When Kristin Cavallari and Jay Cutler announced their divorce, it looked like they might be gearing up to get ugly. There were rumors that Jay cheated with Kristin’s best friend. But the couple decided to play nice, at least in the press, and started posting positive messages and talking about co-parenting. Other than a few leaks about who they’re dating, we haven’t heard much, which is nice. Jay and Kristin have young kids so it’s always better to keep their mess private. But they’ve hit a wrinkle in their divorce proceedings. During their marriage, Kristin started the business Uncommon James, which includes jewelry, apparel, accessories, home items and now a beauty line. Now that they are parting ways, Jay, a retired football player, says he’s entitled to half of Uncommon James.
Kristin Cavallari and Jay Cutler’s divorce proceedings have stalled because the former NFL player wants a piece of her Uncommon James brand.
A source confirms to PEOPLE that Cutler, 38, is “fighting for half of the company,” which includes beauty, jewelry, home and childrenswear.
According to TMZ, which was first to report the news, Cutler believes he should get 50 percent ownership because the Uncommon James company was launched while he and Cavallari were married. Citing sources, the outlet reported that Cavallari is fighting to retain full ownership and says Cutler did not put any money into the company.
Cavallari, 34, and Cutler wed in 2013. She went on to launch Uncommon James in 2017.
There are several factors as to whether Jay is entitled to a cut of the business. Where the business and divorce are filed will dictate the laws of his claim, which his lawyer has already considered. So if he’s pursuing it, it would seem he at least has some case. Who paid for the business is huge and if any joint assets were used, then Jay probably does have a stake in the business. I know when my husband’s business was set up, I was listed as a stockowner and a part of the board so if anything happened to him before the company took off, I could legally make decisions for the company. It’s very easy to forget to take people off those documents. But Jay and Kristin’s lawyers probably thought of that.
When Jay and Kristen first announced their divorce they were at odds about their separation date. At that time, I speculated that Jay was being considered for a lucrative sports announcer job and wanted his marriage end date before he signed so they wouldn’t have his contract considered in his divorce settlement. A year later, as far as I can tell, Jay still doesn’t have a contract anywhere. One of the reasons Kristin gave for the end of their relationship was Jay’s laziness and his need for a post-NFL career. If Jay helped build Uncommon James, he’s entitled to his cut – be it a percentage or a buy-out. And I mean “help build” in any sense, whether he financially helped or even took over childcare and home management so Kristin could focus full time on the business. However if Jay didn’t help build the business at all I can see why Kristin’s pushing back.
Photo credit: Instagram
I don’t know who these people are, but shouldn’t a former pro football player have enough money of his own?
All rich people want is to get richer. Ugh.
He does. He was ridiculously overpaid.
And I’m sure he shared that wealth with his family and his wife while they were together
If he gave her sewed money…it willg
Get murky, legally, but on a moral basis….really. He had millions of dollars his dam self. She is the one who will be mothering his children while he is fucking his new chick…why should he feel entitled to anything?
Men trip me up. Want a patriarchal society but are weak as hell morally and mentally. They want all the benefits of being the masters and none of the other stuff.
I don’t like Kristin but we a woman, it just boils my blood.
Kristin was partying in Nashville and Cabo with a new man during the pandemic. Don’t weep for her. She’ll be okay.
Yeah legally maybe he can do this? But 50% of her company when he assumedly has a bunch of football money? Did he spend it all? It just seems gross.
Does she get 50% of his football money? Didn’t she joke at one point that they don’t have a prenup? These are problems I cannot imagine having.
If they live in a community property state, yes, they are entitled to 50% of each other’s assets, including income.
Jay appeared in the reality show that mainly existed to promote her company and had a huge role in it becoming successful though. His participation was the reason the show lasted as long as it did because sports media covered the show as well. Plus the show established that he helped fill orders etc when it was just a startup ran out their home. He seems entitled to some part of it.
So many Chicago Bears fans tuned into Very Cavallari to see Jay Cutler, and he did participate in the start-up of UJ. There was even an episode where he went to check in on the hapless staff of wanna-be models working at UJ while Kristen was gone. It seems like an ungallant move on his part to go after the business, but it is an asset. Seems like he and his lawyers are playing hardball with Kristen or it could just be a negotiating tool that they’ll drop down the line.
@ SH, he my be entitled to some, but this lazy POS wants half!!! She started it with HER own money, but he’s too f#cking selfish and wants half!! F#ck him and the horse he rode in on!!!
Perhaps he wants half since she’s entitled to half of his NFL earnings? It’s not so outrageous
I’m sure Jay could’ve done without being on Very Cavalarri(?), yet he did it so she could promote her Uncommon James brand. And after working so many years in the NFL, I can see where he may want to take it easy for a few years. If he had started a business, I’m sure she would’ve wanted half as well.
