You went to see Steve Harvey in some $27 jeans? But --
I'm offended. You would not be
if you saw me in those jeans.
Oh. Them $3,000 jeans now.
We do not owe the plaintiffs any...
♪ Money ♪ Money
♪ Money, hey
And I know some rich people.
I don't know one of them that done went out and upgraded
they wife's ring without her asking.
I ought to slap this gavel on this thing.
Hey, it's a big world out there,
and it's filled with people that just don't see eye to eye.
See, that's where I come in.
See, I ain't got a law degree,
and I'm way too fly to wear a robe.
But this is where common sense presides -- in my house.
Court is now in session.
[ Chuckles ]
-- Captions by VITAC --
All rise for the Honorable Judge Steve Harvey!
Thanks for your applause.
I appreciate that. Thank you.
[ Cheers and applause ]
♪♪
All right. So, let's get started with this case.
This is the case of Kimeka Stewart
vs. Tiffany Bonelli.
Kimeka is suing her friend Tiffany for $613.40
for sending her on a disastrous date.
Tiffany says she's not paying for a bad date
and is countersuing Kimeka for $300 for makeup services.
So let's start with you, Kimeka. Yes, sir.
You have 30 seconds to state your case.
Judge Harvey, I'm here today suing my friend Tiffany
for $613.40
'cause she set me up on a blind date
that was supposed to be the man of my dreams.
Mnh-mnh. Nightmare.
So she needs to pay me back and never set me up again.
-Ooh. -Ooh.
Okay, Tiffany, it's your turn. You have 30 seconds to respond.
Judge, I was trying to do a solid for my girlfriend
and hook her up with what I thought was a nice man.
Unfortunately, he ended up being a bum.
But that's not my fault. I was trying to do a good deed.
So now, because I helped her get ready,
helped make up her face,
drove a whole hour to get to her to help her
for this man of her dreams,
she gonna pay me $300 -- $250 for the makeup
and $50 for my gas money. Run me my coins.
-Ooh! -Ooh!
Okay, so let's start with you, Kimeka.
Tell me about this friendship. Okay.
Tell me about this man. Friendship first.
So she's the friend that boss you around, right? Mnh-mnh. Mm.
So she don't let you tell her no.
We go to cigar bars. We love them.
Okay. She went. She'd ask me to go,
but it'd taken me a long time to get ready,
so she should have had called me the day before...
A real long time, but we don't talk about that.
...if she wanted me to go that day.
But she didn't. And so I couldn't go.
So she go, and she was texting me like,
"Oh, I think this guy might be for you."
And I was like, "Okay, you know? You know me.
I trust you. You're my friend."
Okay, so hold on. So, tell me, so what was it about this guy? Hold on. Okay.
He was a gentleman. He was dressed well.
His conversation was good. It seemed like
he was an intelligent fellow, about his business.
When did you and this guy start communicating and how did it go?
The very next day. Okay.
So he texted me throughout the day --
"Hey, how you doing? I know you working --"
How old is this guy?
Oh, so he said he was 48.
We'll get to that. That's what he said.
So later on that night, we got on the phone.
We literally talk for, like, 4 hours. Okay?
So you're thinking this is going well.
This is going great. You talked to somebody for 4 hours? It --
So far, you are 100 correct. Baby. Come on.
Hit it. So now, how long after the first conversation
do you all go out? Like, four days.
Oh, four days? But you all are talking for four days? Yeah. Like, daily.
Throughout the day, texting. Every day?
E-ver-y day. Okay? Hours.
It's cute. It's cute. It's giving. It was giving.
Are -- Are you prepping for this date? I'm...
You looking forward to it?
Now you know I'm prepping. Real quick,
can we just point out that she told me
that this man was tall, he bald, and he at a cigar bar?
My type. That's me.
That's me. I know. [ Laughter ]
That's what I -- That's me. Okay?
Tall, bald, cigar. [ Laughs ]
Tall, bald... Your life is made.
Listen.
This woman done just told you Steve Harvey
is at the cigar bar. That's what she said.
That's basically what she said.
Tall, bald, and, girl, available.
Your -- Your life fittin' to change.
That's what I said. That's what I had thought.
That -- Your -- Your whole picture... That's what I had thought.
Your whole picture of him was me. Listen.
It was. That's what I said.
[ Laughter, applause ]
I said, "I'm going out with Steve."
And so you got your hair done, your nails done? Got my hair done.
Did you go shopping?
I -- So I just ordered a pair of jeans.
Right? Okay. Because here's my theory
on first dates -- They should be somewhere fun and active.
