Chad Johnson is finally done fighting for his marriage.
A month after estranged wife Evelyn Lozada filed for divorce in Florida, the ex-NFL star — who changed his name to Chad Ochocinco for a time — submitted his own court documents, in which he admits the union is “irretrievably broken,” according to TMZ.
And that wasn’t Johnson’s only legal proceeding of the day.
The former NFL receiver entered a plea of not guilty on Thursday after being charged with misdemeanor battery for allegedly headbutting his wife during an argument on Aug. 11 at their Davie, Fla., home. “I wish all of you would come to court with me this morning… damn butterflies,” Johnson, 34, tweeted before his hearing.
The confrontation in question began when Lozada, a star of VH1′s Basketball Wives, found her husband’s receipt for condoms. Johnson was in Miami Dolphins training camp when the incident and subsequent arrest took place. The team immediately cut him loose, as did his reality star wife: Lozada — who was previously engaged to NBA player Antoine Walker — filed for divorce just three days later on Aug. 14. The couple had only been together one month at the time of the altercation.
“I would like to apologize to everyone for the recent events that have occurred,” Johnson said in a statement at the time of his arrest. “I wish Evelyn well and will never say anything bad about her because I truly love her to death. I will continue to be positive and train hard for another opportunity in the NFL.”
Now, after the Broward County, Fla. state attorney filed the charges against him, Johnson faces up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine if found guilty of the misdemeanor battery, according to the Los Angeles Times. The court could also require him to perform community service, serve probation or attend anger-management classes.
