be with someone that bad, you start to go crazy. He [Neal] sent someone to come get me. I got on a plane by myself and I just went. I just walked away from everything.”

There’s also speculation that Neal’s July wedding to wife Ava Fabian might have been more of a spiritual ceremony and not a legally binding wedding.

TELL US – THOUGHTS ON THE LATEST?

The Tareq and Michaele Salahi cheating saga continues.

The latest with the former Real Housewives of DC stars is the revelation of their prenup. TMZ, who seems to have Tareq on speed dial or is it the other way around? obtained a copy of the prenup which pretty much reveals Michaele is screwed.

According to the prenuptial agreement, if Michaele commits adultery, she automatically loses her right to any money or other property they accumulated during their 8-year marriage. Even worse for Michaele, she’s also forfeited her right to spousal support by moving out of the home they shared. But then again, is Tareq really worth anything these days?

Meanwhile, days after Michaele ran off with Journey guitarist Neal Schon, Tareq revealed the dog he once shared with Michaele has passed away.

According to Tareq, the Doberman Pinscher died of a broken heart. Yes you read that right. The dog was apparently so depressed that he couldn’t get out of bed after Michaele abandoned him. The dog passed away on Sunday.

The dog reportedly suffered a heart attack several weeks ago, and had been on meds ever since. Tareq of course is hysterical and blames Michaele whom he recently referred to as a “groupie slut” in a recent interview.

TMZ also managed to obtain some home videos which shows Michaele laying in bed with the dog just days before she disappeared. I can’t help but wonder whether or not this whole public debacle might be leading to a vomit-inducing sex tape.

And finally, Neal’s wife Ava Fabian who married Neal just two months ago is now speaking out about the affair. Ava, a 1986 Playboy Playmate, reveals she is absolutely devastated over the affair.

Ava, who says she was with Neal right before he went on tour, tells TMZ, “This is very painful for me. I’m very hurt.” TMZ adds that Ava and Neal tied the knot in Paris just this past July. Ava however makes it clear she has no plans of taking Neal back.

Photos of Ava below as well as a photo of Michaele on stage with Journey during a recent performance.

TELL US – THOUGHTS ON THE LATEST?