‘Shahs Of Sunset’ Alum Mike Shouhed’s Ex-Fiancée Claims He Threatened To Kill Her In Domestic Violence Lawsuit

Former Shahs of Sunset star Mike Shouhed is facing a lawsuit from his ex-fiancée Paulina Ben-Cohen, who is suing him for alleged assault and battery, gender violence and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

In the court documents obtained by People, Ben-Cohen details a March 2022 argument at her Los Angeles home that allegedly took a violent turn. She claims that she was “viciously, brutally, and repeatedly assaulted and battered” by Shouhed in a bedroom and her children’s playroom. Screenshots of the incident from security cameras are also documented in the complaint.

Shouhed allegedly started the argument after Ben-Cohen put her kids to bed and decided to have a tobacco-free hookah. She claims he called her a “horrible mother,” “fucking whore” and “piece of shit.” She then asked him to leave her house and began packing up his things.

At that point, Ben-Cohen alleges that Shouhed “forcefully grabbed [her] hair and shoulder and violently threw her to the ground.” He allegedly bent over her and “struck her in the face” and “tried to suffocate her as she writhed on the ground and struggled to breathe,” according to the complaint.

Ben-Cohen also claims he threatened to kill her and that he told her he “had a hitman who would put her away.”

“Nearly four minutes after [Shouhed] initiated his series of vicious and brutal attacks on the plaintiff, this harrowing incident finally came to an end,” the suit reads, per People. “After Shouhed went upstairs to retrieve one of his firearms, the police were called, came to the residence and arrested Shouhed.”

Shouhed — who was an original cast member on Shahs of Sunset — was released later that same day on a $50,000 bond. He faced 14 criminal charges at the time, including four counts of domestic battery, two counts of attempting to dissuade a victim from making a report and six weapons charges. However, he pled not guilty to all of them, according to Entertainment Weekly.

Decider has reached out to Shouhed’s reps for comment, but did not hear back by the time of publication.

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse, help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 800-799-7233, or text START to 88788.