Yeah, yeah, he ain't Steve Harvey no more. He ain't --
No, he ain't Steve Harvey. Yeah.
He ain't Steve Harvey at all, but we'll get to it.
Yeah. How much you spend on this outfit?
I just bought a new pair of jeans -- $27.99.
You went to see Steve Harvey
in some $27 jeans? But -- But...
But -- Okay, but, sir, look...
Woman: Say it, Steve!
Sir, but can I...
I'm offended. I looked...
But you would not be
if you saw me in those jeans.
Oh. You see what I'm saying?
You better tell it, girl. [ Speaking indistinctly ]
Girl, you better tell it.
You hear me?
You put something in them jeans... Baby in the jeans!
...that increased the value.
Them $3,000 jeans now. Them $3,000 jeans.
I...
Let me see this photo. Okay.
Yes. See what I'm saying?
See? And I have on sneakers.
Right? Something cute, right? Okay.
Just simple, but I'm going to an arcade bar. Yeah. Okay, you cute.
I am. Thank you for saying that. Thank you.
I agree with you.
[ Laughter ]
She said, "Thank you. I agree with you."
[ Laughter ]
I love this lady. Whoo, child!
So -- Okay, so you see my --
You see my braids. Okay, I got my hoops on.
This is the pic that goes to her.
I was like, "Let me come over and do your makeup,"
because her makeup by itself
is, like, 4 hours, and I'm not lying.
Does it really take you that long? Yes.
No, sir, it does not. Yes.
About how long would you say to do your makeup?
For a date, where I got to be "beat" beat,
that's gonna take me about an hour and a half, 1:45.
You see why she needed me, Judge?
So tell me about this date.
So he gets out of his car, and first of all, he looks
nothing like any of the pictures that he sent me.
Those was at least 10 years old, and I'm leaning towards 15.
Okay? The man I was talking to was the man in those pictures.
That's not the man who got out that car.
This whole row -- dentures.
They didn't match the top.
[ Laughter ]
Mnh-mnh. Mnh-mnh.
When he was talking, did you see him do like this?
Listen...
[ Laughter ]
No, but I felt like he was trying
to do it with his tongue, being --
trying to be sexy, like...
Mm. Mm. Mm.
"Sir, could you put your tongue in your mouth?"
That's what I wanted to say. I didn't say it, though.
Okay, at any point, do you text Tiffany? Yes.
After I paid for the food and the drinks that we sat there
and had, 'cause he didn't pay.
'Cause the lady bro-- [ Spectators "ohh" ]
Do you see what I'm saying? So -- I'm sorry.
Wait, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. I'm sorry.
The check comes. Explain to me what happens. Right.
Okay, so this the check. Okay.
And it sat there.
And I looked at the check, and I looked at the bartender.
She looked at me.
We both looked at him.
He looking at the sky.
[ Laughter ]
♪♪
The check comes. Explain to me what happens. Right.
I looked at the bartender. She looked at me.
We both looked at him.
He looking at the sky.
[ Laughter ] The bill is right there.
Right there.
Me and her looking like, "What he..."
So now we're looking up
'cause maybe something's happening.
We don't know. So now we all looking up.
Okay?
So how did you decide to pay for it?
So I went to pull my crossbody to the front to open it,
thinking, "This will definitely prompt him
to be like, "Oh, no.'"
And I'm moving slow, too,
'cause I'm -- I'm waiting for him to stop me. Mm-hmm.
So I'm like...
"All right. Okay." So then I got my wallet out.
So I just take out money and put it down
and give it to the girl, say, "Here you go.
Here's -- Here's this." 'Cause I'm ready to go.
'Cause now you're not what I thought.
You're not the right height.
You got these dentures that we did not discuss.
All right, let's take a look at this bill. Let me... There it is. Yep.
$175 for food and drinks. It was for the dinner --
We had a good amount of drinks.
Okay, so now you text your girlfriend... Right.
..."Do you not even know me anymore?
Right.
He was fun, but, like, old man fun.
Not Kimeka fun."
And then you say, "And I swear those were
damn dentures." 'Cause they were.
Tiffany's response was, "So he out, huh?"
[ Laughter ]
So let me ask you something, Tiffany. Sure.
Do you think she didn't give
the guy enough of a chance, enough...
I think the minute that he looked up at the ceiling
when the check was on the table,
she should have told the beautiful bartender,
"Babe, split that check."
Mm. -Yeah.
And she should have paid her portion
and walked out, huh, in her good $27.99 jeans.
Mm.
How did the night end?
