Inside Joe Francis' Relationship History
Joe Francis' list of exes and purported hook-ups reads like a who's who of Hollywood. Still, as is often the case with Francis, it's difficult to sort fact from fiction when it comes to his relationships. The entrepreneur shot to fame in 1997 courtesy of his hugely problematic "Girls Gone Wild" videos. GGW reportedly grew to become a $100 million a year empire (via The New York Times). However, Francis was soon battling a never-ending slew of civil and criminal cases.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Francis has been found guilty of false imprisonment, tax evasion, defamation, contempt of court, and assault causing great bodily injury. He's pled no contest to felony child abuse and misdemeanor prostitution. GGW also became a legal quagmire because several of the "college girls" featured drunk and half-naked in videos were actually underage. In 2013 the company filed for bankruptcy — in a bid to stop the Las Vegas Wynn Resort from seizing Francis' assets to pay off gambling debts that he'd racked up.
Francis fled south of the border to hide away in his luxurious Mexican estate. However, as per The Sun, he was arrested for domestic violence in August 2020. Francis allegedly violently attacked his baby momma, told her he had COVID, then spat in her face so she'd contract it too. Hose yourself down with Lysol, because we're taking a dive inside Joe Francis' relationship history.
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.
Joe Francis left Tara Reid mortified
In the early 2000s, Tara Reid earned herself more of a reputation for hard partying than acting. The Hollywood it-girl went from A-lister to tabloid staple as her love of partying increased — eventually resulting in Reid landing the hosting gig on E! TV's "Wild On" travel show. She was literally a girl gone wild, so it's a little surprise she eventually collided with Joe "Girls Gone Wild" Francis. Although Reid managed to stay off-camera, she allegedly made it into Francis' bed in 2003 — or so the lusty lothario claims.
Proving that gentlemen never tell, the decidedly ungentlemanly Francis spilled the tea about their alleged tryst during an interview with Howard Stern (via The Hollywood Gossip). He declared Reid the recipient of the "worst boob job" (the star sadly suffered botched liposuction and breast augmentation surgeries in 2004). Francis critiqued her bedroom performance skills, claiming she "pretty much" lay there and did nothing. He wasn't finished there, though, oh no. "Well I only used protection with her, so maybe that made it less pleasurable," he conceded (as per OhNoTheyDidnt). Francis went on to share further details but they're not fit to print.
Not surprisingly, Reid was mortified. According to Page Six, Tara immediately attempted to flee when she spotted Francis at the 2007 Clive Davis' pre-Grammy party. "Hey, Tara! Hey! Over here! Hi!" Francis reportedly yelled after her. "Get away from me! Never talk to me again!" Reid responded.
One or more nights in Paris?
According to Elite Daily, Joe Francis and Paris Hilton were hooking up in 2003. Sadly, for Francis, when it came to Hilton, it was all over in a flash, but that doesn't mean she didn't make a lasting impression on him. Paris had just hit the big time thanks to her hugely successful reality show, "The Simple Life," when she briefly dated Francis. "Paris is indomitable," he told People, admitting she's "a handful" and that, "You can't date Paris seriously without drama."
Drama is something Francis appears to relish. There are multiple rumors he's behind the leak of another Hilton sex tape — that followed in the footsteps of "One Night in Paris" — the infamous 2004 XXX video staring Hilton and then-boyfriend Rick Salomon. Francis plays coy though when questioned about his involvement.
According to HowardStern.com, "Joe claimed he wasn't happy that the Paris tapes were released, but both Howard and Robin thought he was behind their release. However, Joe promised that wasn't the case and was planning on suing the tapes' distributors." Francis wasn't so bashful when it came to evaluating Hilton's bedroom skills, however, and she definitely fared better than poor Tara Reid. Francis claimed Paris was his best sexual conquest ever. He encouraged people to see for themselves by watching the video (which he insists he had nothing to do with). Meanwhile, as per NBC, Hilton denies ever even dating Francis.
The stiletto queen with a love of bad boys
There's no questioning Tamara Mellon's excellent taste in shoes, but when it comes to men, the jury's out. As per Page Six, Mellon was the co-founder of Jimmy Choo, which sold for a whopping $135 million in 2011. She went on to launch her own brand, which resulted in bankruptcy two years later. Despite being down, she definitely wasn't out. "The way you come back, in my opinion, is, don't try and hide what you did," Mellon said during a Cannes Lions event. "You have to take responsibility, you have to be honest."
The "stiletto queen" also takes responsibility when it comes to her love of bad boys. As per Vanity Fair, in 1998, Tamara met her future husband, banking heir, Matthew Mellon. He was a super-rich, hard-partying rehab regular with a love of the dark side. He also had a paranoid, jealous streak, resulting in his arrest "on suspicion of phone-tapping and computer-hacking offenses." According to The New York Times, Mellon was cleared of all charges, but a highly acrimonious divorce battle followed.
