Sherri Shepherd Posts Cryptic Tweet as 'Angry' Surrogate Speaks Out Against Her in First Interview
Sherri Shepherd posted a cryptic tweet about the importance of one's character on Thursday, after a woman claiming to be her surrogate spoke out against her.
The former "The View" cohost has been at the center of a surrogate baby scandal for the past several months as her estranged husband Lamar Sally, 43, claims she abandoned their surrogate baby before he was born when they separated in May.
The pair, who were married for three years before they parted ways last year, reportedly hired 23-year-old waitress Jessica Bartholomew to carry their child and she openly criticized Shepherd in her first TV interview which aired this week.
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"'Fame is a vapor, popularity an accident, and riches take wings. Only one thing endures and that is character.' Horace Greeley," Shepherd tweeted to her 700,000 followers following Bartholomew's interview.
Shepherd, 47, and Sally reportedly paid Bartholomew $30,000 to carry their baby, which was conceived using Sally's sperm, but not Shepherd's egg. However, when she was six months pregnant, the couple split and subsequently the comedian wanted nothing to do with the child.
Sally, who has been taking care of baby L.J. since he was born on Aug. 5, is said to be suing Shepherd for child support and alimony, however, she claims he defrauded her into signing the surrogate agreement.
Bartholomew is currently stuck in the middle of their bitter divorce and she is frustrated because Shepherd has not reached out.
"I am angry with Sherri because she never once contacted me to tell me what was happening. It was kind of like I was left out in the cold," Bartholomew told Inside Edition adding that if given the opportunity "I would ask Sherri why she did what she did – if she thought it was okay to do something like that …I just don't understand how she can act like this baby is nonexistent. It just blows my mind."
The couple, who met through mutual friends at a party, tied the knot in 2011 and Sally claims Shepherd insisted on having a baby from the very get go. She reportedly had trouble conceiving herself and ultimately they decided to use a surrogate.
Bartholomew claims that during her pregnancy, the former ABC host was enthusiastic about the baby.
"She would call up and check on me during the pregnancy in the beginning. At the 20 week appointment, she seemed very excited. She was going to see the baby for the first time…I didn't see any warning signs right away," she recalled.
Sally has applied for Medi-Cal, a program offering low-cost health coverage for children and adults with low income, to assist with his son's health issues and as a result the state reportedly reached out to Bartholomew for child support.
"I am now listed as a noncustodial parent in California. I have a child support case coming against me now," she said.
In Sept., Shepherd said there is more to the story than what has been reported in the media.
"Remember there is always more sides to a story than the 'exclusive' stories one person is selling for money to the tabloids," Shepherd allegedly wrote in a private message to blogger Sandra Rose. "Truth to come out unless you are of the same ilk as everyone else. God Bless."
Shepherd has a 9-year-old son from a previous marriage.
The Christian Post contacted Shepherd for a comment but she did not respond by press time.
