'Real Housewives' Sex Tape HALTED By Judge

PATERSON, N.J. — One of the stars of Bravo's television series "Real Housewives of New Jersey" went to court Wednesday to avoid getting a little more exposure than she wanted.

A judge granted Danielle Staub's request for a temporary restraining order to stop her former boyfriend Stephen Zalewski from releasing a sexually explicit videotape and images of her.

State Superior Court Judge Thomas F. Brogan also ordered Zalewski to produce all copies of the video and pictures of Staub, and he set a hearing for July 21.

Staub, 46, also filed a lawsuit against Zalewski seeking damages for invasion of privacy, defamation and infliction of emotional distress. She claimed she was unaware Zalewski was taping her and only found out about it when someone read her a Star magazine article in which Zalewski discussed the tape.

"It sickened me," Staub told the judge during the brief hearing.

Zalewski didn't appear in court, and a telephone message left Wednesday at his home in Lincoln Park, in northern New Jersey, wasn't immediately returned. It was unknown if he had retained a lawyer.

Outside court, Staub said Zalewski was trying to get back at her and her two daughters, ages 11 and 15, for her breaking up with him. She said the couple dated from May 2008 to December 2008 and Zalewski appeared briefly on "Real Housewives," which is described on Bravo's Web site as following "five of the most affluent Jersey Girls as they live lavish lifestyles and deal with all the drama that money can buy."

"This is about my kids," Staub said. "I'm a big girl. Do what you want to me. But you broke bread with my children. Don't do this to me. No adult should ever do this to a child."

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According to the suit filed by attorney Darren Del Sardo, Zalewski told Star magazine he was considering selling the videotape and images and said, "She cost me so much money, why shouldn't I make a few dollars?"

Del Sardo said the judge told him he would refer the case to the county prosecutor's office since videotaping someone involved in sexual activity without that person's consent is prohibited under state law.

Staub is one of five New Jersey women on the Bravo series, which premiered in May. Her bio on the show's Web site describes her as a newly single mother "whose history of celebrity hook-ups is one for the record books."

"Known for being brutally honest," the bio says, "Danielle enjoys pushing people's buttons and doesn't apologize for it."

A Bravo spokeswoman didn't immediately return a telephone message seeking comment Wednesday.

Outside the courthouse, passers-by called greetings to Staub, and a small crowd gathered around her to take pictures with cell phones.

"I like her. I like the fact that she's outspoken," said Cassandra Jordan, of Paterson, a devoted "Housewives" watcher.

Her daughter, Brenda Jordan, had some words for Zalewski: "I think he just needs to find something better to do with himself," she said.

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Associated Press writer Beth DeFalco in Trenton, N.J., contributed to this story.

Comments

[Fremon]

I was channel surfing and stopped at NJ wives episode as I had read an article saying this was about the best of the superficial series. I kind of liked this one as she is basically a tart and doesn't care who knows it. She is my kind of gal as apparently she thinks she's hot and is for a woman of her age. Not basically the kind of woman one brings home to mother but keeps on the side. The man she will eventually marry or the boyfriends she will have will be into sex and basically won't keep her around for any length of time. She will eventually become a cougar and have younger guys that again will be into sex and that will be it. Good luck to her as she ages further.

[MikeDarooky]

she is way too old to be a cougar.

[MikeDarooky]

She is post-menopausal. She is not a sexual being anymore. Post-menopausal = prepubescent.

[farmgirl10]

That's one of the dumbest posts I've ever read.

[Inhale2Exhale]

I guess she didn't disgrace her kids with her "history of celebrity hook-ups that are one for the record books."

[haval2]

First halt that show...the worst of all. this one is a lunatic and as hot as an ice brick.

[MikeDarooky]

He should just release the tape and say that someone hacked his computer weeks ago. She deserves it. Gold diggers deserve everything that happens to them. I wish he would come up with other ways to get back at her. Maybe she should have to buy the tape back from him. $1,000,000 and a little indentured servitude for her.

[merger]

Got get him, girl.

[VSamuels]

Anymore questions why our elected officials lack morals, just look at the unsavory things the corporate media chooses to sell.

[version]

These people are so from New Jersey!!!!

[inorbit]

She betrayed her daughters when she went on that show knowing she had a criminal past and that it would be exposed on the show.

[mzzanthrope]

Aside from what anyone thinks about Danielle, in this case, everyone is missing the real issue. This 26 yo guy lives at home with his mother, makes sex tapes for profit, and is very good friends with others on this show.

Doesn't that say something about his character and theirs, by association?

Doesn't his mother think that this is despicable behavior? Regardless of who Danielle is, and I am not a fan, doesn't anyone else think that Zalewski's actions are sleazy?

[DDBabyDiva]

I don't know what living with his mom has to do with anything. He still has loads of money, which is the ONLY reason that Danielle gave him the time of day in the first place.

[mzzanthrope]

Clearly he is not thinking or behaving like an adult or a 'real man', with reason and consideration of ramifications, and living at home with Mom partially explains why.
I wasn't excusing Danielle's behavior, but he is every bit the dog that she is, maybe more, for trying to capitalize on someone who clearly is not 'right' emotionally.

[MikeDarooky]

not as sleazy as Danielle's. She is a gold digger and nothing is as low and sleazy as that

[minty68]

How did she cost him money, as he alleges?

[MikeDarooky]

He took her on Dates, on trips, maybe even paid some bills. You know how those gold digging girls weasle money. He just wants it back paid in spades and he deserves it.

[bugsbonzai]

These useless, superficial, horrible people do not deserve national exposure. Get them off my set and off my news site, pronto!

[signwrite]

thank you, Judge Brogan, thank you, thank you, thank you........

[MikeDarooky]

What is wrong with this Judge? Gold diggers have no rights.

[robin50]

And here I thought the Orange County witches were bad. Actually they had some redeeming factors compared to what is put on TV now. Who in the world would anything to do with these snakes?

[robin50]

And here I thought this was desperate house wifes. I either watch TV too less or too much. It is summer the days are long and the reality shows are not done before 10PM. I never turn on the tube earlier than 10 PM.

[robotfog]

If the guy taped her without consent, he deserves whatever the D.A. does with him.

But, if she's lying and it's obvious she knew she was being recorded ( I can't believe I used the ancient term 'taped' earlier), then the tape should be released for the dozen people who are interested in seeing it.

[lydiajean]

she did give consent so I don't understand why she is crying.

[robotfog]

Sadly I used the term 'tape' again even after acknowledging it doesn't apply in today's world.

well, I guess some people are going to be seeing this woman, who was built on a surgical table, doing stuff that no one should see.

[unami]

“she was no longer a sexy young woman with a charmingly short fuse but a middle-aged termagant,”