Like Queen Latifah’s ex-workers are threatening, Martina Navratilova’s ex-lover Toni Layton is threatening to tell all if the tennis great doesn’t cough up an amenable settlement. The only difference? Everyone knows Navratilova is a lesbian. But for a celebrity who’s willing to appear on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, just how much “dirty laundry” could Layton have to spill?
“There are a lot of skeletons in Martina’s closet. It is more like a storage facility full of them, and I know them all,” says Layton, who left her husband to take up with Navratilova. For the past year, Layton insists she’s been trying to reach a settlement agreement, but Navratilova’s laywers “publicly discredit Toni and humiliate her.”
Except it’s Layton who’s now out to publicly humiliate Navratilova. While Team Layton scored an item in the New York Post‘s Page Six, it came only after Layton’s public relations firm Global PR fired off a release titled, “What do Linda Hogan And Toni Layton (Martina Navratilova’s Ex) Have In Common?,” which Queerty received.
It reads:
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Toni Layton is gearing up to fight for what is rightfully hers in the dissolution of her marriage to former tennis champion, and soon to be ex-wife, Martina Navratilova. The fall out is not going to be pretty. Famed celebrity divorce attorney Raymond Rafool, who represents Linda Hogan in her divorce from Hulk Hogan, has been retained to represent Toni Layton in her case against the tennis champ. Rafool is giving Navratilova the same run for her money that he has given Terry Bollea a.k.a. Hulk Hogan, in his split from Linda. Winning the case is only part of the overall plan. Layton not only has a tell-all book deal on the table, but a TV mini-series which will expose all the dirty details of the famous tennis player’s personal life. “We fight fire with fire,” says Rafool.
After 12 months of attempting to come to an agreement in the split of her 8 year relationship with Navratilova, Layton is ready to speak the truth about her ex-wife and what really was happening behind the scenes during the course of their marriage. Layton has secured image control specialist, Gary Smith of Global PR, to get Martina right where it hurts, in the media. Toni wants to hit Martina back just as hard as the world famous tennis ace returns a punishing serve from her worst rivals. Hulk called Linda the “most formidable opponent” he has encountered in or out of the wrestling ring. “Navratilova is about to get a taste of the same medicine,” states Smith. “When there is a break up between a celeb and a non-celeb, the non-celeb is usually at the mercy of the press. It’s like the celeb side having nuclear weapons and the non-celeb side trying to fight it off with a bee bee gun. We level the playing field where the media is concerned and that is what we will do for Toni Layton. Everyone deserves fair publicity just like they deserve a fair trial.”
“There are a lot of skeletons in Martina’s closet. It is more like a storage facility full of them, and I know them ALL,” says Layton. Martina’s legal team and other cohorts have threatened in an extortionist manner, to publically discredit Toni Layton and humiliate her, and her family, in order to keep the tennis player’s estranged wife from revealing the truth about Martina. “Don’t be so sure about that,” laughs Smith, “Hulk thought the same thing and we not only returned every blow but initiated a few of our own. Navratilova’s team has another thing coming if they think we are going to just lie down and be steamrollered. She may be a champ in tennis, but in the media, don’t count on it.” Rafool and his team expect their client to be subjected to the typical wealthy celebrity accusations of their former partner being a “greedy gold-digger,” because that is what they ALWAYS do when a non-celeb divorces a celeb. It is standard operating procedure in this kind of a case. This is a strategy all celeb lawyers use to leverage the pressure the media places on the non-celeb. The public degradation that happens in the media essentially humiliates and bullies the non-celeb, who in most cases has zero idea how to counter it, into agreeing to a settlement far below what is equitable. This case is no different. Martina was successful with this technique in previous break up with Judy Nelson. Layton was offered a measly flat $200k for eight long years of 24/7 work and support for the enrichment and betterment of multi millionaire athlete, Martina Navratilova. “The offer was an insult. Navratilova is using Florida’s failure to recognize gay marriage to her advantage. We are standing up for gay rights in this case. Toni Layton has the right to obtain a fair settlement the same as if she were the spouse in a traditional marriage,” states attorney Raymond Rafool.
But can someone explain what, uh, marriage law attorney Raymond Rafool is using to argue his case? Common law marriage? Because last we checked, Florida State does not recognize same-sex marriage. Rafool tells Page Six it’s Navratilova who’s using Florida’s laws to her advantage (uh, yeah), while his client is “standing up for gay rights in this case.” Suuuurely Ms. Layton would find another avenue for her gay advocacy were it not for the pending legal matter before her.
John from England(used to be just John but there are other John's)
Hmm, she’ll get it..
Navratilova is odd…didn’t come out until her career was so dead she was like 50 odd…
BrianZ
Funny stuff! While I can understand Layton’s desire for a “fair settlement” I think it’s laughable to propose that she’s doing so for the greater benefit of the gay community. Unless you are mailing me a check, leave me out of it.
