ONCE AN A-HOLE, ALWAYS AN A-HOLE
A-Rod threatens to cut child support over feud with ex-wife’s brother
Former Yankees lightning rod Alex Rodriguez wants ex-wife Cynthia (seen with him in 2007) to stop talking to her brother, according to texts shown to the Daily News.
HIGH-ROLLING Alex Rodriguez is lowballing his ex-wife on support for their two girls as a bitter family feud with her brother rages on, the Daily News has learned.
A-Rod’s former spouse Cynthia told her brother Constantine Scurtis that the slugging ex-Yankees star is threatening to cut his monthly child support payments for their kids Natasha and Ella.
The financial squeeze play is the latest ploy in a nasty threeyear court battle between A-Rod and Cynthia’s sibling, with the slugging retiree hoping the threat to his wife sends a message to her brother.
“I’m just trying to defend my child support situation ... and it’s terrible,” Cynthia lamented in a recent text message to Scurtis.
“I have an email from (Rodriguez) telling me that he’s basically making me pay for not stopping you and (not) telling you that I hate you,” the text continued.
The News was able to review several text messages between the siblings about the family infighting.
The financial brushback pitch comes at a time when the affluent A-Rod is on a roll, jet-setting around the globe with girlfriend Jennifer Lopez — his reported partner in the recent purchase of a $15 million apartment.
He’s certainly not hurting for cash: The retired slugger, 42, was paid $21 million by the Yankees in 2016, the final year of his 10-year contract, without a single at-bat.
He works on ESPN’s “Sunday Night Baseball” coverage team, and offers business advice to athletes on CNBC’s “Back in the Game.”
In between, Rodriguez finds time to wage his Miami state court battle with Scurtis.
Scurtis filed the explosive civil lawsuit in late 2014 — with the complaint since amended to accuse the steroid-stained Rodriguez of fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, unjust enrichment and civil conspiracy.
In 2008, while A-Rod and Cynthia’s marriage crumbled, Scurtis claims he was forced out of a real estate company that he and A-Rod launched in 2003.
It’s unclear how much money Rodriguez is obligated to pay each month for child support under the terms of the 2008 divorce.
But the text messages make it appear that A-Rod is using the threat of a reduction to influence the legal fight with Scurtis.
In the divorce petition, according to reports, Cynthia stated that she wanted Natasha and Ella to be able to maintain “the high standard of living” the two girls were accustomed to leading.
Cynthia has mostly avoided the spotlight despite the friction. A recent ABC News profile of ARod included video footage of Rodriguez and Cynthia with their daughters at an ice cream shop, all four smiling.
“But his No. 1 job? Doting dad to Natasha and Ella,” the ABC News report said. “At home he’s just a regular guy.”
If “regular” includes allegedly threatening to cut child support payments, that is.
“He’s totally out of control,” Cynthia said in another text about A-Rod, “but I share 2 kids with him so I try to keep e (sic) everything good for them.”
One of Rodriguez’s attorneys, Alan Kluger, declined comment, as did one of Cynthia’s lawyers, Anthony Sabatino.
“I don’t have a comment on anything because I think it would be a violation of my ethical duties to make any comment about anything,” said Sabatino.
Scurtis’ attorneys, Joel Denaro and Vince Duffy, also declined comment.
A-Rod’s lawyers filed a recent motion requesting “all communications and documents exchanged between (Constantine Scurtis) and Cynthia Scurtis which refer or relate to the Action.”
Rodriguez still has yet to sit for a deposition. And whether the two sides are in settlement talks remains a mystery.
The legal slog appears to be taking a toll on Cynthia, however.
“I hope it all ends soon. It’s revolting,” Cynthia texted to her brother.