Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagicErika Girardiis back on the dating scene, but it has not been as easy for her as one may expect!The Real Housewives of Beverly Hillsstar — whofiled for divorce from husband Tom Girarditwo years ago — toldE!’s Daily Popco-host Justin Sylvester this week that being single in the spotlight has its downsides, explaining, “It’s hard because I don’t think people really know what to expect.“She went on reference the dangers of meeting strangers online, making a reference to serial killerJeffrey Dahmer. “I can’t get on an app,” Erika, 50, said. “What if Dahmer shows up?“The “XXPEN$IVE” singeralso described herself as “socially awkward” when it comes to the opposite sex. “I say how I feel and I realize men don’t like that,” said Erika. “They say they want a woman that’s forward but they really don’t.“When Sylvester jokingly replied, “No they’re scared of you,” Erika admitted he was right. “They are!” she said. “They actually told me, ‘I’m afraid of you,’ and I was like, ‘Why? I’m modern. I thought I was doing what women are supposed to do, which is speak your mind and say what you like and know.“Erika and Tom were married for 21 years before her filing in November 2020. She was previously married to Thomas Zizzo, with whom she shares26-year-old son Tommy Zizzo.Shortly after submitting the paperwork for her divorce from Tom, Erika found herself entangled in his ongoing legal issues, includinga lawsuit accusing both of them of embezzling moneyintended to go to Boeing plane crash victims’ families. (Erika has repeatedly denied having any part in Tom’s legal controversies.)At the same time, Tom’s health has been declining. Amid his battle with dementia and late-onset Alzheimer’s disease, the 82-year-old wasplaced under a temporary conservatorshipin February 2021 that wasmade permanentthat July. He is currentlyliving in a “skilled nursing facility"where he is receiving 24-hour care.While their divorce has yet to be finalized. Erika said earlier this year thatdissolving her marriage is not currently a priority.Erika and Tom Girardi.Jerritt Clark/Getty; Steve Eichner/SipaNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.As for how she is handling her new normal, she told E!‘sDaily Popthat she’s focused on remaining present.“Last year I was waking up with this hopeless feeling,” she recalled. “There’s a lot of sadness still here, but there is happiness in the form of having some fun with some friends, having some sex, and just trying to stay in the moment and not in the past.“When asked what she enjoys now, she said it’s all about a fresh start. “What I like the most is that I’ve have the chance to completely start over and be free from over a 20-year marriage and kind of wipe the slate clean in a way,” she said.“It’s my life to rebuild,” Erika added. “In that way it’s a lot of opportunity but also it’s scary at the same time…I don’t really know what I’m doing. I’m just out here trying to make it happen.”
Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Erika Girardiis back on the dating scene, but it has not been as easy for her as one may expect!The Real Housewives of Beverly Hillsstar — whofiled for divorce from husband Tom Girarditwo years ago — toldE!’s Daily Popco-host Justin Sylvester this week that being single in the spotlight has its downsides, explaining, “It’s hard because I don’t think people really know what to expect.“She went on reference the dangers of meeting strangers online, making a reference to serial killerJeffrey Dahmer. “I can’t get on an app,” Erika, 50, said. “What if Dahmer shows up?“The “XXPEN$IVE” singeralso described herself as “socially awkward” when it comes to the opposite sex. “I say how I feel and I realize men don’t like that,” said Erika. “They say they want a woman that’s forward but they really don’t.“When Sylvester jokingly replied, “No they’re scared of you,” Erika admitted he was right. “They are!” she said. “They actually told me, ‘I’m afraid of you,’ and I was like, ‘Why? I’m modern. I thought I was doing what women are supposed to do, which is speak your mind and say what you like and know.