Reality TV stars may have to pay St Maarten $90,000 for busted marriage

Caribbean dream wedding turns into a nightmare as “Ev and Ocho” split, cancelling St Maarten promotion.

FLORIDA, USA, Friday August 24, 2012 – When 34-year-old NFL veteran Chad Johnson allegedly head-butted his new bride Evelyn Lozada, it cost him a lot more than his marriage.

The “domestic dispute” resulted in the loss of Johnson and Lozada’s joint reality television show "Ev and Ocho," which may cause the government of St Maarten to take legal action against the estranged couple.

Johnson and 36-year-old Lozada exchanged vows in a Caribbean dream wedding in St Maarten on July 4. The estranged newlyweds were reportedly given $90,000 by the government of that country after signing a contract that would ensure the island was featured in their VH1 reality television show, "Ev and Ocho."

The agreement flopped when the VH1 network released a statement about the cancellation of the show after Johnson, NFL veteran wideout, was arrested for allegedly head-butting Lozada following an argument over his purchase of contraceptives. After his hometown Miami Dolphins dropped the wide receiver from their roster, VH1 followed up with an announcement about dropping the couple from their schedule next month.

"Due to the unfortunate events over the weekend and the seriousness of the allegations, VH1 is pulling the series 'Ev and Ocho' from its schedule and has no current plans of airing it," the network said in a statement.

St Maarten’s government and tourism board had bargained on receiving publicity from the "Ev and Ocho" show, but now that it is cancelled the island’s Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams said that each member of the Council of Ministers is looking into the matter.

The government could take legal action to regain the money spent on the wedding for a couple that separated in less than two months.

"When someone is investing in business it's a risk they are taking and if something happens then they will have to deal with the consequences," Williams said in a news report.

"Naturally, we have a contract with Johnson and Lozada and that contract has some clauses inside of it and St Maarten will use those clauses if necessary." Click here to receive free news bulletins via email from Caribbean360. (View sample)