Former professional wrestler Ric Flair is facing legal trouble after a North Carolina judge issued an order for his arrest.
According to the Charlotte Observer, Flair, whose real name is Richard Fliehr, is accused of failing to pay his estranged wife over $32,000 in spousal support. Court docs show that despite two court orders, Flair has failed to pay ex Jacqueline Beems $32,352.51. If the wrestling personality completes the payment, he can avoid jail time.
"The reason I didn't pay my ex-wife the 32 grand is because my son died and I was in the hospital for a month... with a blood clot. I didn't go to work for three months," Flair said, referring to the March death of 25-year-old son Reid who was found dead after taking a lethal combination of heroin and prescription drugs.
Beems filed for legal separation from Flair last summer, accusing the former wrestler of having "numerous intimate relationships with other women" during their marriage. She called the infidelity, which Flair denied, embarrassing and humiliating, according to the Observer.
Beems also ran into legal trouble recently for reportedly making harassing phone calls to Flair's current girlfriend, Wendy Barlow Kidder.
"My girlfriend is the mother of four and she has 50 texts and five [voicemails] from my ex-wife," Flair told the Observer.
Beems' attorney, Brad Smith, said the accusation is "unfounded and outlandish." Flair and Beems also battled legal issues in 2009. Three months after tying the knot, Beems was charged with misdemeanor assault for allegedly attacking Flair in their North Carolina home.
Flair later called the incident a misunderstanding and Beems was released from custody.
