Singer Nick Lachey has reportedly been ordered to complete an anger management class and attend Alcoholics Anonymous following an incident that took place in March of 2022.
According to a report published Monday by The Daily Mail, photographer Jody Santos was taking pictures of Lachey — and his wife Vanessa Lachey — as they exited Beverly Hills eatery Mastro’s Steakhouse, and the 98° singer approached her vehicle.
Santos kept the camera rolling as Lachey allegedly came closer, shouting profanities at her and reaching into the car, apparently attempting to grab her camera and her phone. She responded by rolling up the window.
“In all my years of photographing celebrities, no one has ever tried to hit me. I am just relieved that I rolled up my window as fast as I did, otherwise he would have knocked me out. No doubt about it,” Santos said, describing Lachey as behaving “drunkenly.”
“He then started punching the window. I thought he was going to break his hand; that’s how hard he was hitting the glass. I am surprised he didn’t shatter the window,” she added.
Santos filed a police report at the time, but she claimed that it was not until she suggested that authorities were giving Lachey “preferential treatment” that the wheels of justice began to turn.
“Finally they called me back and said, ‘No, he’s not getting preferential treatment’ and explained that they have a program with the courts where they don’t let misdemeanors just walk; they have to attend anger management classes and AA meetings,” Santos revealed, adding that Lachey was reportedly given a year to complete the requirements.
“He has to complete them within a reasonable time which is like a year or so. If he fails to do so, they will move forward to prosecute him with non-compliance and he will get arrested,” she said.
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Lachey acknowledged the incident at the time, claiming in a tweet that Santos had “harassed” him and admitting that he may have gone too far.
“Last night, after enjoying a great dinner with my wife and our dear friend, the paparazzi harassed us as we walked back to our hotel. I clearly overreacted. I’ve been in this game long enough to know that their antics are sadly part of the deal. Stupid of me. Done,” he said.
Last night, after enjoying a great dinner with my wife and our dear friend, the paparazzi harassed us as we walked back to our hotel. I clearly overreacted. I’ve been in this game long enough to know that their antics are sadly part of the deal. Stupid of me. Done.
— Nick Lachey (@NickLachey) March 28, 2022
According to Santos, however, Lachey has never apologized to her for the incident. “He’s had plenty of time to apologize, but instead he just figured I would go away. What he did was wrong. Attempting to bust his fist through my car window when all I was doing was taking photographs of him. He should have been thanking me for the free publicity. I mean, really. Talk about an oversized ego,” she said.
