Amber Marchese Defends Jim After His Arrest

A few days after Real Housewives of New Jersey star Jim Marchese was arrested for alleged domestic violence, his wife Amber Marchese is speaking out and denying the altercation in a lengthy statement to Bustle. Jim was arrested after disembarking a plane on Tuesday night at Los Angeles Airport, E! News reported. He was later charged with domestic violence and was released on $50,000 bail. E! reports that he is scheduled to report to court May 11.

"At the request of officers, a male suspect and a female victim left the aircraft. Additional questioning revealed the suspect had grabbed the victim by the throat and made threats against her," the police told E! News. "Suspect James Marchese was arrested and transported to LAPD Pacific Division where he was booked."

Amber, who is currently fighting her second battle with breast cancer, has a very different version of what happened on the flight and is vehemently denying that any kind of domestic violence occurred. In her words, after "talking about hooking up and joining the 'mile high club,'" and engaging in "some heavy PDA" prior to takeoff, they were asked to leave the plane.

In a lengthy statement to Bustle, via her rep, she said in full:

Domestic violence is not a joke, and having my husband be accused of such a heinous act is not only hurtful but damaging personally, emotionally and professionally. I would never let myself be a victim of anything or anyone. Jim and I were on our way back from LA on a “red eye” after filming a new TV project. We were actually talking about hooking up and joining the “mile high” club. Some heavy PDA was involved, just the opposite of what certain people reported they saw. After that brief bit of fun between us we prepared for takeoff and I ordered a glass of white wine. I was peacefully sipping my wine and Jim was sleeping when we were asked to leave the plane. Confused and scared our first thoughts were “did something happen to our kids???” No explanations or answers were given to our questions and we were immediately separated. All I wanted was my husband Jim so we could figure out what happened and how to help the authorities by answering any questions. All Jim wanted was to make sure I was ok. We asked why we’re being removed from the plane. We complied with everyone involved from the flight attendant to the authorities. Through this entire stressful situation my husband was nothing but a gentleman and never once lost his composure. To be crystal clear there was no complaint of domestic violence, signs of distress or request for assistance made by myself and there was no wrong doing by my husband. At no time did my husband ever choke me or threaten me in any way shape or form. Jim and I have been married for 10 years and he has always treated me like gold and we have a beautiful relationship and a wonderful life. Every relationship has flaws and we are not perfect BUT these reports are undeniably false and disgusting.

In November 2015, Amber Marchese announced to People that she and her husband were leaving RHONJ. "Jim and I have been giving Real Housewives or New Jersey a lot of thought and given the current state of affairs regarding our personal lives and the direction of the show, we officially decided to move on," she said at the time. "The show was not what we expected it to be, and I want to pursue more suitable endeavors."