The last year of Columbus Short’s life hasn’t been a crystal stair. The former Scandal star has had his fair share of troubles but is now speaking out about his issues and personal life.
In an interview with Access Hollywood’s Billy Bush, Short talks about his recent fight accusations as well as his marriage issues.
“The last three months, I have to say, have been one of the most trying times of my life. I think there’s a time when your personal life gets magnified by who we are as celebrities,” he told Bush. “I’ve always believed that the truth is good enough, like, sometimes the truth is ugly, right? And it’s good enough, but I think what happens in the media is they make grandiose versions of these stories.”
Short added, “But I’m here to say today that I’m still here, I’m focused, I’m grinding. Both of those two cases that you were speaking of earlier, those are dropped. So you know, one by one, it’s just like slowly but surely just chipping away at this thing.”
Short also said the tale of a recent fight over the holiday weekend between him and a bouncer isn't true.
“There was no fight. I was involved in no fight,” he said. “I was with a group of people that were eating, I went to the bathroom, I came back and there was an altercation ensuing when I came back. And me being [like], ‘Whoa, let’s break it up,’ it was a misunderstanding and I guess the cops thought I was someone involved in the situation. And then they grabbed me up, and by the time I was on the ground … I apologized to the officers later, [but] I said some pretty choice words [when] I was already in cuffs."
Bush was quick to point out that this wasn’t his first bar incident, so maybe it’s not so isolated. Short then addressed the issues he’s having with his estranged wife, Tanee Short.
“I’ll take ownership … me and my wife, we’re going through problems—serious problems,” he said. “However, the domestic part of it, I’m not a physically violent man.”
Tanee Short filed for divorce in April, and according to court documents, Columbus Short threatened to stab her as he pinned her to a couch.
“I’ve never put my hands on a woman physically; I was raised by a woman,” he said. “I think people were hurt, feelings were hurt.”
Tanee Short filed for divorce once, then rescinded, then filed again.
“Your wife filed for divorce and got a restraining order,” Bush stated. “What’s the status there? Is the divorce going forward, and is the restraining order in effect now?”
“The divorce is going forward, there is a restraining order that’s in effect,” Columbus Short replied. “This thing is going to happen and it’s sad.”
Hopefully Short will eventually get his life back on track. We don’t want to have to nickname him Columbus “Can’t Get Right” Short.
Yesha Callahan is editor of The Grapevine and a staff writer at The Root. Follow her on Twitter.
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