Mike Shouhed’s ex-fiancée Paulina Ben-Cohen reveals for the first time the alleged horrifying abuse she experienced at the hands of the disgraced Bravo star in a bombshell lawsuit obtained by Page Six.
The influencer claims in the complaint filed Friday that she and Shouhed, 45, got into a heated argument over a hookah on March 27, 2022, which ultimately led to his domestic violence arrest.
She says the alleged abuse reportedly began in verbal form, with her then-fiancé yelling that she was a “horrible mother,” “a f–king whore” and “piece of s–t.”
Paulina Ben-Cohen accuses Mike Shouhed of physically and verbally abusing her in a scathing new lawsuit.Paulina Ben-Cohen/Instagram
Ben-Cohen claims in the complaint obtained by Page Six that the argument took place on March 27, 2022.Carpenter & Zuckerman00:0203:52
There is security footage from the alleged altercation.Carpenter & Zuckerman
When Ben-Cohen asked Shouhed to leave their home – which they reportedly shared with her children from a previous relationship – and began to pack his things, he allegedly became physically violent.
She claims in the suit that the “Shahs of Sunset” alum “ran into the room, forcefully grabbed her hair and shoulder, and violently threw her to the ground.”
The complaint includes screenshots of security footage that appears to substantiate all of Ben-Cohen’s claims. Page Six has reached out to Shouhed for comment but did not immediately hear back.
Ben-Cohen claims Shouhed attacked her when she was trying to pack up his belongings.Carpenter & Zuckerman
He allegedly held her down on the ground under a clothing rack.Carpenter & Zuckerman
The former Bravolebrity allegedly told Ben-Cohen that he “would never leave” their California property until she paid him “for half of it.”
He then allegedly continued to physically abuse her by putting his hand over her face and trying to “suffocate” her several times as she “struggled to breathe,” per the complaint.
“She attempted to call 911 and he made it seem as if he were to strike her again,” the lawsuit also states.
The complaint further alleges that Shouhed “threatened to kill” Ben-Cohen at one point and “told her he had a hitman who would put her away.”
Ben-Cohen claims in the suit that Shouhed tried to suffocate her several times.Carpenter & Zuckerman
He allegedly also threatened to kill her during the fight.Carpenter & Zuckerman
The alleged fight moved from a bedroom to the children’s playroom, but it appears they were not present at the time, as a nanny was reportedly caring for them in a separate room.
The complaint claims Shouhed tried to suffocate Ben-Cohen at least two other times for a total of about six seconds, and the fight allegedly concluded after four harrowing minutes.
He “grabbed the back of her neck, pushed her head down towards the ground, and forcefully held her there,” the suit states.
Ben-Cohen reportedly called for the nanny, who went into the room and also asked Shouhed to leave but it allegedly only angered him further.
Ben-Cohen allegedly yelled at the nanny — who was in another room — for help.Carpenter & Zuckerman
Shouhed was arrested shortly after.WireImage
Shortly after, the former TV star allegedly went to retrieve his firearm, at which point the police were finally called and were able to arrest him.
Ben-Cohen’s lawyers state their client did not “do anything to justify the acts of vicious and brutal acts of violence” she experienced that night, noting that was allegedly not the first time an incident occurred.
An example they provide is an incident in which Shouhed was allegedly furious that his sexting situation with another woman had been revealed on “Shahs of Sunset,” and so he allegedly took out his anger on Ben-Cohen when they got back home.
He allegedly “put a gun up to her head and told her he was going to murder her while making statements like, ‘You think you can destroy me,’ and ‘You think you can destroy my reputation, not even my ex-wife ruined my reputation the way you did,’” the complaint alleges.
Ben-Cohen claims Shouhed has threatened to kill her many times before.GC Images
Shouhed has not yet responded to his ex’s allegations.GC Images
Shouhed allegedly also threatened to kill Ben-Cohen another time after she confided in one of his cast members — who is unnamed in the complaint — about his alleged violent behavior.
He allegedly told his then-partner, “Tonight is the night I’m going to kill you” and “I will murder you.”
Shouhed has not yet filed a response with the court, and his attorney did not immediately respond to our request for comment.
Ben-Cohen is suing her ex for assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and gender violence. She is seeking an unspecified amount in damages and is demanding a trial by jury.
Shouhed has allegedly told Ben-Cohen in the past, “I’m going to kill you,” and “I will murder you.”Angela Weiss
Ben-Cohen is demanding a trial by jury for this case.Paulina Ben-Cohen/Instagram
Page Six broke the news in March 2022 that Shouhed had been arrested for “intimate partner violence with injury,” and his attorney denied all of the allegations made against him.
Ben-Cohen had not been revealed as the victim at the time, but her lawyer later told us she was “working with the authorities to seek a just and fair outcome to this sad situation.”
Despite the incident, Ben-Cohen and Shouhed were spotted on vacation together less than a month after the alleged abuse occurred and we were told then they were “still together.”
It’s unclear when the couple — who got engaged in 2019 — ultimately called it quits for good.
Ben-Cohen and Shouhed got engaged in 2019.Paulina Ben-Cohen/Instagram
Shouhed rose to fame on “Shahs of Sunset.”
