Exclusive: NJ Housewife Danielle Staub Says Ex Made Me "Fear for My Life"
Credit: Bravo
As Real Housewives of New Jersey fans know, star Danielle Staub has a complicated past -- one she says includes "domestic violence" at the hands of her ex-husband Kevin Maher.
"I was severely abused," Staub, 47, tells UsMagazine.com of her marriage to Maher. "I was in fear for my life. I was visibly bruised, injured, scared and victimized."
Staub writes about Maher (whom she wed in 1988) in her new memoir The Naked Truth.
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Featured prominently in season one of Real Housewives, Maher's own book, Cop Without a Badge, alleged that Staub was involved in kidnapping, extortion and drug use.
"The abuse started as soon as we were married," Staub tells Us. "He was very possessive...I was hospitalized several times. There is no way to describe how it feels to not have a safe place to go."
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In October, Maher sued his ex-wife for $5 million over accusations she's made about him. "I can't talk too much about Kevin because I'm in court with him," Staub explains. "It's a really big case. "
Staub says there was "a lot of physical abuse, and then the emotional abuse that follows...We are talking days and days in a row before he was exhausted, or ran out of drugs, whatever it was that he was on."
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Staub charges that her ex is still "obsessed" with her today, although they haven't seen one another in over a decade.
Yet the Bravo star concedes, "painful as it may be, Kevin was in my life for a reason. And for that I pray for him every day...I pray for everybody."
For his own part, Kevin Maher told UsMagazine.com that he's read excerpts from Staub's book and vehemently denies her accusations of abuse.
"Some of the things she has written...are just complete lies," Maher says. "This woman was never hospitalized by me." He says that he "never beat" or "attacked" Staub.
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"I did hit her. It's true," he admits, claiming that it was "in self defense, pulling her off me" during a 1989 incident.
"I want to help people," Staub tells Us. "So many women are being abused," she adds. Speaking out, she explains, is "about empowering women to [make] decisions to leave...I survived this; I'm not a victim anymore. I'm a victor."
To read more from our exclusive interview with Danielle Staub, pick up the new issue of Us Weekly, on stands Wednesday.
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55Then Dirty Danielle should take the lie detector test! Like Steve's law suit against this old woman, she made him look like a sleaze, when it is her that is low down liar! Karma is a b, when you tell lies on TV then you are wide open for the men to defend themselves. Cocain addict that the judge ordered for her to get clean. What an idiot to spin your life this way on national tv!
Danielle is such a waste of video. She has a trashy, conniving way of life. "Poor" little her and her "goon" squad. What are they protecting her from? Maybe the girls DAD should consider taking them away from Danielle and the company she chooses to be associated with. Are the "goons" around the girls,too? Sell something if you are having $$$ problems.Maybe give up the nail salon, drinking,downsize that car and try cooking like a real HOUSEWIFE does. You are another one that is NO LONGER A HOUSEWIFE...JUST ANOTHER DIVORCEE looking for someone else to pay your way and invite yourself to dinner parties, celebrations,fund raisers you HAVE NO $$ to give,but want to be seen. She's an opportunist to take advantage.
Danielle is such a waste of video. What a trashy character she is & role model for young girls...NOT!!! She looks for trouble & stirs some up if all else fails. Take her off the show along with her "goons". Danny starting to undress in the middle of a man's store. Did someone have to help him button his shirt,too? Where's he going to wear a suit? Her "X" ought to take her to court & set the record straight. She probably owes him more than he owes her. Just take care of your kids, man & maybe take the opportunity to take them away. Danielle discusses issues with those young girls that they should not be involved in. Does she take her "goons" around these young girls. I bet MRS. G. about fainted when she found out she was being escorted by an ex-con felon. What class! Watch your purse MRS. G...from Danielle and her "goons"!
Anyone who has watched this woman on the show knows she's a liar. Her ex-husband is suing her because of the lies she's told about him. Her ex has passed a lie detector test, this woman will NEVER pass a test! Bravo please take this disgusting woman off the show. What she did at the charity event for the sick baby was vile. The father of the baby says she only gave $10, yet two or three days after the charity event she's buying Danny a suit? How dare she say she had no money to give to the charity. Now another sex tape! Get her off the show!!!
This woman is one ugly troll inside and outside
This is one ugly woman inside and outside
I'm not a fan of Danielle - but it's disturbing to me that so many people think it's ok that she was abused and beat in her marriage. How would you other women like it if you were abused and everybody else said you deserved it?
Anyone who says that Danielle should be beat again should be ashamed of themselves. DOMSETIC ABUSE IS NEVER OK AND NEITHER IS THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF IT!!! That being said, Danielle I don't know what went on in your marraige, but from what I've seen of your character on a reality TV show that you chose to be on - I do not believe that you were abused. I think that you are trying to gain sympathy from viewers. If that is the case, I think you are dispicable and disgusting and yes GARBAGE in using such a serious matter for your own end. If it is true that you were abused in your marriage, then I'm glad you were able to get out and hopefully get some help.
She should do the world a favor and kill herself already. Another sad loser out of the way.
I feel so bad for her kids. Danielle/Beverly/Angela is so lonely and pathetic. She has no friends. Her kids are the only two sad souls who haven't rejected her, yet. Her neediness is written all over her skinny face. I want to puke all over her bony body and kick her in her emaciated stomach. I hope she drops dead from neediness soon. Hah!!
What about her daughters? As we know, she is not a good mother.
I love Teresa. Danille needs to beat again.
I don't think Teresa is ugly. Danielle is the ugly one. She needs help big time in the mental health department as well. Unless some MAJOR changes take place I'm sure her kids will run off as soon as they're old enough to get away from her. You can tell they can't stand being around her. She needs to try and quit seeking revenge on people and worrying about what others have done or are doing. I hope they get her off the show eventually because I would enjoy it a lot more without her. It's obvious she's an unhappy woman. Caroline may be opinionated but I don't see her going and chasing people down and acting all crazy and doing the things Danielle does.
This woman is truly a waste of air. How on earth could anyone condone what she does to her children, the way she behaves in public, on camera and in the press? She is not good for Bravo nor is she anything I want to hear or see. I would hope that she gets what she deserves but not at anyone else's expense. Malignant narcissist, pathological liar, unattractive on the inside and out and a total dis service to her children an an embarrassment to her family. How have her children been allowed to stay in her care the way she carries on? I would think their father would step in. This woman went over the edge a long time ago and should have stayed there. Disgusting
She's not the most likable persona, but meh, she's still not as stupid and homely as Teresa and vicious as Caroline. Those bi**hes should thank their lucky stars she's on the show with them, without her antics people would notice how horrible THEY are.
Dear Danielle, no one believes you. No one cares about YOU! You wouldn't know the truth if it hit you in your botox'd face! So listen up, PUHLEEZ - - get some help.
If she got beat she deserved it.
They need to take Danielle off the show. Does anyone like this woman? She's so self serving as well. Like having a party to celebrate her daughter yet it was all about her. Why not give her daughter the party? You know those girls are going to hate her when they grow up. She'll probably end up screwing up her daughter's modeling career. Sad situation. Don't understand why she's obsessed with the Manzo family either.
Clearly she needs lots of help and I feel for those two children. Danielle goes looking for trouble. Get a Life will you Pleeeeeease.
Danielle is needy, sad, pathetic, lonely, has no friends, a sociopath, a pathological liar, crazy, desperate, everyone hates her, and she is so dog ugly I want to puke. Her neediness is written all over that skinny, drawn face of hers. She is bony and disgusting.