Okay. The night ended. We walked outside.
He wanted to ask me what I was doing tomorrow.
I was like, "I'm just really not sure."
And then he kissed me, and I allowed it.
-In your mouth? -In your mouth?
In -- In -- In my mouth.
[ Spectators "ohh" ]
Dentures and all.
And -- And I was worried about that.
I was. 'Cause I didn't want those in my mouth.
And I told him about it the next day
when I sent him my breakup -- breakup video.
You sent -- Wait a minute. Mm-hmm.
Wait a minute. You sent him a what?
My breakup video.
Good morning. I need to tell you openly
and honestly that we won't be seeing each other again.
When I actually offered to pay,
I thought for certain that you would be like,
"Nah, mnh-mnh. I got it."
And then I would have been like, "Okay, well,
at least let me do the tip."
No, you didn't. The kiss was nice,
but it was way too far for a first date.
And, like, the grabbing of my butt
and all that kind of stuff, like,
the vibe for me changed at that point.
How long was this? Four minutes.
A four-minute breakup video? Uh-huh.
I don't ghost people anymore. I let -- I send them a video
to let them know why they won't see me again.
Okay. And then once I show
that it's delivered, I block their number.
Well, that's nice. Isn't that nice?
That's nice. That's the Christian thing to do.
That's the Christian thing to do.
So now...
ladies, I understand you and your friend --
I don't think you made a mistake.
I really don't.
[ Cheers and applause ]
You can't know everything there is about a man
at a meeting at a cigar bar. I agree.
So you had ample time afterwards to get to know him.
Everybody missed on this one.
Your countersuit is for $300 --
$250 for a discounted makeup service and $50 for gas.
You all didn't discuss this as a business transaction.
You went over there and did it 'cause this is your girl.
So you had no agreement. So you can't get $250 for that.
Your gas, I don't --
You know, I know gas is high, but you drove over there.
The plaintiff, Kimeka, your suit is for $613.40 --
$195.41 for dinner and drinks,
$260 for new braids, $130 for nails,
and $27.99 for a new outfit.
Let's start bottom up. Okay.
The new outfit --
You still got the jeans. Yeah.
And then the $130 for nails.
Look like you still got them on, so...
[ Laughter ]
Now, so the new braids, that's $260.
Now this dinner and drinks. That --
'Cause this is what's really wrong here.
It's the dinner and drinks that you want to sue your friend for
for setting you up on this bad date.
Yes, sir. She didn't know the man had dentures.
[ Laughter ]
We're in a cigar bar. I ain't seen a man's dentures
come out of his mouth smoking a cigar yet
'cause you keep your lips curled most of the time.
Uh-huh.
[ Laughter ]
That's right.
Every now and then, you... [Laughs]
[ Laughter ]
But then you can push them back up, and don't nobody know.
[ Laughter ]
No way she would have known this.
When the check comes -- And let me say this to women.
If a man does not find you worthy of paying for a meal,
how in the world is he gonna find you worthy to take care of?
Come on.
Now...
when the bill come, you should have
looked at that lady and said, "Oh, excuse me.
I thought I was on a different type of date.
But I realize that I'm not.
So let's split the check and let me pay my portion,"
and then you get up and go home.
That's right. Woman: Exactly.
Now, listen to me.
Next thing you need to do -- Stop sending messages to people
you're not gonna see no more. Stop talking about,
"I don't like ghosting people." Bye!
[ Laughter ]
But now since you did pay it, that's on you.
-That's right, Steve. -Yeah.
Now, this kiss outside.
A woman has got to learn not to reward bad behavior.
Come on.
[ Cheers and applause ]
How in the hell do you get a kiss and you can't even
buy me a plate of food?
But you want a kiss, though.
Now, none of this is for sale... That's right.
...but it's not available for free.
That's right.
[ Applause ]
So I've reached my verdict.
For the defendant, I have to throw out
your countersuit of $300 --
$250 for discounted makeup services and $50 for gas.
Your countersuit is completely dismissed because
you did it out of your heart for the love of your girl.
And for the suit of $613 -- $27.99 for the new outfit,
you still have the clothes.
$130 for the nails.
They still looking good.
$260 for the new braids.
They gone. Something happened to them.
Don't know where they are.
And $195.41 for dinner and drinks
that you should have never paid for in the first place.
-That's right. -Right.
It is not her responsibility.
Come on. Her responsibility
was to be your girl
and to try to set you up, and she did that.
I am dismissing the suit for $613.40.
That's my verdict.
And that's the way I see it.
Thank y'all for coming.
