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Heather McDonald and Jim Bellino are done fighting each other in court. Jim, the ex-husband of former “Real Housewives of Orange County” star Alexis Bellino, settled his defamation case against the “Juicy Scoop” podcast host, 50, Page Six confirmed Tuesday. TMZ reported that their settlement is confidential. In March, McDonald was granted her request to have …
Heather McDonald and Jim Bellino are done fighting each other in court.
Jim, the ex-husband of former “Real Housewives of Orange County” star Alexis Bellino, settled his defamation case against the “Juicy Scoop” podcast host, 50, Page Six confirmed Tuesday.
TMZ reported that their settlement is confidential.
In March, McDonald was granted her request to have the defamation suit dismissed, but Jim appealed the decision.
“I am really happy,” McDonald told us at the time. “I feel in a much better state now that we have an actual ruling in our favor.”
“I mean, it’s been a horrible last two years going through it all and it’s definitely affected my business,” she added. “When people bring on lawsuits like this just to have a chilling effect, it’s so that people crumble up and die and roll over. And when it’s happened to other reporters and entertainers like a John Oliver — he has HBO to protect him, you know, he’s on a major network. I am by myself. I live in an average home that someone can just walk up to the door and knock, which is what happens when you get served. And it’s terrifying.”
Jim, 58, first sued McDonald in June 2019, claiming that she “shamelessly ‘dished’ and peddled unsubstantiated gossip about the Bellinos and their divorce” during a live taping of her podcast with Shannon Beador and Tamra Judge.
“When the subject turned to Bellino and Alexis, the interview took a vicious turn,” he alleged in his filing while describing the conversation at the Irvine Improv. “Judge then offered and answered the question: ‘Why is he wanting spousal support? I have a theory. Everything’s in her name. He’s going to go to jail. Yeah, he’s a shady mothaf–ka!’”
He also recalled that Beador discussed his trampoline park business with McDonald, alleging that he was sued over it and as a result, “[She] won’t let my kids go because people get paralyzed, and they, and apparently that happens.”
Jim also sued Judge, 52, and Beador, 56, for their comments on the podcast.
Beador was dismissed from the suit and was awarded $137,340.25 for her attorney’s fees, but the case is still ongoing.