“Erika and Tom were married for 21 years before her filing in November 2020. She was previously married to Thomas Zizzo, with whom she shares26-year-old son Tommy Zizzo.Shortly after submitting the paperwork for her divorce from Tom, Erika found herself entangled in his ongoing legal issues, includinga lawsuit accusing both of them of embezzling moneyintended to go to Boeing plane crash victims’ families. (Erika has repeatedly denied having any part in Tom’s legal controversies.)At the same time, Tom’s health has been declining. Amid his battle with dementia and late-onset Alzheimer’s disease, the 82-year-old wasplaced under a temporary conservatorshipin February 2021 that wasmade permanentthat July. He is currentlyliving in a “skilled nursing facility"where he is receiving 24-hour care.While their divorce has yet to be finalized. Erika said earlier this year thatdissolving her marriage is not currently a priority.Erika and Tom Girardi.Jerritt Clark/Getty; Steve Eichner/SipaNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.As for how she is handling her new normal, she told E!‘sDaily Popthat she’s focused on remaining present.“Last year I was waking up with this hopeless feeling,” she recalled. “There’s a lot of sadness still here, but there is happiness in the form of having some fun with some friends, having some sex, and just trying to stay in the moment and not in the past.“When asked what she enjoys now, she said it’s all about a fresh start. “What I like the most is that I’ve have the chance to completely start over and be free from over a 20-year marriage and kind of wipe the slate clean in a way,” she said.“It’s my life to rebuild,” Erika added. “In that way it’s a lot of opportunity but also it’s scary at the same time…I don’t really know what I’m doing. I’m just out here trying to make it happen.”
Erika Girardiis back on the dating scene, but it has not been as easy for her as one may expect!
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hillsstar — whofiled for divorce from husband Tom Girarditwo years ago — toldE!’s Daily Popco-host Justin Sylvester this week that being single in the spotlight has its downsides, explaining, “It’s hard because I don’t think people really know what to expect.”
She went on reference the dangers of meeting strangers online, making a reference to serial killerJeffrey Dahmer. “I can’t get on an app,” Erika, 50, said. “What if Dahmer shows up?”
The “XXPEN$IVE” singeralso described herself as “socially awkward” when it comes to the opposite sex. “I say how I feel and I realize men don’t like that,” said Erika. “They say they want a woman that’s forward but they really don’t.”
When Sylvester jokingly replied, “No they’re scared of you,” Erika admitted he was right. “They are!” she said. “They actually told me, ‘I’m afraid of you,’ and I was like, ‘Why? I’m modern. I thought I was doing what women are supposed to do, which is speak your mind and say what you like and know.”
Erika and Tom were married for 21 years before her filing in November 2020. She was previously married to Thomas Zizzo, with whom she shares26-year-old son Tommy Zizzo.
Shortly after submitting the paperwork for her divorce from Tom, Erika found herself entangled in his ongoing legal issues, includinga lawsuit accusing both of them of embezzling moneyintended to go to Boeing plane crash victims’ families. (Erika has repeatedly denied having any part in Tom’s legal controversies.)
At the same time, Tom’s health has been declining. Amid his battle with dementia and late-onset Alzheimer’s disease, the 82-year-old wasplaced under a temporary conservatorshipin February 2021 that wasmade permanentthat July. He is currentlyliving in a “skilled nursing facility"where he is receiving 24-hour care.
While their divorce has yet to be finalized. Erika said earlier this year thatdissolving her marriage is not currently a priority.
Erika and Tom Girardi.Jerritt Clark/Getty; Steve Eichner/Sipa
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
As for how she is handling her new normal, she told E!‘sDaily Popthat she’s focused on remaining present.
“Last year I was waking up with this hopeless feeling,” she recalled. “There’s a lot of sadness still here, but there is happiness in the form of having some fun with some friends, having some sex, and just trying to stay in the moment and not in the past.”
When asked what she enjoys now, she said it’s all about a fresh start. “What I like the most is that I’ve have the chance to completely start over and be free from over a 20-year marriage and kind of wipe the slate clean in a way,” she said.
“It’s my life to rebuild,” Erika added. “In that way it’s a lot of opportunity but also it’s scary at the same time…I don’t really know what I’m doing. I’m just out here trying to make it happen.”
source: people.com