Y'all are just friends, and that's all it is.
Appreciate y'all coming. Thank you very much.
I will never, ever play Cupid
as it comes -- as it applies to Kimeka Stewart.
We will be friends forever. She just cannot set me up again.
I'm in three other groups.
They have a rather generic dress code.
Together: [ Yawning ]
The Golden Girls didn't give a damn about that.
[ Cheers and applause ]
Okay, let's get started.
This is the case of Bradley Blumer,
Amanda Cipolletti, and Megan King
vs. Carrie Taft, Kimm Santa, and Jessie Haynes.
Bradley, Amanda, and Megan are suing the other half
of their a cappella group
for $3,000 in excessive costume costs.
Carrie, Kimm, and Jessie feel the lawsuit is ridiculous
and say there is nothing excessive
about looking your best.
Let's start with you, Megan.
I believe you're the spokesperson on this side.
You got 30 seconds to state your case.
Sure. Thank you, Your Honor, for having us here.
We are here on behalf of 1/2 of Epiphony A Cappella,
suing the other half of Epiphony A Cappella for $3,000,
$1,000 for each of us,
for money that we've been forced to spend on
elaborate costumes, accessories, shoes, you name it,
over the course of four years for gigs that we've had.
It's just gotten really out of hand at this point.
So, Jessie, it is your turn now. You have 30 seconds to respond.
I am absolutely flabbergasted.
We always try to be very frugal
when it comes to our beautiful costumes.
We do not owe the plaintiffs any...
♪ Money ♪ Money
♪ Money, hey
Man: Okay. [ Laughter ]
[ Applause ]
This is a courtroom.
This is not onstage. Whatever.
Steve: Let me start with you, Megan.
Tell me how the whole group started.
Sure. So about four years ago,
Jessie decided that she wanted to kind of create a group.
The total group is six people? Correct.
Do you all have particular roles in the group? Like...
I'm the artistic director,
so when they came on board with me,
they understood that I was trying to do something
really outside of the box.
Yeah, but there is a limit.
Now, this was your idea
to start the group? Absolutely.
And your name is? Amanda.
Amanda. Yes, ma'am. Look, I teach middle school drama.
I got enough drama in my life. I don't need it outside.
And this has gotten to be --
So this is not you guys' full-time job?
No.
What's your schedule like? I mean, do you work?
You got gigs?
-Yeah. -So a lot of us have families.
I myself am a single mom.
I'm also a music teacher full time.
And so when we step out of our normal roles
and we come to Epiphony,
there's so much that we do so well together.
That's why I'm so just gutted over this.
I mean, Megan and I have been friends for 20 years,
and now I just totally feel like she turned her back on me,
and she knows that I don't have it like that, Your Honor.
And now she's going and pulling this on us?
Are you for real?
Well, y'all have made her cry.
So what's the real problem?
I think that the problem is, is that,
you know, to Jessie's point, she is a single mom.
So these outfits for her do cost money.
They cost money for us, as well. But she --
But you're the one here suing.
She will wear this to, you know, the grocery store.
We have been forced to buy outfits that, quite frankly,
we don't like to fit an aesthetic that is not our own.
Your Honor, if I may... [ Laughter ]
...I try my best to tailor our outfits
for what's appropriate for the gig.
For example, when we show up onstage for a competition,
we show up in glitter everything, down to the shoes.
Well, let me tell you. Ain't nobody want to see this in that.
Okay? I-I am not...
I'm 55 years old.
I don't want to look like a teenager.
It is about what we -- we sound like.
That's distracting. Your Honor...
Well, let me -- Yes, ma'am? Your Honor,
we need to look great every time we hit that stage.
Jessie has eclectic taste,
but she is so good at picking out outfits
that match our personalities. So let me ask you something.
Do y'all three dress different from y'all three
when y'all are performing? How does that work?
No. We don't. Well, I don't wear --
I don't wear sequins.
Don't we have pictures of her in sequins? Yes, we do.
Yeah, because you made us buy them. Uh-huh.
I requested that they buy a glitter shoe
for one of our competitions. Shocking.
And at that rehearsal, she came over to rehearsal
with seven pairs of shoes in the trunk and said,
"Don't tell my husband."
Oh, she is lying. Unh-unh. Unh-unh.
No, here's what -- Unh-unh. That's the truth
'cause y'all... Aha!
...y'all have shoes in the car. You got it, Judge.
Marjorie put them in different closets on me. That's it.
I brought those over for her to approve.
And I said, "Don't tell my husband,"
'cause I had put it on the credit card,
so, "Don't tell him."
