Inside Chad 'Ochocinco' Johnson And Evelyn Lozada's Relationship

Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson and Evelyn Lozada's relationship seemed like a match made in television heaven. Johnson was a star NFL player, and Lozada was the premier talent on the hit show "Basketball Wives." Their relationship was chronicled on the VH1 series, and the couple later filmed a spin-off of their own. 

At the time, Johnson was a decorated NFL athlete. According to NFL.com, Johnson played as a wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals for 10 years before joining the New England Patriots for one season in 2011. Johnson joined the practice squad for the Miami Dolphins in 2012, the same year he changed the name on his jersey from "Ochocino" back to "Johnson," revealing that Lozada inspired the change. "I'm refocused and locked in. Time to get back to the old me," Johnson said in an interview with ESPN. "I'm just doing it for the marriage. It has nothing to do with football. Ochocinco is still in me. It's just my middle name." Lozada had also been successful in her own right. She rose to fame as the fiery, short-tempered diva on "Basketball Wives" and the ex-fiancé of NBA player Antoine Walker. Lozada revealed to VIBE she also had a slew of other business ventures including a book deal and makeup line. 

Sadly, Johnson and Lozada's marriage ended after only 41 days, and the couple's planned reality show "Ev & Ocho" never aired. Instead, the pair shared the spotlight after an alleged domestic violence incident left Lozada hospitalized.

Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson and Evelyn Lozada became engaged less than a year after dating. In 2012, the couple wed in a Fourth of July ceremony, but the marriage was short-lived when the couple found themselves in turmoil just two months in.

On August 11, 2012, Lozada claimed Johnson physically assaulted her after an argument. According to a police report obtained by ABC News, the incident occurred after Lozada found condom receipts in Johnson's car. The dispute ended with Johnson allegedly head-butting Lozada, resulting in a 3-inch laceration on her forehead. The police report states that after the incident, Johnson began screaming, "I don't give a f***. I don't give a f*** about my career," as Lozada rushed to a neighbor's home, where she called for help.

Johnson was arrested and charged with simple domestic battery for his involvement in the incident, according to ESPN. The outlet reports that nearly 24 hours after his arrest, he was let go from the Miami Dolphins. Lozada officially filed for divorce days later, saying the union was "irretrievably broken," according to TMZ. "Given the recent events that have taken place, Evelyn has decided to file for divorce and move on with her life," Lozada's lawyer, Michael B. Gilden, told the "The Insider" at the time, via CBS News.

Following the alleged head-butting incident with Evelyn Lozada, Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson avoided jail time but was sentenced to 12 months' probation and a batterer's intervention program, according to a sentencing video obtained by TMZ. In addition, a no contact order forbid the athlete from seeing Lozada for the duration of Johnson's probation.

In 2019, Lozada addressed her relationship with Johnson and revealed that she surprisingly does not harbor any ill feelings about their marriage. She told Page Six that despite their tumultuous relationship she doesn't "have an ounce of hate" towards Johnson. "I am cool with Chad," she told the outlet. "We don't phone each other all the time, but if I see him I don't have one ounce of hate in my heart for him."

However, the peaceful front was short-lived when Lozada blasted Johnson after he addressed their breakup online. Johnson tweeted, "Sis, i lost my temper for three seconds years ago & it cost me a lifetimes [sic] worth of work in less than 24hrs." Lozada, infuriated by Johnson's recollection, released a tearful video on Instagram blasting her ex for his tweet. "For this man to sit up there and say that he lost his temper for three seconds is infuriating to me." Lozada explained, adding, "It wasn't the first time. One of the things that I'm always gonna do is live in my truth, whether it's good, whether it's bad, whether it's ugly." For the famous exes, their story has definitely been the latter.

If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.