Sampson
*coff* conniving *coff* with two ‘n’s…
jimmy
“There are a lot of skeletons in Martina’s closet. It is more like a storage facility full of them, and I know them ALL,” – sounds like blackmail to me. If I were Martina, I’d let her run her mouth and discredit herself. Layton is clearly looking to get paid.
dgz
TONI, you STUPID FOOL. you are the second woman to try this against martina (see Judy Nelson). and the first tell-all wasn’t any good, either. tell your [ray]Fool of a lawyer that palimony suits don’t work outside of an express, written contract. btw, we’ve all already rushed to the judgement that you’re a pathetic gold-digger.
oh, and i hear heather mills is single, why don’t you call her?
GayIsTheWay
This is another lesson for lesbians unfortunately. Don’t get with heterosexual identified women, they are trouble. Instead lesbians should make themselves appealing to other lesbians so they don’t have to hop the fence and find a feminine women to be with.
Elijah
John, what are you talking about? First, Martina only turns 53 this year. Second, she came out [albeit initially as bi] when she was 24 or 25, and, despite being the woman player with the most wins, it’s cost her millions in endorsement revenue, just as it did Billie Jean King who half came out around 40…perhaps you were thinking of her.
Martina could be horrible in every other way, I have no idea and neither to you, but deserves credit where credit is due.
Monica Roberts
OK The FIRST lie you white bitches are perpretarive is that Tiger Woods is BLACK.
See, he is first of all Vietvenese. Or Philipines.
So he is like Obama in that he has has White Hetero Privilege (WHP) all his life.
Excuse me, but come to MY hood in a “Buick Enclave” playing “Golf” and you will end up on the Tv Series “COLD CASE.”
Steff
This Toni sounds like a bit of a twat, no?
villager
#6- your comment was one of the most retarded i’ve ever read. i think lesbians manage to find each other without having to dip into the straight pool too much. wtf?
CINDY
Seems to me judgment day is all about Toni. What about the time spent as a tennis wife on tour. Making sure Martina has clean clothes, special diet foods bought and prepared, media arranged, practice times secured, support at all matches. Does any of that help you understand what a “tennis wife” entails?
I met Toni on tour and thought her one of the most generous, unselfish, caring human beings I had ever met. NEVER in the limelight. Wanted to save that for her partner Martina.
Toni was referred to in the foreword and acknowledgements of Martina’s, “Shape Your Self”, as her one and only and someone who positively influenced her life. Also, she addressed this during her retirement speech at the US OPEN in 2006 – thanking Toni, her ‘one and only’ for being that person behind her and supporting her efforts during those years (6 years).
Looks like this breakup began over a year ago, and still has fires in the coals. How could Martina not want to share some of her wealth that she accrued while Toni was her partner and confidant? $200K for 8 years?? Come on Martina?
Seems when Martina wants to move on to someone else, she leaves her last “one and only” in the dust!! (i.e. Judy Nelson & Rita Mae Brown) Beware….NEW “one and only!!!”
Alice
This Toni sounds like a piece of work but Martina is no angel either…never has been. This type of scenario will keep happening to Martina just as long as she keeps using women and discarding them like old socks.
Nancy Nichols
I have known Martina for 28 years. And someone should look into Toni’s past. She is the one with the skeletons. She was married to a man for five of the seven years she was with Martina.
Win
People like this Toni make me sick. Trying to get money out of celebrities is just WRONG!! I hope she doesn’t get anything but a bad name!! As far as what is in Martina’s closet.. It is her closet.. she can let it there or bring it out. But it should be her choice!
TitleNine
Martina,we are all proud of you dispite this ugly situation!!!
You go girl!!Florida loves you!!!Do not allow yourself to be black mailed.We are sorry for the loss of your mom.
Take Care,Title Nine
TitleNine
God grant Martina many years!!!Martina,professional athletes such as yourself inspired many females from my generation to enter into non-traditional professions.Your work ethic enlightened me ( As a kiddo)to overcome my own learning challenges(L.D).I earned an M.S.in 1997.So,it shocked me today to see this happening to someone who has given a great deal to the world.I’ve often wondered why you have not started your own tennis school.Anyway,good luck in the Czechlands.My own great grandfather hailed from Slovaka.
TitleNine
Slovakia (o:&
Pilar J
Layton may be fighting for no one’s benefit but her own, but this is not the first time that Martina has decided that LGBT relationships only need to be treated with respect when it’s convenient for her. When she’s in love, she wants the world to know, and insists on equality and respect. When she’s ready to upgrade to her next trophy – not so much.
Allie
Marina’s ‘love-em and leave-em’ routine is getting very tired. People do tend to get pissed off when they are discarded like used kleenex – hence the lawsuits.