Yup, and in one episode (G-d help me, i watched several lol), it shows her asking him to take promotional baby gifts to his athlete buddies, including Carrie Underwood’s husband. Fair is fair.
I saw her reality show a time or two when she was launching Uncommon James (it was filmed in my city and I was curious). Jay constantly complained about her business and tried to get her to quit. Seems like he’s trying to punish her, asking for half now.
Right?? The nerve of this guy! He didn’t want her breaking free and starting a business and wants half of it now?!? Ugh.
I’d feel differently if he was supportive (cheering her on emotionally or providing seed money which Kristin never needed cause she has bank or taking more care of the kids etc).
Also he doesn’t need the money. They are both worth roughly 30 million each. He’s doing this out of spite
It goes both ways and we must be wary of playing into double standards. I think the author of this article did a great job being unbias and fair. If he had any part in the building this business even as little as childcare, then he is entitled to his portion. I am not mad at this. Her pushing back is expected.
This. And also a lot of times in divorce proceedings, parties ask for things they don’t necessarily want or expect to get in order to gain leverage. Like he’ll ask for 1/2 of her business so he has leverage if she asks for 50% of [insert asset he owns]. You start by asking for everything you have any potential rights to and then negotiate from there.
Agreed. I have no issue with women being entitled to partial ownership of the businesses their husbands start while they’re married. This is no different.
agreed. it has nothing to do with need or want.
it’s now a legal business arrangement. ergo. she lived off his money and lifestyle funded by his career, and so he is entitled to do the same, legally.
Also, because none of us know them – none of us can hypothesize but honestly. WHY does he have to work? if he wants to hang out on the farm all day, let him! He can afford it! he had a sports “career”. Maybe he wanted to spend more time with her and the family instead of being on the road or in a studio all the time. we are so obsessed with making more, and doing more and never enjoying what we have.
They never really seemed like a cohesive couple, he’s all country and hunting and fishing and sports and she wasn’t really into any of it.
Agreed. They both seem messy, hope they stop with all the drama and PR updates for the sake of the kids.
I agree. I always feel like division of assets should be as fair as possible, and he should get a portion equivalent to whatever he contributed, or she can buy him out if she doesn’t want him involved.
If Mackenzie Bezos and Melinda Gates get theirs, then Jay Cutler is entitled to whatever the law says in their state. Feminism is equal rights, even for men.
@ sassafras, but Mackenzie started the business with Bobble head in their garage and she was integral from day One!! This POS didn’t do much and she started the company it’s her OWN money! There is a difference!! And Mackenzie didn’t even walk away with half!!
I didn’t watch all three seasons, but from what I remember she talks a lot about never being able to do it without Jay, whether he was looking after the kids, or how he helped in the early days printing labels and shipping. That might have been part of the whole “couples goals” vibe she was going for at the time, but it seems like he was involved.
He wants half. Is the company even profitable. Most of the stuff looks pretty meh. It looks indistinguishable from the tat every other celebrity is hawking these days. But then I prefer to spend my money on stuff that will last a while.
Well if a woman wanted half, no one would care. If he is entitled to half her company, then he deserves half her company.
True. It’s tedious when wealthy women complain they shouldn’t be required to split 50% of the money they earned while married with the spouse they’re divorcing.
Anti-vax Trumpster fighting over money. Hilarious. I just hope that their babies are okay.
These people are so trashy. Really true what they say about money can’t buy you class.
Yes, and LuCoo-Coo, still doesn’t have any!!
I am a huge football fan and I can attest that Jay Cutler has always been a massive jerk. He was a jerk to his teammates and pretty much everybody in his orbit. I actually saw him push one of his own Offensive Linemen in a game. These are the guys risking their health to protect him and he still could not show any respect. So he is simply being who he has always been here
That’s why he could not get a post-football gig. Nobody likes him. And with so many former football players competing for the same gigs, companies are going to go with the likable guy.
I’m with Michael. Cutler has always been a huge a-hole off and on the football field. Lazy and willing to sacrifice anyone else getting hurt but him. Totally believable he could not get a gig post-football career he is and was so unlikeable.
Um, if the business was started during the marriage, it’s presumed to be a marital asset. I’m genuinely confused as to how it’s trashy for one spouse to take the position that they’re entitled to half the value of a marital asset. That’s how divorce works.
This seems like standard divorce proceedings to me. His attorney will tell him to go after things to which he might be entitled, like a business that was started during their marriage, for which she used their home, etc. It would be the same if he had started a business in a similar fashion. After that they’ll negotiate
I’m with the commenters saying this seems like standard divorce stuff. And I swear I remember that he was handling most of the childcare because her business was taking off so yes, he is entitled. Now he may have been an asshole about it the whole time but once the divorce is over, she’ll have her freedom, so everyone wins