Slade Smiley, Gretchen Rossi: Real Housewives of Orange County’s Jetsetting Deadbeat Dad?
“Who pays for school? That would be me, Daddy Warbucks. I want a sugar mama.”
Slade Smiley, March 10, 2008, Bravo survey posted on Slade Smiley’s MySpace page
It’s Season Five of the Real Housewives of Orange County and it looks as if one of the former reality “stars” of the show is set to make a reappearance. As we’ve yet to see the newest installments, we’re not quite sure in what form Slade Smiley will reappear: Gretchen Rossi’s “good” friend, new boyfriend, or Gretchen’s new “manager”.
On November 4, TMZ online published a report on “douche” Smiley, alleging Smiley owed almost $80,000 in child support for his two sons. TMZ ‘s got the goods on Smiley as they were supplied a letter to Slade’s ex-wife from California’s Department of Child Support Services which stated Slade Smiley was $77,356.75 in arrears in paying child support. TMZ reported the very sad fact that Slade had seen his 9-yr-old son Grayson, who suffers from an inoperable brain tumor, twice last year. Even more damning, Slade Smiley didn’t send the boy a birthday card.
Real Housewives of Orange County: DBKP Library of Articles
From TMZ:
Slade filed a request in L.A. County Superior Court two weeks after the DCSS sent the letter, asking a judge to lower the enormous child support bill because he says he’s unemployed and makes zero dollars. Slade’s rep tells us Slade has “jumped through burning hoops to take care of [his child's] well-being and health.”
TMZ has a link to the letter sent by the CA Department of Child Support Services, dated 10/08/2009. TMZ reported that Slade filed a request to lower child support “two weeks later” due to Slade being “unemployed” and that his rep claimed Slade “jumped through burning hoops” to take care of Grayson’s “well-being and health”.
We thought we’d take a look at the “burning hoops” Slade Smiley claims he’s “jumped through” in regards to taking care of Grayson and whether Slade qualifies for the title of Orange County’s Jetsetting Deadbeat Dad of the Year.
According to the website set up by Grayson’s mom, AmazingGray.org, on May 19, 2006, Grayson was diagnosed with Diffuse Fibrillary Astrocytoma:
What does this mean? Grayson has a primary brain tumor that developed from astrocytoma cells. Diffuse meaning it is what has been described as “sprinkling of cells or what looks like a sugar coating†throughout his brain, cerebellum and spinal cord.
Diffuse Astrocytoma is ranked as a grade II astrocytoma; with Pilocytic Astrocytoma features which is considered a benign variant with excellent outcome requiring surgery only. In contrast to this, this tumor is presenting as a malignant, diffusely infiltrating tumor and clearly does not fall under this simplistic category.
All Neurosurgeons we consulted with concurred that this tumor cannot be surgically removed.
Season one of The Real Housewives of Orange County premiered March 21, 2006, almost one month before Grayson’s diagnosis. In the first season, Housewife Jo De La Rosa lived with fiance Slade. Both of Slade’s sons were, at times, seen on the show. In season two, the show followed Jo as she “broke” off her relationship with Slade-who could forget Slade taking the license plate from Jo’s Mercedes-while Grayson was no longer on the show. Also in season two, Slade’s brief “hookup” with former Housewife Lauri Waring.
During the first season of Real Housewives Slade’s occupation was Assistant Vice President of United Title Company in Newport Beach after working ten years in the real estate industry. In a March 11, 2007, LA Times article Slade stated that he and Jo had signed up for Real Housewives because “it would be good” for his title company’s business.
From the LA Times:
LIKE his neighbors in Coto de Caza, Slade Smiley is used to making things happen. He co-founded a title insurance company, bought a home in the planned, gated community, invited his girlfriend, Jo De La Rosa, a student and loan officer, to move in and proposed they sign up for Bravo’s docu-soap “The Real Housewives of Orange County” because he figured it would be good for business.
