'Bold and the Beautiful' star Ashley Jones' estranged husband denies domestic violence allegations, says she 'physically assaulted' him
Months after 'Bold and the Beautiful' actress Ashley Jones was granted a restraining order against estranged husband Joel Henricks after she alleged that he was physically violent toward her throughout their relationship, he has responded to the allegations.
In a lengthy written declaration on Monday, November 18, and obtained by People magazine, Henricks denied the allegations and made his case for the removal of the September 6 restraining order, which required him to stay at least 100 yards away from his estranged wife.
He said that he never “threatened or caused harm” to Ashley and accused the mother of his 3-year-old son Hayden of being a “master of manipulation”, terming her attempt at a restraining order “a custody tactic, plain and simple.”
“Being alienated from my children by this TRO has put me in a living hell, and that is exactly what she is using it for — not for protection or out of ‘fear.' I offered to remain friendly with each other during this process,” he wrote. “This matter could have been settled civilly and in private had she chosen to do so, but she has declined, jeopardizing not just my mental health but, more importantly, the mental health of two little boys.”
The couple got married in 2016. Henricks also has another son, Huck, from a previous relationship.
He categorically denied being physically violent toward his estranged spouse or having suicidal thoughts. "I have NEVER caused her physical harm or touched her in a harmful way... I have never attempted suicide... I have two children that I adore and would never consider taking my life,” he wrote in the declaration.
In fact, Henricks claimed that it was Ashley who “physically assaulted” him several times during their relationship, even leading to an arrest on a domestic violence felony charge on August 22, just days before she obtained a restraining order against him.
Regarding her allegations that Henricks “was drunk” and “twisted my hand and threw me to the ground" in her divorce filing, which was also obtained by the same publication, the distraught husband claimed, “Ashley’s hand was fractured as a result of her attacking me with it."
He also went onto claim that Ashley “physically assaulted” him on August 16 after a discussion about having a second child together. He alleged that she “became extremely angry” after he said that he was “not ready” to have another child.
“[She] told me that if I did not agree to participate in IVF and give her a baby girl she would take ‘full custody’ of our son, Hayden,” he wrote.
A rep for Ashley told People on Wednesday: “Ashley categorically denies the allegations made in this matter. The restraining order was reissued today, remaining intact and in full force.”