Chad & Evelyn

Evelyn Lozada says despite his arrest for allegedly head-butting her, she still loves estranged husband Chad Johnson -- but adds she can't imagine speaking to him any time soon.

In an interview with "Nightline" that airs tonight, Lozada described the alleged domestic violence incident as "a bad choice that destroyed his life ... But it was his choice, it wasn't mine."

Lozada said she hopes Chad is getting help and she wants "the best for him," but says that being apart is "the right thing."

Chad Johnson's estranged wife Evelyn Lozada has cut herself off entirely from her husband -- telling TMZ, she hasn't spoken a word to the former NFL star since he allegedly headbutted her earlier this month.

Evelyn was out in NYC this morning when we asked if she has had any contact with Chad since the August 11th incident -- when Chad was busted for domestic violence -- and Evelyn replied, "No."

It's the first time Evelyn's spoken a word in public following that fateful night. She has since filed for divorce.

Robin Roberts was forced to back out of the first interview with Chad Johnson's estranged wife Evelyn Lozada since he allegedly attacked her earlier this month -- and TMZ has learned, it's due to Robin's health crisis.

Sources tell us ... Evelyn agreed to sit down with Robin on "Good Morning America" to discuss the Aug. 11 domestic violence incident -- because she feels Roberts has tremendous integrity as a reporter.

The interview was set for this week, but hit a snag when Lozada asked Robin to tape the segment at her hotel ... since Evelyn wanted a private setting for such a serious conversation.

We're told Roberts couldn't make that happen because she would have to miss a treatment session for her blood disorder ... myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

As we reported, Roberts is scheduled to start a leave of absence this Friday to receive a bone marrow transplant.

Chad Johnson's estranged wife Evelyn Lozada -- whom the ex-NFL player allegedly headbutted during a nuclear argument this month -- is showing her face for the first time since the incident ... and TMZ has the pics.

The photos were snapped this week in Florida -- on a beach near the friend's house where Evelyn fled following the alleged domestic violence incident on August 11th.

You can't see the injuries -- we're told Evelyn refuses to leave the house without a hat -- but according to sources, a laceration on her forehead required several stitches.

Since the photos were taken, we're told Evelyn has left for Barbados with her daughter to escape media scrutiny -- and is anxious to put everything behind her.

Chad Johnson's college girlfriend -- whom the ex-NFL player was convicted of slapping in 2000 -- wants a pow wow with Chad's latest alleged battery victim ... his wife ... and TMZ has learned, it's all in an effort to find closure.

Sources close to the former girlfriend tell TMZ, the woman has been attempting to reach out to Chad's wife Evelyn Lozada on Twitter and Facebook -- ever since news broke last weekend that Chad had allegedly attacked her.

We're told the ex-GF believes she and Evelyn have a lot to talk about and can help each other heal in the process.

According to our sources, the GF has had no luck in reaching Evelyn thus far..

And how's this for irony ... TMZ has obtained Chad Johnson's certificate of completion from a domestic violence batterers' treatment program back in 2002, following his domestic battery conviction.

According to a status report from the program, Chad was cooperative and appeared to make good progress -- but "struggled initially with accepting the need to make lifestyle changes as well as minimizing his past behavior."

The report says Chad eventually came to terms with his problems -- and his "risk to re-offend appears low."

"Basketball Wives" star Evelyn Lozada is not ready to face the public following her brutal break-up with unemployed NFLer Chad Johnson ... so she cancelled all her upcoming public appearances, TMZ has learned

Sources tell TMZ ... Evelyn had several gigs lined up -- including the second half of her book tour for "The Wives Association: Inner Circle," as well as various club gigs and a book expo in September where she was supposed to appear alongside "Real Housewives of New Jersey" star Teresa Giudice.

But we're told Evelyn is not ready to deal with the questions the public will ask regarding the domestic violence incident and divorce ... so she pulled the plug on all the engagements.

Chad Johnson has broken his silence ... and has issued an apology "To everyone for the recent events that have occurred" involving his wife Evelyn Lozada.

Moments after Evelyn filed for divorce, Johnson released a statement on his website regarding his recent domestic violence arrest ... saying, "I would like to wish Evelyn well and will never say anything bad about her because I truly love her to death."

He adds, "To all the fans and supporters I have disappointed, you have my sincerest apologies. I will stay positive and get through this tough period in my life."

And now this ... Chad just changed his Twitter picture to a sign that reads "Rock ... Hard place" with arrows pointing in opposite directions. Wonder what he's trying to say ...

Chad Johnson's wife of 6 weeks has filed for divorce ... TMZ has learned.

Evelyn Lozada filed legal docs moments ago in Florida, claiming her marriage is "irretrievably broken."

The trigger for the divorce was the domestic violence incident over the weekend, in which Chad Johnson was arrested after allegedly head-butting her during an argument.

Evelyn claimed she found a receipt for a box of condoms in his car.

According to the divorce docs, the couple had a prenup -- but that won't be a big deal since the marriage was shorter than Kim Kardashian's.

Evelyn Lozada has a few words for Chad Johnson after his arrest for allegedly head-butting her -- first, stop blaming me ... and second, get help for your problems, now.