You bought seven pair of shoes at one time? I return them.
They got to get all approved by Jessie, the queen over here. They got to get approved.
And I'm not going to make five trips to the shoe store.
But didn't Jessie tell y'all which pair to buy?
Oh, yeah, but... And they were $30 on Amazon, honey.
Just saying. Hey, man, did you buy the spark--
For shoes I will never wear again. Wait a minute.
What -- Did you buy the sparkly shoes, dawg?
I did have to buy the sparkly shoes.
In fact, I brought them here for you.
I have not won them since.
Hold on. We got a video of you all performing.
Let's see the video.
[ All scatting ]
♪ Very superstitious
♪ Writing's on the wall
[ Cheers and applause ]
Now...
all y'all had on black... Woman: Mm-hmm.
...and I did notice these three were a little bit more shiny.
Mm-hmm. A little more shiny.
Do we have a personality conflict here?
I think it's an aesthetic conflict.
You know, I think that we can come -- all come together
and perform in our own aesthetics
and still look cohesive.
But every time we have a gig,
it turns into an hour-long conversation
about what Jessie wants us to wear.
And it just gets exhausting.
What is your opposition to that?
So I would say our -- our main opposition
is that for every new gig, we have to buy a new outfit.
Personally, I'm in three other a cappella groups, too.
Do you work, too? We're the best.
I do work full time.
Yes. And you work full time.
He the best what -- beatbox?
Yep, that's what I do. He holds it down.
But we can replace him if we need to.
[ Spectators "ohh" ]
I'm just gonna go out on a limb
and say you probably shouldn't have said that.
[ Laughter ]
♪♪
Yep. He the best what -- beatbox?
Yep, that's what I do.
But we can replace him if we need to.
[ Spectators "ohh" ]
I'm just gonna go out on a limb
and say you probably shouldn't have said that.
[ Laughter ]
So is that why you called me a year after the group formed
to beg me to come join y'all? Yeah, I was gonna say.
It took us a year to find a VP. Yeah.
Now, what part of North Carolina y'all live in?
-Charlotte. -Charlotte.
Charlotte. Ain't no more damn white beatboxers in Charlotte.
[ Laughter ]
Now, I like all y'all.
Judge, can I jump in here? Yes, ma'am.
I'm the oldest in the group. Uh-huh.
I'm like the mom of the group.
Okay. I just want us to
sound good and look good at the same time.
I don't think that's asking too much.
It's not asking too much, but -- but...
Okay, then. If it's not asking too much,
what, is it costing too much?
They're making us buy these crazy clothes
specifically for gigs, and we have closets
full of stuff that we already could wear.
How much have you all spent? Do you have any receipts?
Let me -- Let me -- Let me take a look.
-Yes. -We do have receipts.
Steve: Per performer, $1,078.
This is over a four-year period.
But, Judge, I'm a middle school math teacher in my normal life.
This is the only time I get to transform
into something different.
Don't take this alternate persona away from me.
If you take $1,078 and you divide that by 48 months,
it's $22.46 a month.
I'm an entertainer.
What Carrie is saying is, like, man, she's got this alter ego.
She steps out. She gets to live a dream.
This guy loves singing so much he's in four different groups.
I mean, you all actually have
a passion for what you do.
But we have a conflict here,
and you're gonna mess up the group over $22.46 a month.
Tell me what the real problem is.
So what I've been doing is comparing how much money
we've been spending on outfits here
compared to my other three groups.
Okay. In the other three groups,
they have a rather generic dress code,
I guess we'll call it, for our performances.
Together: [ Yawning ]
[ Laughter ]
The Golden Girls didn't give a damn
about that analogy you just gave. Woman: I know, right?
Yeah. And my point is that we can stick to one or two,
maybe even three outfits that we rotate
based on the kind of performance that we do.
Back in 2018, when I started the group,
I let them know that the stakes were high.
If we're gonna sound better, we need to look better.
But that doesn't equal glitter and crazy, crazy stuff.
-And -- Yeah. -I disagree.
I think that sets us above the rest.
Do we not look fabulous?
Which side would you rather look at?
[ Cheers and applause ]
Okay, see, let me -- Let me jump in here for a sec.
Megan and Jessie, how long have you all known each other?
20 years, Your Honor. Have you all been friends?
We have worked together. She is my --
We've been roommates.
We are like sisters. She is my sister.
And that's why this is tearing me apart.
The issue is deeper than the money.
And I think we've got to come to some type of compromise
because it can't just go your way... Mm.
...and it can't just go your way.
