Sherri Shepherd Opens Up About Her Surrogacy Legal Battle, Says She Was "Scared" of Her Ex-Husband Leaving

The VIew alum opens up about Lamar Sally

By Francesca Bacardi Aug 13, 2015 6:47 PMTags
Lamar Sally, Sherri ShepherdGetty Images

Although it has been about four months since Sherri Shepherd's financial legal battle with ex-husband Lamar Sally has come to an end, The View alum still hurts from all the drama that ensued; however, the actress opened up to People magazine and dished that she is moving on with her life despite it all.

"My situation was a sense of, I didn't state what I needed and what I wanted and what I didn't want for being scared of somebody leaving the relationship," Shepherd told the publication. "There are consequences to everything, but I was scared to say, 'That's not going to work for me. I don't want that.'"

Having learned from her mistakes and fears, Shepherd said she continues to "make it through."

Shepherd and Sally were married in 2011, and they began to pursue surrogacy using Sally's sperm and an egg donor. But before the baby was even born, the former couple was already locked in a fierce legal battle regarding the financial responsibility of the child, who is now 1 year old. In April a Pennsylvania judge ruled Shepherd would be the child's legal mother, which was not a decision she wanted.

Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for The Steve Harvey Foundation

"I am appealing the ruling that happened and he gets his settlement every month," she said of her ex-husband. "He's happy. There nothing I can do. It's out of my hands. You move on and I have a son. I have to take care of him so everything is good."

Her positive attitude is what helps her get her though the day.

"I'm the type of person I feel like as long as you can get up, you have another chance," she said. "I've gone through stuff a nasty divorce, nasty custody battle but for me, I get up and I smile. I go through it and I make it through."

Now Shepherd is enjoying time with her 10-year-old son, Jeffrey, whom she shares with ex-husband Jeffrey Tarpley. Although Shepherd has seemingly moved on in her life, that hasn't prevented her from making some awkward jokes and comments in the past about her legal snafus.

While appearing as a guest moderator on The View, Shepherd and Raven-Symone started talking about motherhood. "I'm 29, I'm about to be 30 this year. I want a baby so bad. I've wanted a baby since I was 15," Raven said.

Shepherd's response? "I got one or two you could have of mine. I'll give them to you," she quipped before adding, "Women with kids are like, take mine."

Her answer is a far cry from the attitude she used to take, previously referring to her legal battle as "very painful."