Jaleel White on Ex's Abuse Claims: "My Success Has Been Too Much for Her to Stomach"
Jaleel White
Jaleel White says his ex-girlfriend's allegations of assault are hurtful, but "par for the course."
See photos of Jaleel White on Dancing with the Stars
In a recent interview with Star magazine, White's ex Bridget Hardy claimed the actor verbally and physically abused her. "He pushed me into the toilet, and it broke," Hardy told the magazine.
White, who's best known for playing nerdy Steve Urkel on Family Matters and is currently a contestant on Dancing with the Stars, said the claims stem from child-custody battle the actor thought had been resolved. (The pair have an 11-month-old daughter.) White suggests that Hardy is trying to capitalize on his recent return to the spotlight.
"When you're doing well in life, it's par for the course certain individuals will try and knock you down," the contestant told People. "When the individual is also the mother of your only child it is particularly hurtful. Bridget Hardy has consistently shown a knack for timing throughout our child custody disputes. I guess my most recent successes have been too much for her to stomach. ... I'm assuming I have not received her votes these past Monday nights."
White also says he hopes to resolve the squabble in a way that won't further impact his daughter. "My only hope is that when my daughter Googles her parents one day in her future, she sees that her father acted with class and dignity when pressed to the fire," he said. "I ask for your sensitivity during this time, I can assure all of my fans this is only residue from a child custody matter."