Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City newbie Britani Bateman has been having a rough time following her divorce from her ex-husband John Scott Underwood.
Two days after her divorce was finalized in October 2023, Bateman filed a complaint for intentional tort alleging her ex became ‘very controlling and abusive’ toward her, as seen in court documents exclusively obtained by DailyMail.com.
The complaint is for intentional infliction of emotional distress since she believed she’s suffered ‘severe emotional distress’ during their six-and-half year marriage.
The RHOSLC star details the many alleged instances depicting his ‘controlling’ behavior, including ‘dictating what clothing, makeup, perfume, and other beauty products Britani could and could not wear or use, both in and out of his presence,’ and even allegedly dictating that she have sex with him multiple times per day.
In a statement to DailyMail.com, Underwood’s attorney Randy S. Keste denied Bateman’s allegations: ‘This is just one of many vexatious cases for which Ms. Underwood has had the impetuous, often making false and exaggerated claims. At least three prior cases which she was behind have already been dismissed.’
Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City newbie Britani Bateman has accused her ex-husband of became ‘very controlling and abusive’ toward her, as seen in court documents exclusively obtained by DailyMail.com
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Underwood’s allegedly controlling behavior extended to a requirement that Bateman should change her nail color and style to his specifications. She was also allegedly required to go to the gym every day and workout as he dictated.
When it came to her spending habits, Britani allegedly had to disclose ‘every dollar she spent outside his presence.’
In addition to her looks, John allegedly controlled who she spent her time with. ‘Britani’s relationships with her children and other family members have become more and more strained since she married John,’ the docs allege.
‘John prohibited Britani from having frequent contact with her children, family members, and friends. John found it unacceptable for Britani to focus her attention on anyone other than him.’
The housewife has two daughters from a previous relationship.
Britani, who was raised Mormon, had to ‘avert her eyes from any man in public,’ she claimed.
Behind closed doors, Britani alleged John required her ‘to submit to sexual intercourse on demand (sometimes several times a day) and prohibited her from ever complaining about it.’
He also insisted she ‘leave love notes for him around the house.’
John Scott Underwood’s ‘controlling’ behavior allegedly included ‘dictating what clothing, makeup, perfume, and other beauty products Britani could and could not wear…,’ and even allegedly dictating that she have sex with him multiple times per day
When it came to her spending habits, Britani allegedly had to disclose ‘every dollar she spent outside his presence’; pictured (L) on Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City
Furthermore, the business contractor forbade her from looking through his personal belongings including ‘his drawers, the safe, his truck, and his phone and computer screen.’
According to the filing, she had to ‘be the first to comment on any of his social media posts, and expected her to comment within the first few hours of the post being made.’
John allegedly kept a running list on his white board of all of Britani’s conduct that did not meet his approval, and he even installed cameras inside the home to ‘obsessively’ watch Britani and her children.
In ‘retaliation for Britani’s violation of John’s rules,’ John allegedly turned off Britani and her daughter’s phones. She noted that one time her daughter had to ‘sleep in her vehicle on a cold winter night’ because she was afraid he would return home.
‘John’s harassment was so frequent and pronounced that Britani’s daughter’s friends stopped coming over to the house.’
The docs continued: ‘John routinely yelled at Britani, berating her for not complying with his rules.’
At one point, he threw away several sentimental items of Britani’s as punishment.
Britani claimed she suffered not only emotional abuse, but also financial abuse during her marriage to Mr. Underwood.
‘John prohibited Britani from having frequent contact with her children, family members, and friends. John found it unacceptable for Britani to focus her attention on anyone other than him,’ Bateman’s complaint claimed; pictured (center) on RHOSLC
Britani, who was raised Mormon, had to ‘avert her eyes from any man in public,’ she claimed
She said that she earned an average of $150,000 each year for her production company prior to her marriage, but John forced her to sell her company because he wanted her to prioritize their marriage.
‘John’s paranoia, anger, insecurity, and abuse cost Britani several million dollars in lost income,’ she alleged.
John, at the time of marriage, ‘was in debt and receiving food stamps,’ she claimed. So, she paid off his debt and established several investment and savings accounts for him.
‘During the divorce proceedings, John has isolated Britani from any financial sources, even after the divorce court ordered a disbursement be made to Britani from the business account.’