This is about a group just having a good time.
This is a break from the norm.
You get a chance to step outside your box,
get out your real world. Who don't like performing?
All of you, if you had your druthers,
you could perform for a living and let all them jobs go.
You don't love them kids that much.
Let's just be real.
[ Laughter ]
I've reached a verdict.
[ Cheers and applause ]
I'm throwing out the suit
for $3,000 for the excessive wardrobe costs.
It's spent. It's gone.
And I can't expect your group members
to pay you an additional $3,000.
But I would like to see the group continue.
So I'm going award each one of you
$1,000 apiece for wardrobe
that has to be spent exclusively on shiny, glittery...
over-the-top...
I want some more shiny shoes for Brad.
Next time I see your tape, this little light of mine...
let it shine, let it shine...
Together: Let it shine.
That's my verdict. And that's the way I see it.
[ Cheers and applause ]
And I want to hear y'all sing something.
[ Cheers and applause ]
I'm gonna find out what this is about.
[ Beatboxing ]
Come on, boy!
[ Group vocalizing ]
♪♪
♪ There is a house in New Orleans ♪
♪ They call the Rising Sun ♪
Steve: Come on, black boy.
It's not what you've done.
It's "What have you done for me lately?"
So, come on, Janet Jackson.
[ Laughs ]
[ Applause ]
[ Cheers and applause ]
Okay, so let's get started.
This is the case of Ariel Scott vs. Olu Akinrinde.
Ariel is suing her husband, Olu,
for $8,500 for a Nigerian wedding
that never happened.
Olu says he doesn't owe her a cultural wedding
because she's not Nigerian.
Okay, so let's start with you, Ariel.
You have 30 seconds to state your case.
I'm here today to sue my husband, Olu Akinrinde,
for broken promises.
And not only that --
for my big, fat Nigerian wedding that never happened.
So how much are you suing for?
I am suing for $8,500, sir.
Okay, Olu, it's your turn.
You have 30 seconds to respond.
Judge Steve, I do not owe my wife a Nigerian wedding.
If I wanted a Nigerian wedding,
I would have married a Nigerian.
[ Spectators "ohh" ]
And I believe that a Nigerian wedding is expensive.
It is gonna be better if we spend the money on a property.
So I got my wife a house,
and I think I don't owe her a wedding.
[ Cheers and applause ]
Now, let me understand something.
You all are married? Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
So why do you still want a wedding?
Let me take you back, Judge Steve.
Starts in 2020.
One day I'm talking to my pastor, and he's like, "Ariel,
you've been single for a long time."
And he's like, "I think I have the perfect guy for you."
Insert this Nigerian Prince Charming, right?
Whirlwind romance. Four months later, we get married.
But we have a wedding. A small wedding in the house.
Wait, wait. You met him. Yes, sir.
Four months later, you're married. Yes, sir.
I knew he was the one.
[ Spectators "aww" ]
Okay. [ Applause ]
So you got married at home?
Yes, sir. During COVID?
Yes, sir. Yeah.
How many people in the wedding?
Six or seven. And a couple more on Zoom.
Oh, on Zoom? Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
Yeah, that's how they were doing it.
They were doing like that. Yes.
Okay, so you're married.
You're married after four months?
Yes, sir. Wow. Love at first sight.
Love at first sight. Olu,
when you met her, tell me your feelings.
I used to see her in church, but I was holding back.
You know, I didn't want that thing in church.
Okay, so let's back up. Just me and you talk.
You -- You had --
You saw her at church? Yes.
And you didn't talk to her why?
I was being considerate about having
a relationship in church
because you know how ladies can be in church.
So I wasn't sure...
until the pastor said
this might be a good option.
All right, now, you want -- You want me
to tell you what really happened?
What happened, Judge Steve? Tell us what happened.
[ Laughs ]
You had seen her at the church before.
You looked at her. You're thinking to yourself,
"Wow. A little bit out of my league.
I don't want to blow it." So when the pastor came to you,
you had an opening that you had been looking for.
You just didn't know how to create.
You thought she was out your league.
Not really.
[ Laughter, spectators "ohh" ]
I know what was happening 'cause I'm looking over there.
Yeah.
She out your league.
[ Laughter ]
Okay, so talk to me now.
Mm-hmm. You want this wedding?
Yes, sir. Why?
I am American, as you know.
And he's from the Yoruba tribe. He's Nigerian.
When you see a traditional Nigerian wedding,
they not only have the elements of the American side.
It has elements of the Nigerian side, as well.
So I think it'll be a perfect way to blend our two families.
