Tari Eason‘s latest off-court drama sounds like it belongs in a reality TV reunion episode. Except this one involves a restraining order, alleged threats, and designer clothes that reportedly met an unfortunate date with bleach.
The Houston Rockets star has filed for a domestic violence restraining order against his former girlfriend, Marilyn Maritza Melo Rodriguez. According to a petition, Eason says the relationship ended badly and that he now wants legal protection.
And apparently, things got very ugly.
Eason alleges that Rodriguez punched him in the face. He also claims she damaged some of his designer clothing by pouring bleach on it. Yes, bleach.
Nothing says “we need to talk” quite like potentially turning an expensive wardrobe into a tie-dye experiment nobody requested.
Eason’s filing reportedly describes Rodriguez as someone he “used to date.” That wording is about as cold as it gets. No “my former love,” no “someone special.” Just “used to date.” Court documents really know how to remove the romance from a breakup.
The Rockets player also claims the situation became more serious when one of Rodriguez’s friends allegedly contacted him.
According to Eason, the friend told him that Rodriguez would “break both of my legs” and “kill me.” Eason says the alleged threats made him fear for his safety.
The NBA baller claims Marilyn‘s mother called him on one occasion and asked him to drive her home … and, after dropping her off at the home, he says a discussion turned violent when Marilyn allegedly “repeatedly struck me in the face with a closed fist.”
He says after he left her, Marilyn went back to his Airbnb where he alleges she “took all my clothes and poured liquid bleach on them, ruining them.” He claims she caused $92K worth of loss in personal property.
Tari is asking a judge to order Marilyn to stay away from him, his home, his work, his car … and any arena in California where the Rockets might play.
A source close to Marilyn tells TMZ … she disputes those portrayals and contends they are false, misleading, and intended to damage her reputation while diverting attention from her allegations of harassment and emotional distress. She maintains that these publications do not accurately reflect the events as she experienced them.
If Eason’s allegations are proven, this breakup may have produced one of the most expensive laundry disasters in basketball history.
But beyond the jokes, the alleged threats and physical violence are serious matters. The court will ultimately have to sort through the claims and decide what protections, if any, are appropriate.
Flip the pages for Marilyn Melo.