The docs continued: ‘John siphoned a large amount of profit from the business for his own financial gain, depriving Britani and other members from their share. Britani would have received $250,000 if John had not siphoned money.”
Britani claimed that John wanted to make sure she had received ‘nothing,’ although she had continued to sell real estate to ‘earn some income.’
In terms of treatment, she claimed John is receiving treatment for his paranoia and explosive anger issues. Meanwhile, Britani said she’s receiving mental health counseling.
Britani is requesting an award of damages be determined at trial but ‘no less than $2.5 million.’ The complaint is labeled as a Tier 3 complaint in the State of Utah since damages are more than $300K and there is a complex amount of discovery and more time is needed for this particular case.
She accused her ex of financial abuse as well. Bateman said she made around $150K per year on her production company, but he allegedly made her sell it to focus on marriage
She accused Underwood of siphoning off money from family business to leave her with ‘nothing’ in the divorce
In John’s response to Britani’s complaint, he denied many claims, including that he ever abused her, had a very detailed set of rules and that he ever manipulated and controlled Britani.
John admitted that he shut off her phone, but it was because ‘while professing her love for him, she, without reason, ignored his calls and messages.’
He also denied that he controlled where she went. “Britani was always free to come and go as she pleased and did come and go on a whim. She always had her own car,’ he stated in the docs.
He denied that he had ‘paranoia, anger, insecurity and abuse.’
In terms of finances, he claimed she received at least $112,000 from the joint marital assets since March and denied that he ‘ever acted to ensure that Britani received nothing.’
In his response filing, he filed a counterclaim against Britani.
‘Britani was self-absorbed, materialistic, denigrating to John, talked down to John, exhibited passive aggressive behaviors toward John, was egocentric, manipulative and always critical of John,’ he wrote in his counterclaim filed at the end of October 2023.
‘She has and continues to slander John and damage his character, reputation, ongoing business relationships and prospective business relationships and associates. She has made false accusations of abuse against John and conspires with others to do the same.’
He says he ‘suffered severe or emotional distress’ as a result of her actions.
Britani filed her response to his counterclaim denying all allegations and requested that the Court dismiss his claims with prejudice.
The case is still ongoing and the last filing was in February of this year.
DailyMail.com has reached out to Britani and John’s attorneys for comment on this story.
Britani and John were married on July 7, 2016 and according to the docs, did not have any children together.
She claimed John is receiving treatment for his paranoia and explosive anger issues; pictured (center) on RHOSLC
The reality star filed for divorce from John on March 20, 2023, months before she filed the intentional tort complaint.
Many documents in their divorce have been sealed, except for a few including the decree, which was filed on October 2, 2023.
They were granted a divorce upon the ground of irreconcilable differences, and they were each awarded their own acquired assets, income, business and property interests.
Also, each party was entitled to an equitable share of any profits generated from the existing marital businesses projects, including Starwood Group, Pure Productions and Millcreek Builders.
Britani, who was introduced to the RHOSLC cast as Heather Gay’s friend, has already gotten off on the wrong foot while making some snide comments to Bronwyn Newport and Mary Cosby.
Mary and Britani went at it after the group completed a ropes course. Britani warned her, ‘Don’t you ever bring up my kids ever again because you know nothing.’
Bronwyn interrupted their back and forth, telling Britani, ‘Everything I’ve learned about you so far seems chaotic AF…You came in there hot and wild.’
Britani was dating Jared Osmond, the nephew of Donny and Marie Osmond, at the time the show was filmed. But their relationship was on-again, off-again and they had broken up at least 16 times, she claimed.
Britani is requesting $2.5M in damages. The case is still ongoing and the last filing was in February of this year
Jared, who was accused of flirting with Angie Katsanevas’ friend on Instagram, reportedly stated, ‘If you want to know the truth on our history, I have never walked away from her. I’ve always been steady, spoiled her over the last year. Paid for everything and have been a true gentleman.’
He added, ‘She is so damaged from her past relationships that she makes me out to be the bad guy… I need to date a stable woman.’
Britani and Jared have since broken up and the RHOSLC star recently said that she’s ‘single and ready to mingle.’
New episodes of the Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City air Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.