Did you all talk about this
before you got married? Yes, sir.
So what happened to that?
I was under the impression
that after COVID, you know, everything died down,
his family was able to come into America,
that we would have this wedding December 2021.
That's what you thought was gonna happen?
Yes, sir. That's what we discussed multiple times.
And we went so far to even open a joint account for that.
Were -- Were you making any plans towards this wedding?
Because, see, right now... Yes, sir.
...this is what it sound like to me, Miss America.
[ Laughter ]
It sound to me like you done mapped out a plan in your head
that you didn't share with your husband.
I can see how you could feel that way, Judge Steve.
No, I'm just -- I don't feel Yes, sir.nothing.
Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Okay. Okay. No, I-I know what he felt
when he was getting ready to approach you. Yes, sir.
You, I have no idea. Yes, sir.
If I knew women, I'd be a billionaire.
[ Laughter ]
Okay. Yes, sir. So we talked to his family.
Found fabric in Nigeria.
We were in the planning stage.
The und-- The impression I was under.
Okay. What discussions do you recall, Olu?
Well, she wanted to know about the Nigerian wedding,
the customs and all of that.
And I would say, "This is how it is.
This is what this is called."
And I never promised
because I knew the financial implications
and I wasn't ready to go into that.
You discussed a wedding with a woman,
and you think 'cause you didn't make a verbal promise
that that was just supposed to whoosh?
Well, Judge Steve, I -- It's 2020.
It was COVID,
and I just never felt like I promised.
[ Spectators "ohh" ] Mm.
Let me tell you something, Olu.
We in a -- We in a deep, dark hole right now.
Me and you, right now, we losing.
So, now, this wedding you say
that you all have been discussing...
Judge Steve, I can explain what it -- what that entails.
The traditional wedding is really expensive.
Everybody comes and you foot the bills.
Over here, you can see the outfit.
I can start from the bride.
Is the -- The bride is in the white?
Yes, it's called iro, buba,
and what she has on top of her head is gonna be the gele.
For a mother-in-law,
she's gonna have the asa-oke, as well, and the gele.
And if you go to the groom,
I'm gonna have an agbada.
That's the overall that I have to wear.
And I have a hat called the fila. Uh-huh.
To show you more about the tradition,
I brought you one so you can see.
Yeah.
I love tradition all like that.
You know? There you go.
Yeah. Thank you, man. This is real nice.
This is to show status.
It shows your marital status.
If you tilt the cap to the right,
it shows you're married,
and if you tilt it to the left, it shows you're single.
Oh, yeah. I have to...
All right. All right.
[ Cheers and applause ]
What's up?
It's nice. What do you call it? Fila.
I'm gonna keep the fila. I'm gonna keep that.
Thank you for bringing it.
You still in trouble, though. You do know that?
So, so, Judge Steve... Yeah, go ahead.
All of this is gonna cost nothing less than $10,000.
Yes. That's the groom's responsibility?
The groom's responsibility.
Oh, I understand.
So where are we at with this?
Because I'm a little stuck right here in the story.
You want to have this wedding when?
I would love to have the wedding at the end of 2022.
You -- You all would go to Nigeria?
I would prefer to have it in Nigeria,
but that would be about $25,000.
If we went there, all of his family, friends...
No, everybody coming in Nigeria.
Everybody in the immediate family. Have you --
Do you know that there are weddings in Nigeria
that have 200 people in the wedding?
-Yeah. -Wow.
So we're concerned about cost,
but he's not actually being economically smart.
Instead of us splitting the cost for a wedding,
he just went and got a house.
He went and got a more expensive house
than what we already have.
Excuse me. I'm sorry.
[ Laughter ]
We already have a house, Judge. Wait. No, wait. Stop. Back up.
I'm beyond confused right now.
Yes, sir. Yes, sir. You're married to a man who,
instead of giving you a wedding,
buys you a bigger and better house?
Yes, sir. You're tripping.
[ Cheers and applause ]
[ Scoffing ]
I'm beyond confused right now.
Yes, sir. Yes, sir. You're married to a man who,
instead of giving you a wedding,
buys you a bigger and better house?
Yes, sir. You're tripping.
[ Cheers and applause ]
[ Scoffing ]
♪♪
I'm -- I'm sorry.
I didn't have another word for that.
I forgot I was a judge.
Uh...
[ Laughter ]
What's -- What's wrong?
I understand it's part of the Yoruba tradition
to buy the house,
but it's also part of the Yoruba tradition
to have a Nigerian wedding.
Now he went and put $5,000 down without my knowledge...
