Alice Evans celebrated her 58th birthday with her two daughters, Ella and Elsie, hours after her divorce from actor Ioan Gruffudd was finalized. Evans shared a photo of herself with her daughters and expressed gratitude to friends for their unwavering support.
"It's over now and you're stuck with me. I will never, ever forget. Your Alice," Evans posted, indicating a sense of closure.
In a related court ruling on Tuesday, a judge ordered Gruffudd to increase the maintenance payments he makes to Evans. The actors had a nine-day hearing in Los Angeles in March, during which a judge granted Gruffudd's request to renew a restraining order against Evans for five years. High court judge Michael J Convey stated that Evans had harassed and abused Gruffudd and his new wife, Bianca Wallace, causing them distress.
However, regarding financial matters, the judge largely ruled in favor of Evans. Gruffudd had claimed to have overpaid Evans by $400,000, but after reviewing forensic accountant reports, the judge determined the overpayment was $27,000. Evans, who moved from Beverly Hills to Encino, had informed the court of financial hardship since their separation in early 2021.
The court noted that Evans has their daughters, Ella and Elsie, 100% of the time. The actor is now required to pay 10% of his gross income to Evans, totaling $1,862 per month, consistent with their pre-nuptial agreement. Gruffudd had initially sought to pay nothing due to what he described as emotional abuse, having previously agreed to pay $3,579 in child support.
Friends of Evans expressed that she is relieved the legal proceedings have concluded and is focused on moving forward. The judge also ruled that $168,000 in a savings account was Evans' personal money, though he criticized her for not disclosing it in a timely manner, which he said impacted her credibility.
In his written judgment, Judge Convey noted that Gruffudd's case against paying spousal support was not fully persuasive because the online harassment was considered a misdemeanor rather than a crime. He stated that Evans committed domestic violence against Gruffudd and Wallace, and this campaign was relentless. While Evans acknowledged her conduct and began taking responsibility through apologies and mental health care, the judge indicated a long history of non-violence would be needed to conclude full responsibility.
The judge found that Evans' conduct negatively impacted Gruffudd's and Wallace's emotional states for several years, affecting Gruffudd's ability to maintain employment. He also cited Evans' lack of sustained effort to cease abusive behavior as a factor. Despite this, because Evans was not convicted of a crime and is protected by the pre-marital agreement, the judge stated the outcome must adhere to the Family Code and the contract terms.
Evans' attorney, Janina Verano, had previously told the court that Evans was isolated and facing the end of her marriage when she began her online harassment campaign in 2021. Verano stated that Evans' abusive emails and texts have ceased and that she has deactivated her Twitter account. Verano also argued that the restraining order had impacted Evans' ability to work and travel, causing her to lose jobs. The attorney added that the restraining order, which requires Evans to stay 100 feet away from Gruffudd, would force their daughters to choose which parent attends significant events.