As they duked it out in court, Tamara went on to date Joe Francis. "I adore him," she told Vanity Fair. Mellon appeared to know deep down that the producer wasn't one of the "good guys," despite insisting he was "misunderstood" by the public. "My mother always said if there's someone inappropriate within a hundred-mile radius, I will date him," she admitted. "That's the chink in my armor."
The rock royalty romance ended by reality TV tryst
Joe Francis and Kimberly Stewart dated in the noughties. The daughter of British rock legend Rod Stewart made enough of an impression to warrant an invite to Francis' luxurious Mexican hideaway. However, it soon transpired that Francis had his eye on another romantic prize.
Francis admitted he got up close and personal with Kourtney Kardashian during the trip, despite being with Stewart at the time. "Did I have sex with Kourtney on that trip? Yes. Did I have sex with Kim Stewart on that trip? Yes," he told Heather McDonald during an interview for her "Juicy Scoop" podcast (via Page Six). "Kim would sleep upstairs [in the mansion] and so I was sort of alone in my room and Kourtney would come keep me company," he recalled.
However, it seems Stewart was blissfully oblivious to Francis' flirtations. According to The New York Post (via Female First), she actually ended their relationship because she believed he'd betrayed her close pal Paris. Hilton had just started dating Stavros Niarchos when the couple was snapped frolicking on the beach of Francis' Mexican estate. "Kimberly said that Joe always does this. He invites people to his island and then rats them out to the paparazzi, so his place looks like it's so hip," a source told the Post.
Keeping up with Kourtney Kardashian
Joe Francis' relationship with the Kardashians goes way back. He's even rumored to have been the person who persuaded Kim Kardashian to make a sex tape as a way to achieve stardom. In his book, "Kardashian Dynasty" (via ShowBiz Spy), author Ian Halperin claims that Francis used Paris Hilton's XXX video success as an example. And he encouraged Kris Kardashian to broker the tape's "leak."
But, before he was working on making Kim famous, Francis was working on making her big sister his girlfriend. During Heather McDonald's "Juicy Scoop" podcast (via Page Six) Francis admitted that he first got with Kourtney during a Mexican vacay while still dating Kim Stewart. After revealing he had sex with Stewart and Kardashian (separately), he announced that Kourtney would "keep [him] company" while Stewart slept upstairs. Francis also shared that the couple went skinny-dipping in the evening. Francis claimed that Kourtney ended up spending too much time in his room though, so he offloaded her onto Scott Disick, who was also along for the trip.
According to Francis, Kardashian was none too happy to be palmed off with Disick. He claims she wrote him a note saying, "[Scott] is the biggest d****bag ever. I hate you for trying to make me go with him." Clearly, Disick managed to work his charms, however. After a short period of dating Francis, Kardashian ended up with Disick, having three kids together.
LiLo alleged booty calls
As Joe Francis' notoriety (and bank balance) continued to skyrocket, it was inevitable that at some point, he would cross paths with Lindsay Lohan. And so it was in 2007 when the two — allegedly — hooked up. The couple was caught on camera looking decidedly cozy, holding hands, at the Genetic Denim's One-Year Anniversary event. And then again, cuddling, cheek to cheek at Joe Francis' birthday blowout at Six Flags Magic Mountain.
As per Popsugar, Francis and Lohan were also spotted together in Miami, hoovering up the freebies at several Golden Globes gifting suites. They were reportedly planning a romantic getaway to Francis' Mexican hideaway. Which, it appears, wouldn't be the first time they'd soaked up the Punta Mita sunshine together. Jezebel obtained a photo of a note Lohan left in the estate's guestbook, where she vowed to return for more future shenanigans. "Joe: I love you, marry me? I know you love 18 yr olds. No, but seriously, thank you so much," LiLo wrote. "Everything was amazing and you were a fu**in' great host. I'll be back to torture ya. Love always, Lindsay. P.S. Wear a condom Joe & keep your tongue in your mouth. La La Loo."
During his now-infamous Howard Stern interview (via MTV) where he critiqued his past conquests, Francis gave LiLo a lukewarm review. "[Paris] is amazing in bed," he opined. "Yes, she's better at it than Lindsay Lohan!"
Girl gone wild turned love after lockup
Joe Francis and Amber Hay dated for two years. As per ModelWorth, Francis met the Hawaiian-born model during a 2006 "Girls Gone Wild" shoot. During their time together, Francis spent a year in jail on child abuse and prostitution charges, stemming from a 2003 criminal case where he was accused of filming underage girls in Panama City Beach.
