Erika Jayne may still be dealing with legal battles, Las Vegas show drama, and the fallout from her very public divorce from Tom Girardi, but that hasn’t stopped fans from buzzing about her dating life. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star has always said she’s not looking for anything serious, but it seems like someone may have entered her orbit. So who exactly is Erika’s rumored new man? And is she really moving on or just riding the publicity wave? Let’s break down the whispers and the breadcrumbs that have Bravo fans playing detective.
What are the rumors about Erika Jayne’s new boyfriend?
Rumors started swirling this week when Erika was spotted out with a mystery man in Los Angeles. However, his identity is no longer a real mystery. The man Erika was caught holding hands with is John “Shrek” McPhee. He is a retired US Army Special Operations Sergeant Major. The 54-year-old Pretty Mess singer was spotted walking the street wearing jeans, a pink baseball cap, and a white T-shirt. John also looked pretty casual and was dressed in cargo pants (hopefully not military-issued). He was also wearing Crocs, but we will forgive him for his fashion sins. The pair looked pretty cozy walking hand in hand. Of course, this is Beverly Hills, where every dinner could be a business meeting or a soft launch.
Naturally, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills fans immediately went into detective mode, analyzing Erika’s recent Instagram posts and zooming in on every shadowy figure in the background. And even though the mystery man was eventually identified as John, we want more info.
Who is John McPhee and how is he connected to Heidi Montag?
First things first, this John is not the Pulitzer Prize-winning author. Erika’s John comes with more reality TV connections than literary accolades. John has served the United States Army for over 20 years. He is 54 years old and served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He even worked for Heidi Montag as her bodyguard. The man is also known as the “Sheriff of Baghdad.” During an appearance on The Megyn Kelly Show, he opened up about his time in the military. John refers to himself as a “regular guy” who grew up in the South Side of Chicago. Both his parents were young and struggled with substance abuse. But for John, his childhood doesn’t define him. During the interview, he lit up when talking about the special forces.
John shared that he had been divorced “several times” but has two children who are now adults. The veteran shared that his job in the military hindered his relationships. He told the host, “So I always say this, being married was like being in prison. You could call home [but] you ain’t going there anytime soon. That’s just how it works. That’s how marriage works in the army.” He explained, “And that’s tough on everybody. Only guys that had perfect relationships, their marriages survived the war. And I would say the bulk of guys end up divorced.”
Is Erika Jayne Divorced?
Okay, John kinda seems like the perfect match for Erika. Here’s the kicker: technically, Erika is still married, at least on paper. She filed for divorce from disgraced attorney Tom in November 2020, but due to his ongoing legal issues and the mountain of lawsuits connected to his bankruptcy, the divorce has stalled in court for years. As of 2025 no final judgment has been entered, despite Erika repeatedly stating she’s ready to move on. The legal entanglements surrounding the Girardi estate have complicated the process, leaving Erika in a frustrating limbo.
On the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Erika has spoken openly about wanting closure and starting fresh. And while she’s dipped her toe into dating, she’s remained tight-lipped about any serious connections until now, possibly. Whether or not she’s officially divorced, Erika’s clearly in a new chapter of her life. Between her Vegas residency, her podcast, and now a possible new man, she’s slowly rebuilding her life. And if John is part of that rebuild, we’ll be watching.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is available to stream on Peacock and Hayu in the UK and Ireland.
TELL US – DO YOU THINK ERIKA HAS FOUND LOVE?
