The 81-year-old father of tennis superstars Venus and Serena, Richard Williams, is divorcing from his wife of 13 years, Lakeisha Graham Williams. And now, he’s been offered reality television show opportunities, one of his sons claims. One of the deals includes a potential $500,000 payout.
Williams’ son and current caretaker Chavoita LeSane, his father has been “getting calls from multiple TV stations” for a reality show and from publishers about a book deal, The Sun reported.
The success of the biopic “King Richard,” starring Will Smith, and Williams’ drawn-out divorce process from his wife Lakeisha — the papers were filed in 2017 — could be fuel for more projects about his life.
King Richard, Reality Star?
Networks and publishers seem to think Williams is so fascinating that he would make great media content, his caretaker son says.
There has already been a documentary about Williams’ journey called “On The Line,” which was released in 2022.
“We’ve even been approached by a British TV network for a reality show focused on the work I do in producing films and partnering with charities, and my dad’s life after tennis,” LeSane told The Sun. “The budget is allegedly around $500,000, and there may be other offers from elsewhere so we’re chatting through our options, but it’s an exciting proposal.”
Metro, a subsidiary of The Daily Mail, also reported that Williams, who has a net worth of $10 million, has been offered a half-million-dollar deal to be a reality star.
“My dad is a real character and would certainly make good TV. He seems interested in the idea, and I have a lot of different businesses, there’s always something going on,” LeSane added.
Williams’ Wives
Williams and his second wife, Oracene Price, are the parents of Venus, 42, and Serena, 41. His son LeSane is from another relationship.
The famed coach has five children from his first wife, Betty Johnson. He was married to Johnson from 1965 to 1973. His children from that union include Sabrina, Richard III, Ronner, Reluss, and Reneeka.
He’s still married to estranged wife, Lakeisha, whom he wed in 2010 and split from in 2017. They share a 10-year-old boy named Dylan. They are currently fighting over custody, child support, attorney’s fees, and accusations Lakeisha stole Williams’ Social Security checks and forged his name on the deed transfer of his Florida house, The New York Post reported.
“I just want a divorce. It’s been six years, man. Just a bunch of junk, junk, junk. [I’m] so tired of that junk now,” Williams told The Sun. “I don’t trust women anymore.”
“I just want to keep to myself, I might live a quieter life,” Williams said.
The Battle Over Williams Sisters’ Childhood Home
As Finurah previously reported, Lakeisha could lose the Williams sisters’ childhood home in Florida after filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy for the second time, a move her main creditor is again opposing.
The house is reportedly in need of repairs and could be soon be put up on the auction block because Lakeisha has failed to repay significant portions of her debts.
Accused of mishandling her repayments of loans and not maintaining the property located in Palm Beach Gardens, Lakeisha has filed for another Chapter 13 bankruptcy in an attempt to retain the four-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom, 3,422-square-foot home. She filed Chapter 13 protection once before and was denied.
