LOS ANGELES – The ex-girlfriend of comedian Bill Maher has slapped him with a $9 million palimony lawsuit, charging she quit her flight attendant and modeling jobs because he promised to marry her and buy her a Beverly Hills home.
Ex-model Nancy (Coco) Johnson also claims the HBO “Real Time” host said he wanted them to have children and vowed to “take care of” her for the rest of her life.
The buxom beauty says Maher even wooed her by promising he would buy her the home where Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck lived.
Once she gave up her job and modeling aspirations in October 2003, Maher berated her with politically incorrect racial slurs, roughed her up and threatened to hit her with a hammer, according to the suit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court.
The suit also alleges Maher cheated on Johnson “with at least one other woman” while they lived together. The 17-month relationship ended in May.
Maher’s lawyer says the suit is the revenge of a scorned woman.
“This is a completely frivolous lawsuit filled with false allegations that is part of a pattern by Ms. Johnson to seek retribution since the end of their short relationship. Mr. Maher is looking forward to having this dismissed by the court,” said attorney Adam Streisand.
Johnson, who is African-American, alleges Maher demanded that she quit her Delta Airlines job and her modeling career so she could devote her time to him and furthering his career.
“He indicated that it would be beneficial to his career if they were seen together as a ‘power couple,’ socially and otherwise,” the suit says.
After she dumped both of her careers, “thereafter, Maher verbally abused Johnson by making insulting, humiliating and degrading racial comments to and about Johnson and others,” the suit says.
The suit doesn’t give any examples, but it does allege that at one Hollywood party, Maher yanked Johnson by the arm and caused “injuries to her neck and back.” When they got home, he threatened to hit her in the head with a hammer if she cheated on him, the suit says.
Johnson wants money to make up for her lost careers and pension plan and her pain and suffering, the suit says.