For fans of Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, the past year has brought a new twist to the ever-dramatic lives of the 90210 elite: Erika Jayne, long known for her glamorous persona and turbulent divorce from Tom Girardi, has found herself at the center of a new romance. The man in question? John “Shrek” McPhee, a retired U.S. Army Special Operations Sergeant Major who now works in private security. Their relationship, which first surfaced in the summer of 2025, has since become the talk of both the show and pop culture circles.
It all began rather quietly. According to TV Insider, Erika Jayne was spotted in July 2025 holding hands with a mystery man, later identified as John McPhee, during what was supposed to be a low-key outing. For Jayne, who had been single since filing for divorce from Girardi in 2020, this rare public display of affection was a notable shift. The paparazzi photos that captured this moment quickly circulated, setting off a flurry of speculation and excitement among fans and castmates alike.
The intrigue wasn’t just about who Erika’s new companion was, but also how unguarded she appeared. On the January 8, 2026 episode of the RHOBH After Show, cast member Bozoma Saint John remarked, “I am shocked that Erika is, like, [in] public, outside holding hands with somebody with no makeup on — and not an outfit!” Dorit Kemsley echoed this sentiment, noting, “She looked happier than I have ever seen her look — ever.”
Kyle Richards, a longtime friend and fellow housewife, saw deeper meaning in Erika’s relaxed demeanor. “The fact that she would be, like, no makeup and her jeans and just casual like that, she felt comfortable in her own skin. And that, to me, told me something about him,” Kyle said. Even John’s choice of socks drew lighthearted commentary, with Kyle joking, “If someone is turning a blind eye to a pair of socks, that's love.”
But who is John “Shrek” McPhee, the man who has seemingly swept Erika off her feet? As reported by TV Insider, McPhee is 54 years old—the same age as Erika—and brings a distinctly different background to the table. After retiring from the Army in 2011 as a Sergeant Major in Special Operations, McPhee shifted gears to work in private security, currently serving as part of Heidi Montag’s security team. He’s also the godfather to Montag’s son, Gunner, and runs his own company, Sheriff of Baghdad, which provides tactical training and merchandise to civilians, law enforcement, and militaries worldwide.
Erika’s first encounter with McPhee was hardly a scripted reality TV moment. She met him backstage at London’s Mighty Hoopla festival in 2025, where she introduced herself as a fan after recognizing him from a podcast. “I saw him on a friend of mine’s podcast and I thought, ‘Wow, that’s an interesting interview,’” Erika recounted. Approaching him after her performance, she said, “Hey, my name is Erika and I’ve seen a couple podcasts. I’m a fan.” From there, a spark was lit.
Their romance, however, was still in its infancy when the world found out. Erika explained on the Diamonds in the Rough podcast in July 2025, “I met someone, and we went out on two dates, and then we went to get a manicure-pedicure.” She added, “What was a nice, private moment and a nice, private thing I was having for myself was ruined.” Despite the unexpected exposure, Erika described McPhee as a “nice man” and said she felt “comfortable” holding his hand in public. “I enjoy my time with him,” she affirmed.
By December 2025, Erika confirmed in interviews that she and McPhee had been dating for six months, meaning their relationship began around June 2025. Yet, despite the growing buzz, Erika made it clear she was keen to keep this romance out of the Bravo spotlight. As she told Us Weekly, “No one’s met him, and I kind of like it like that because I like him, and I know how bad these things are for your relationship. Like, I’ve gone through too much on this. Like, I think I need, you know, I would like to keep that relationship special and over here if I could.” She also revealed that McPhee has “never seen the show” and doesn’t “know anything about it.”
Interestingly, some of Erika’s closest friends and fellow housewives were kept in the dark as well. During the RHOBH After Show, Dorit Kemsley and Bozoma Saint John appeared surprised to learn that Erika had confided in Kyle Richards before the photos were made public. Kyle admitted, “She told me about him before the picture came out and before anyone knew. She was definitely smitten.”
Erika’s approach to this new relationship reflects lessons learned from her past. Still legally married to Tom Girardi, whose legal and health troubles have played out publicly, Erika has faced her share of scrutiny. Girardi, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and dementia in 2021, was sentenced to seven years in prison in June 2025 after being convicted of wire fraud. As Erika explained on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen in December 2025, “It’s very difficult to get someone who’s incompetent to divorce … I have to ask the conservator. It’s just not that easy.” Girardi’s brother, Robert, serves as his conservator, further complicating the process.
Given this backdrop, Erika has been candid about her reluctance to remarry. On the RHOBH After Show, she reflected, “I don’t want to give anybody these problems.” For now, she’s content to enjoy the present with McPhee, telling viewers, “I still see him, and he’s great. And I’m having a great time.” As for whether McPhee will ever make a full-fledged appearance on RHOBH, Erika has remained noncommittal, though he did show up briefly in the Season 15 trailer via FaceTime.
For the other Housewives, Erika’s new romance has been met with enthusiasm and support. Jennifer Tilly, who appeared on the After Show, summed it up with a smile: “She looks happy, she’s dressed down. I thought he looked like a good guy for her. Maybe not Mr. Right, but totally Mr. Right Now.” Amanda Frances, another cast member, was equally approving, saying, “He had masculine energy, and I just felt like I loved it for her, because she seemed relaxed.”
As Season 15 of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills continues, fans will no doubt keep a close watch on Erika Jayne’s evolving love life. For now, it seems, she’s found a little happiness away from the glare of reality TV cameras—at least as much as one can in Beverly Hills.
