More than a decade after their separation, John Schneider and his ex-wife Elvira remain locked in a contentious legal battle over spousal support, with the «Dukes of Hazzard» star now speaking publicly for the first time about the dispute. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Schneider expressed bewilderment that an ex-spouse would expect continued financial support after ending a marriage, calling the situation «a negotiation.»
«I don't understand why someone would feel that… someone that they threw away, right?… If you throw somebody away, why would you expect them to continue to be part of your life in any regard, let alone financially? I don't understand where the integrity is in that,» Schneider said. He added that he hopes the yearslong dispute is nearing an end, stating, «We're working it out.»
The actor's comments come weeks after Elvira Schneider filed court documents alleging that he owes more than $2.38 million in unpaid spousal support, including over $984,000 in accrued interest, according to records obtained by Fox News Digital. In her filing, Elvira asked the court to award her portions of Schneider's Screen Actors Guild pension and Social Security benefits if he cannot pay the amount outright. Schneider's legal response argues that his former wife miscalculated the amount allegedly owed and failed to provide evidence supporting her figures.
The former couple married in 1993. Elvira filed for divorce in 2014, and the divorce was finalized in 2019. Schneider reflected on the prolonged nature of the dispute, saying, «It's a shame when people who were together then turn into this. And it's been a long time. I mean, this divorce… she filed for divorce in 2014. My God, that's been 12 years. So, I don't understand it, but you know, cooler heads will prevail, and we'll get through it.»
Despite the ongoing legal drama, Schneider has kept his focus on performing. He traveled to Washington, D.C., to perform a 45-minute concert on the Freedom Stage celebrating America's 250th anniversary, calling the invitation an honor. He recalled attending the nation's Bicentennial celebration as a teenager in 1976, when he visited Disney World with his high school. «So now, to be part of something else 50 years later, I can't believe that, but it's true… the 250th birthday. And I'm proud of our country, and I'm proud of everything that's going on right now,» he said.
Schneider also spoke about his current marriage to Dee Dee Sorvino, emphasizing the importance of partnership and mutual commitment. «Partnership is so important. You have to be, what's the biblical standard? Equally yoked,» he said. He added, «A relationship is something that has to… it's two-sided. There are two people involved, and there are two sets of responsibilities. And your thought, again, like trying to make somebody else's day better, certainly the first person that you want to make their day better should be your partner.»
When asked what chapter of life excites him most, Schneider replied without hesitation, «Absolutely this one.» He added, «We get better and better every day. We have greater and greater aspirations every day because we live in this country, and we can do that. I mean it with every fiber of my being when I say that my best days are ahead of me.»
Schneider, best known for his role as Bo Duke on «Dukes of Hazzard,» has also appeared in «Smallville» and Tyler Perry's «The Haves and the Have Nots,» and co-founded the Children's Miracle Network. The legal battle over spousal support continues, but Schneider remains optimistic that a resolution is near.
