A Los Angeles judge has renewed a domestic violence restraining order against Alice Evans for five years, delivering a significant victory to actor Ioan Gruffudd amid their ongoing custody and support dispute.
Court Decision Details
Judge Michael Convey announced the ruling after a seven-day trial, noting Evans’s ‘concerted, focused, intentional and caustic campaign of denigration’ against Gruffudd and his wife, Bianca Wallace. The judge highlighted how Evans’s threats and intimidation caused Gruffudd to fear for their physical safety and isolated him from their daughters, Ella, 16, and Elsie, 12.
Evans remained calm during the hearing, while Gruffudd showed little emotion. Neither commented afterward. The judge cited multiple violations of the original three-year order issued in 2022, which required Evans to stay 100 feet away and refrain from negative online posts.
Particularly disturbing incidents included Evans screaming at Gruffudd in front of the children, threatening to ‘Amber Heard’ him, and revealing Wallace’s multiple sclerosis diagnosis online, which the judge labeled as ’emotional abuse’ and ‘coercive control.’
Despite Evans’s courtroom apology, expressing shame and regret for her social media posts, Judge Convey questioned its sincerity: ‘Is it true remorse? I am not persuaded. But it is a positive step forward.’ He noted her online activity has lessened but urged her to seek therapy, warning that violations could lead to criminal charges.
The judge also encouraged both parents to co-parent effectively, allowing Gruffudd, who has not seen his daughters in two years according to Evans, to reconnect with them.
Background of the Conflict
Gruffudd and Evans, who met on the set of 102 Dalmatians in 1999 and married in 2007, separated in early 2021. Their divorce finalized in 2023, sparking battles over finances, custody, and restraining orders. Gruffudd married Wallace in April 2024; their daughter Mila was born in November 2024.
Attorneys’ Closing Arguments
Gruffudd’s attorney, Joseph Langlois, argued that Evans violated the prior order repeatedly, endangering Gruffudd, Wallace, and their infant. He emphasized the reasonable fear of future abuse, citing death threats Wallace received from Evans’s followers and her ‘insatiable desire for revenge.’
Evans’s attorney, Janina Verano, portrayed her client’s actions as stemming from post-COVID isolation and divorce devastation. She claimed Evans has changed, deactivated her Twitter account, and stopped abusive messages. Verano argued the order hinders Evans’s work and travel, traumatizing the daughters at airports, and urged denial of renewal to foster family events.
Ongoing Legal Battles
This ruling concludes the first phase of a nine-day trial. The next phase addresses child and spousal support. Evans seeks increased payments beyond Gruffudd’s current $1,500 monthly spousal and $3,000 child support, claiming financial hardship. Gruffudd counters that he has overpaid by nearly $400,000 and wants spousal support ended due to her abuse, alleging she has alienated the girls against him.
Langlois called the decision a starting point for Evans to reform: ‘You have to start somewhere… I’m hopeful going forward that she’ll fix things.’