Judge Steve. ...and then signs a contract
I-I was unaware of.
Judge Steve... Yes?
...a part of it is true.
The thing is, I'm from the Yoruba tribe,
and you know man to man,
Yeah. ...I can't be living in my wife's house.
I already told her when we got together,
"This is gonna be temporary. I'm gonna get my own house.
Our name is gonna be on the deed.
It's not just my house. It's our house."
And then I made sure that I put in -- in there
all the things that she wanted in the house.
She wanted an extra bathtub.
I made sure that that was included.
You ain't losing no more, man.
Nah.
[ Cheers and applause ]
You know, in a -- in a game of sports,
this is what they call a shift in momentum.
[ Laughter ]
Now, have you done anything else?
Yes, I love to make my wife happy.
Last Christmas, she already had a wedding ring,
and I decided to upgrade it.
The initial one she had was really beautiful,
but I just wanted -- Wait a minute. Wait a minute.
Wait a minute. Yes.
You upgraded the ring already? Yes.
I wanted to make her happy, and I felt like what I...
Stop right there.
[ Laughter ]
[ Cheers and applause ]
This boy right here done made the momentum shift.
It's fourth quarter. He winning by 40 right now.
Woman: Wow.
Yes, sir. Did you ask for the upgraded ring?
No.
What?! You didn't ask for it?
He did it to make you happy? Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
Let -- Let me see. This is the upgraded ring?
That's the original ring. Olu: That's the original one.
What's the upgrade?
[ Spectators gasp ]
[ Applause ]
[ Spectators chanting "Olu!" ]
Hold on. Wait a minute.
[ Laughter ]
It is no longer Olu.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is King Olu.
[ Cheers and applause ]
I...
have never --
And I know some rich people.
I don't know one of them that done went out and upgraded
they wife's ring without her asking.
You got a upgrade after two years.
I ought to slap this gavel on this thing right here.
[ Laughter, applause ]
Phew.
Go ahead.
[ Laughter ]
Say something to save yourself.
[ Laughter ]
Well, Judge Steve, back to the broken promises.
Oh, you're doing it. See, it's not what you've done.
It's "What have you done for me lately?"
So, come on, Janet Jackson. Let's go to the broken promises.
Yes, sir. He didn't promise the time frame,
but he did promise the traditional wedding.
So now, the $8,500 is not only for the wedding.
It's for the broken promises.
Because your word is your word.
Olu, how do you feel
about giving her a more traditional wedding?
I wanted to have a wedding, but it is expensive.
I'm from an accountant family. My dad is an accountant.
And I believe that we should invest our money.
That was why I went the route of the house.
You are correct in some things you say.
A man's word is his bond.
And women don't really care what else has happened.
They're gonna point to what you said.
That's a part of wearing that crown.
The right woman will require that you put it on.
And as heavy as it is, it helps you become better men.
How do you feel about Olu?
Well, I really love Olu.
I was a single mom for four years, Judge Steve.
So now he taking care of you and -- and the baby, too? Yes, sir.
Oh, girl.
Oh. Oh, girl.
[ Spectators chanting "Olu!" ]
Go ahead.
So I really appreciate not only that he's a good husband to me,
but he's the father that my son never had.
[ Voice breaking ] So I'm really grateful
and appreciative of Olu, and I love him.
[ Spectators "aww" ]
Olu, how do you feel about Ariel?
I love her.
She's very passionate, and I always want to make her happy.
"Always want to make her happy."
Man.
[ Applause ]
See... Yes, sir.
...oh, I know you wanted a wedding... Yes, sir.
...but it was more important for him to get an asset
because it's culture. You got to be the provider.
So what'd he do? He go out and get a house.
Then he took your ring after two years and upgraded it.
I've reached a verdict.
[ Cheers and applause ]
Your lawsuit is for $8,500 --
$7,500 for half of a wedding
and $1,000 for broken promises. Yes, sir.
I'm throwing out the lawsuit for $8,500. Totally thrown out.
It was ridiculous for you to bring it in here.
You should be ashamed of yourself.
But because there is so much love between you,
I am going to give this man, King Olu,
$17,500.
And throw the biggest wedding you can.
Thank you. Thank you.
That's my verdict.
And that's the way I see it.
[ Spectators chanting "Olu!" ]
♪♪
Let me get on out of here.
Hey! [ Laughs ]
It feels amazing
to be awarded $17,500 by Judge Steve Harvey.
Don't worry, Judge Harvey.
We're gonna put it to good use
and have the wedding of a lifetime.
♪♪