A judge ruled today that actress/comedienne Sherri Shepherd is in fact the mother of the 8-month-old son born via a surrogate. Shepherd’s ex-husband, TV writer Lamar Sally, and Jessica Bartholomew, the surrogate hired to carry their son, Lamar Sally Jr., took the TV personality to court for financial support because she refused responsibility.
Genetically, Shepherd is not related to LJ, who was conceived through IVF with egg donor (Bartholemew) and her estranged husband’s sperm. Shepherd signed the surrogate contract when she was legally married to Sally. But, she argued her ex defrauded her into having a child so he could get child support, and that he had premeditated filing divorce.
According to People, Craig Bluestein, a legal representative for the baby, cited a clip of Shepherd “expressing excitement over her and Lamar going to have a baby through the help of a surrogate carrier with no genetic connection.” This may have been the nail in the coffin.
He adds, “I feel very good. I think little LJ, who is not yet 1 year old, needed some protection. Justice was served today.”
Shepherd did not appear in court for the ruling.