The Times article noted that Smiley was a professional cyclist and model. Slade was quoted as stating “I always wondered what would have happened if I stuck with modeling”. Two months prior to the publication of the Times interview, the site, SladeSmiley.com appeared on the web.
Screenshot from Slade’s now defunct website, SladeSmiley.com
On January 9, 2007, the site, SladeSmiley.com (courtesy of the internet archive site Wayback Machine) appeared on the web. The site has since disappeared from the web. The site included Slade’s “resume”:
The “bio” was listed as “coming soon”, while the Gallery contained images which were no longer available. Even so, we found this image which may have been initially posted at SladeSmiley.com:
Then there’s Slade’s MySpace page, which, to date, contains info on Date My Ex and a blog post dated March 10, 2008, almost two years after his young son was diagnosed with an inoperable malignant brain tumor. In the blog post, Slade answered questions about his “life”. One question: “who inspired” Slade? You’d think one of the inspirational people in Slade’s life would be his son Grayson.
From Slade’s MySpace post:
Who inspires you?
1. Trump, Murdoch, Buffet and Gates
Another question: Slade’s “parenting motto philosophy”:
What is your parenting motto/philosophy?
I am very different with the kids because they are both different people. I guess the main motto would be due unto others as you would have them due unto you.
“Due unto others as you would have them due unto you“?
Also, Slade’s “ideal day”:
Describe your ideal day if you could do anything.
Late breakfast in Paris, a bicycle ride , message and a late lunch before resting and getting ready to go out for the evening.
And, Slade’s “life’s goals”:
I am still defining them. I have done so many amazing things in my life, I have learned its not the money that makes me happy. I am on this incredible journey right now with Jo and we are having a blast. We will have to see what the future olds. I just want to be able to take care of my kids and spend my retirement traveling around to manage the real estate I own all over the world.
The next question and answer Slade gave about his kids is both perplexing and illuminating.
How would your kids describe you (3 traits)?
Fun, but firm and very loving. I mean what I say so don’t push it. If you are kind and do what you are supposed to do I will give you the world.
Slade did state that his kids made him “happy”:
What makes you happy? My children, riding my bike and spending time with Jo.
The following two questions related to who paid the bills:
Who pays the bills? I of course pay all the bills.
Who pays for school? That would be me, Daddy Warbucks. I want a sugar mama.
On January 10, 2008, the site The Real EStalker posted that Slade had purchased a “unit in the much publicized and bally-hooed Eastern Columbia loft building” that was located in a “crappy” part of LA. And, that Slade had been trying to “unload” his Coto McMansion after the split with Jo. It was later reported that Slade’s Coto home had gone into foreclosure.
Another real estate “pro”, Gretchen Rossi, who, according to BravoFan.com met her now deceased fiance Jeff Beitzel when Beitzel was looking to buy a home in Orange County in 2005. At the time, Rossi was married to first husband Chris Rossi, whom she divorced in 2007.
On June 30, 2008, BravoTV aired a one episode special called, “Jo and Slade: The Break Up”. Slade and Jo’s new series, “Date My Ex: Jo & Slade premiered on Bravo July 12, 2008.
Last season, Real Housewives camera crews filmed Gretchen as she appeared as an “extra” in Jo’s music video. Also at the shoot, Slade Smiley, Jo’s “manager”. Slade was also seen at the Season Four final episode, escorting Jo to a Housewive’s barbecue “get-together”. By then, rumors had been begun to circulate across the web that Slade was Gretchen’s new boyfriend.
Slade’s “mug shot” following his arrest on a $10,000 outstanding civil warrant
On February 22, 2009, UPI.com reported Slade had been arrested on a $10,000 warrant for a civil contempt charge. The site, Jezebel had more details: Slade had been arrested due to failure to pay child support, and, that Slade had been arrested at the same address listed as Gretchen Rossi’s home. That according to one source, Slade allegedly had a “fake tag” on an unregistered car and that Slade’s driver’s license was suspended.