Evelyn tells TMZ, “I am deeply disappointed that Chad has failed to take responsibility for his actions and made false accusations against me." As TMZ first reported ... Chad told police that it was Evelyn who actually head-butted him during their blowout argument Saturday night.

Chad was arrested and booked for domestic battery.

Evelyn Lozada is mourning her brother-in-law, who died tonight after a long battle with cancer ... TMZ has learned.

Anthony Ochoa who was married to Evelyn's sister Sylvia, made several appearances on "Basketball Wives" ... and just last month he escorted Evelyn down the aisle for her wedding to Chad Johnson.

We're told Anthony was featured prominently in the reality show about the wedding. As TMZ first reported ... VH1 has decided not to air the show after Chad's arrest for domestic battery.

We're told Anthony was surrounded by family members when he passed away in New York City.

Evelyn tells TMZ, "Anthony was an amazing husband, father, and brother-in-law. He will be dearly missed."

Anthony and Sylvia were married for more than 10 years, and had 2 children.

Evelyn Lozada was so afraid of her husband, Chad Johnson, during last night's alleged altercation ... she had to flee to a neighbor's house for safety, this according to the police report.

According to the report, after Johnson allegedly head-butted Lozada during an argument about a receipt for condoms, Johnson began screaming at Lozada, saying, "I don't give a f**k! I don't give a f**k about my career!"

According to the report, Lozada "fled on foot to a neighbor's house to get away from Johnson."

The report goes on to say that Johnson drove around the neighborhood looking for Lozada, who had called police from the neighbor's home.

The officer who responded says in the report he observed a 3" laceration on her forehead. The officer said when he spoke to Johnson, he admitted the two argued, but said she yelled "F**k it!" at him and then she head-butted him.

Johnson told the officer he was driving around to try and give her time to calm down.

"Basketball Wives" star Evelyn Lozada has been discharged from the hospital, TMZ has learned.

As TMZ previously reported, Evelyn was admitted to the ER at West Side Regional Hospital last night in FL after her new husband, NFL star Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson, allegedly head-butted her during a heated argument.

Sources tell TMZ ... Evelyn was treated for injuries stemming from the incident and remained at the hospital for several hours. She was released early Sunday AM.

We're told Evelyn is currently staying with close friends.

OCHOCINCO, PARTY OF ONE ... is what Evelyn Lozada will be saying for the next few weeks, since she's currently the only Ochocinco left in her family. Let us explain ...

When the "Basketball Wives" star got married in early July, she changed her last name to Ochocino to match her NFL star husband, Chad Ochocinco. A few weeks later, Chad went ahead with his pre-planned move to switch his name back to Johnson and Evelyn planned to change her name to Johnson as well, post-wedding.

Unfortunately, we're told Lozada has not received her official marriage paperwork yet ... and she can't legally change her name to match his until it comes in.

To make things even more complicated ... our sources say Chad still wants Ocho to be part of his life, so he's adding the Ochocinco BACK to his name (before the "Johnson") after the football season.

After all the name-changing is said and done, he's going to be "Chad Javon Ochocinco Johnson" and in a show of support, Evelyn will become "Evelyn Alexandra Lozada Ochocinco Johnson." Wow.

"Basketball Wives" star Evelyn Lozada and NFL fiancé Chad Ochocinco are now personae non grata at luxurious Miami hotels, TMZ has learned ... since several establishments have rejected the couple's request to tie the knot at their fancy digs because they don't want glasses and fists flying.

The reality TV couple is currently filming their "BB Wives" spin-off show "Ocho and Eve" ... and the big season finale will feature their glamorous wedding -- but the couple hit a snag because none of the best venues want to deal with their TV show drama.

We're told the St. Regis, The Ritz, and Breakers have all turned the couple down so far ... telling producers they didn't want to deal with any fighting or risk having their hotels portrayed in a negative light on camera.

Undeterred, the wedding is set to film next month ... but the duo is still scrambling to find a location that will take them in.

Chad Ochocinco and Evelyn Lozada have signed their deal to do a "Basketball Wives" spinoff show with VH1 ... and they each have 300,000 reasons to celebrate ... TMZ has learned.

According to our sources, filming on the new show will begin in the next few weeks, right after taping for "Wives" ends. We're told the show will focus on the couple as they get ready to exchange vows this summer.

Our sources say negotiations finally wrapped last week and the two will each take home $300,000 for about two months of work.

As TMZ first reported, when Evelyn re-upped her contract with "Basketball Wives" last year, part of the deal called for VH1 to give her and Chad their own show.

Evelyn Lozada and Chad Ochocinco (soon to be Johnson again) are busy formulating their wedding guest list -- and Evelyn says that while Chad's superstar teammate Tom Brady is invited ... she doesn't sound so sure he'll attend!

We caught up with Evelyn in NYC yesterday where she said paring down the guest list and deciding who sits near who has been the toughest part of the planning process.

Evelyn said she's only inviting some of her "Basketball Wives" co-stars (we're told Jennifer Williams won't be invited), but she did extend an invite to Tom and Gisele. She told us, "They are invited. I hope they come. They have a busy schedule."