Hay decided to stand by her man, though. According to The Ledger, she was at Francis' side in March 2008 when he pleaded "no contest to one count of felony child abuse and two counts of misdemeanor prostitution." Francis was grinning as he walked out of court a free man. "I have never committed any crime. I pleaded guilty just to get out of jail," he insisted. "A few corrupt individuals were able to keep an innocent man in jail for 11 months."
Despite the couple's romance falling to pieces, it appears they managed to maintain their working relationship. Hay featured in Francis' 2010 reality special "The Search for the Hottest Girl in America." As per IMDb, "Viewers visit the GGW offices, attend photo shoots and ride along aboard the Girls Gone Wild tour buses with the Girls Gone Wild cameramen to meet thousands of girls across the country who are willing to do whatever it takes to win the coveted title." Sadly, Hay lost out to 24-year-old Abbey Lauren Wilson of Oklahoma City (via GGW Brands).
If you or someone you know may be the victim of child abuse, please contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or contact their live chat services.
The marriage that was never really a marriage
When it comes to Joe Francis and Christina McLarty, there's a grey area. They definitely dated for four years from 2006. Also, as per the Daily Mail, the couple enjoyed a "lavish November wedding, which took place at Francis' Punta Mita estate in Mexico." It's also true they called it quits just weeks later. McLarty subsequently married David Arquette and had two children with him (via People). But, the grey area is whether Francis and McLarty were ever actually married or not.
Radar was first to report the couple's split. "Joe Francis' wife moved out, and they might be getting a divorce," a source said. Francis' rep initially denied the story, but Radar insisted McLarty had moved "into her mother's house." Francis eventually confirmed the report. "After careful and thoughtful consideration on both our parts, Christina and I have mutually decided to end our relationship," he said in a statement.
"We entered into our relationship with love, and it's with love and kindness that we leave it. We wish each other the best for the future. There was no divorce, and there will be no divorce because the couple was never legally married," the statement concluded. According to Page Six (via Today), Francis and McLarty chose a civil partnership instead of a legally binding one because "they didn't feel it was right to get married when their gay and lesbian friends don't have the same legal rights to do so."
A romance with his baby momma sparked a bitter custody battle
Abbey Wilson is Joe Francis' longest relationship to date. According to The Hollywood Reporter, they met in 2008, weeks after she arrived in Los Angeles. They started casually hooking up, but Francis was dating Christina McLarty at the time, who he went on to #MarryNotMarry. Things became serious after he and McLarty split, and the couple took their hookup to the next level.
Wilson quickly learned that life with Francis is an emotional — and legal — rollercoaster. As per Daily Mail, in 2011, Francis was "indicted by a grand jury" over alleged failure to pay a $2.5 million gambling debt. In 2014, as Francis' legal battle intensified, the couple announced they were expecting twins. "We chose to have girls," Francis told Us Weekly. "I believe people will finally understand my love, respect, and admiration for women. I love girls."
Francis and Wilson were soon forced to flee to Mexico after an arrest warrant was issued for him (via CNN), and the fugitive father announced his twins' arrival via his blog. But, things began to take a dark turn. As per The Sun, Francis was arrested for domestic violence in August 2020 after allegedly assaulting Wilson. A bitter custody battle was immediately launched. In court papers, Wilson claimed that Francis had "started using drugs, including methamphetamines, cocaine, and painkillers," allegedly resulting in violent outbursts. Francis denies all of Wilson's allegations. "My ex-girlfriend just keeps making up things and lying and lying and lying," he told Page Six.
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.
The endless alleged hookups
It's really not that difficult to hook up in Hollywood when you're rich and famous. In Los Angeles, many hot, young women go weak at the knees for a dude in a ritzy ride. And back in his heyday, Joe Francis had a stable of costly cars. As per the Daily News, Francis had a Bentley Flying Spur and a Cadillac Escalade at his disposal — in addition to a fat wad of cash to make it rain wherever he went. So, it's no surprise he also had his pick of L.A.'s finest.
According to Ranker, Francis allegedly engaged in steamy trysts with U.S. actor Erin Naas, New Zealand-born model Kylie Bax, and fellow Kiwi Rachel Hunter, who was married to Rod Stewart for 16 years. Making her — somewhat creepily — the stepmother of Joe Francis' ex-girlfriend Kimberly Stewart.
The Daily Mail reports that Francis was also rumored to have hooked up with Australian radio host and singer – turned – "Bachelorette" Sophie Monk. In 2008, for a hot minute, the couple was photographed out and about together on numerous occasions. However, the Mail concedes that "In the past, Sophie has emphatically denied these rumors." Finally, the highly questionably-named website Shagtree.com alleges that Francis had a fling with model Donna Sun when she was 41. Apparently, Francis was 46 at the time — which would have made it around 2014, when he was living with Abbey Wilson in Mexico — so make of that what you will.