Remember, it was less than a month ago, after the state of California sent a letter to his ex-wife stating Slade owed almost 80,000 in back child support, Slade petitioned the courts to lower his child support because he was “unemployed”, and that, according to Slade’s rep, Slade had “jumped through burning hoops”?
Some of Slade’s “Burning Hoops”: yachts, shopping, fashion and award shows, and fun n the sun at Malibu.
On March 5, the OC Register published an account of Bravo’s red carpet A List Awards held the previous evening at historic Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. Included in the article, Slade Smiley, as Gretchen’s date.
On March 11, the site Backseat Cuddler posted the article ‘Real Housewife’ Gretchen Rossi & Slade Smiley Still Happy Together , that the “beautiful couple have been spotted out a number of places- on boats, at sporting events, and now shopping”.
On March 20, the site Gossip Center published photos taken earlier that week of Slade and Gretchen getting “cozy” on a yacht at Newport Harbor.
On April 8, 2009, RealTV posted a video of Gretchen and Slade attending a fashion show at LA Fashion Week where Slade stated “I’m Slade Smiley from the Real Housewives of Orange County and this is my “hot Housewife now”.
On July 24, Zimbio posted photos of Slade and Gretchen catching some rays at Malibu’s Silver Spoon Beach House.
On October 19, the site Ace Showbiz published a photo of Gretchen and Slade attending a premier of Astroboy.
In our last installment on the Real Housewives of OC, Real Housewives of Orange County: Romance for Gretchen, Evictions, New Housewife, and Jenna Says Goodbye, we reported that the New York Post had, back in April, cited inside sources at Bravo who were “skeptical” of the Gretchen-Slade “romance” and that Bravo hoped Slade would be “out of the picture” by the time filming for season five had begun.
We also reported on Gretchen’s purported $2.5 million settlement from her late fiance Jeff Beitzel’s estate. Beitzel, 54, succumbed to cancer September 13, 2008. A little over five months later, on February 22, 2009, Slade Smiley was allegedly arrested at Gretchen’s home for failure to pay child support.
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I dont live or sleep with Gretchen or Slade. Ex(es) always have mean things to say…..how many divorces are “hey i dont love you anymore but gosh lets stay friends….”
Slade’s ex has never been on the show….the only time ive seen anything of her is in GOSSIP columns.
who gives a crap what the two of them do. If Slade is using Gretchen…thats on her. From a previous season it was said that Gretchen has known Jo for 8 years, so that means that she has known Slade for quite awhile then too.
In the meantime, you never know what goes on underneath someone else’s roof when no one else is around..and its easy to not like certain people when tv makes certain people look like villians. (I personally cant stand Vicki, but again…dont know her except for what tv allows you to see)
if Slade isnt using her…great….
If Slade IS using her….she is a big girl and went into this with her eyes wide open.
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2 scumbag want a bees there 5 minutes is almost up he has to look at himself everyday in the mirrior and must day to himself what a piece of White Trash he is for not being there for his sick boy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Gretchen and Slade make Heidi and Spencer look like Brad and Angelina, what a couple of bottom feeders.
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Listen:
Slade is a dead beat dad, his sole purpose is to fine someone that can pay for his lifestyle he has become accustom to living. The poor woman he is currenlty envolved with should be aware, if she marries him, she will be responsible for his child payment current and past. Slade needs to make some changes and go back to work ASAP. Gretchen is independantly wealthly and she should make limits on what she spends her money on. It should not be Slade. A real man take care of his woman. He has notthing to offer. Not even good sense. Lust is Lust, Sex is Sex and Love is Love. I don’t see any of this in the relationship between Gretchen and Slade. He’s a bum and when she is down to her last dollar he will be gone.
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I stoped watching because I could not stand Vicki (you all are aware when her daughter told her she might have cancer creep of a mother she is Vicki says I have 125 agents coming here)….She should not talk about anybody after that…Low rent self centered scum. Tamara will not deserve even a mention at the scarlet ohara crying episode. Worst of all is she is lstening to a woman for advice who abuses her husband and it is all screwed up. I stopped watching any of those shows too much bs.
vki
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