Billy Porter has a new bone to pick with his estranged husband over their beloved dog, as the couple’s divorce turns increasingly bitter.
The ‘Pose’ star, who announced his split from Adam Smith in July, claims his spouse has refused him access to their mini cockapoo, Lola, since the summer and has even changed her name.
But the fur really flew during a hearing in November when lawyers for Smith fired back claiming Lola belongs to him because the pup was a present from Porter.
Now, Porter is demanding an ‘access schedule’ for the dog, similar to visitation rights for divorcing couples with children, according to a report on Allegedly, a news blog run by New York City courts reporter Victoria Bekiempis.
Billy Porter claims estranged husband Adam Smith has refused him access to their mini cockapoo, Lola, after they separated in the summer and has even changed her name
A representative for the Broadway star, confirmed the divorce in July this year, saying the decision was ‘amicable and mutual’
His attorneys insist the pooch is a ‘marital asset’ and claim Smith ‘took me off as being the father.’
As both sides showed their claws, Smith even suggested that Porter was an unfit parent for doing drugs and having parties, prompting the judge to suggest daytime visits.
The flare-up happened at the New York Supreme Court during the split between Porter and Smith, a vintage swimwear designer, who announced their separation in July after six years of marriage.
At the time Porter’s spokesman said it was an ‘amicable and mutual’ decision, but since then matters have become tense over Lola.
The former couple welcomed the dog to their family in January 2021 with the full name of Bader Lola Majors, or BLM, a nod to the Black Lives Matter movement.
They even created an Instagram profile for their pet but the account has since been deactivated, an apparent casualty of their split – though it is unclear who took it down.
At the November 15 hearing, after a discussion about financial matters, Porter’s lawyer Margaret Brady told Judge Douglas Hoffman there was ‘just one other small matter…the parties owned a dog’.
Judge Hoffman replied that it was ‘not a small matter’, adding that it ‘depends what dog it is’.
Porter spoke in court to identify the dog breed: ‘Cockapoo’.
Smith has argued that the adorable pooch belongs to him because she was given to him as a present from Porter
Porter is demanding an ‘access schedule’ for the dog, similar to visitation rights for divorcing couples with children
It was when Brady described the pet as an ‘adorable little dog’ that the judge revealed he was very familiar with the breed saying: ‘You’re talking to a former cockapoo owner’.
Brady said: ‘I hope you’ll be sympathetic. Defendant (Smith) has refused to give plaintiff (Porter) access to the dog since the middle of this summer. We would like an access schedule’.
Dana Stutman, Smith’s lawyer replied: ‘Your honor, it’s not their dog. It was given as a gift’.
But Brady said that, as far as Porter was concerned, it was a ‘marital asset’.
Stutman insisted it was a birthday present from Porter, though she conceded that doesn’t make it ‘separate property’.
She claimed that in the past seven months Porter had not asked to see Lola a single time.
Brady shot back that Porter’s request was ‘refused from the get-go’ and that Porter would still like to see his pet.
Judge Hoffman asked when Porter would like to see the dog, but Stutman said; ‘As long as he can promise he’s not doing drugs, that he’s not having parties.
A defiant Porter told the court: ‘You will not scandalize my name like that’.
Brady suggested a deal under which both sides would ‘agree that they would not do any drugs or drink any alcohol when the dog is in their possession’.
Another option was that a ‘neutral third party’ could be used to exchange the animal, rather than Porter and Smith doing it face to face.
The couple, who met in 2009, tied the knot in January 2017 just 16 days after getting engaged
Heartfelt: In February of this year, Porter penned a heartfelt tribute to his husband in honor of his birthday
Stutman told the court: ‘I can certainly arrange for him (Porter) to see (the dog) but to stay overnight with him (Porter) is something that’s very difficult.
‘If you want to have a trial on whether or not there’s fitness for taking care of a dog, we’ll do that. But I don’t think that that’s really what Mr. Porter wants’.
Judge Hoffman said he didn’t want to appoint a forensic veterinarian, which would be similar to a child custody hearing where experts weigh in on the child’s best interests.
He suggested daytime visits for a ‘substantial’ amount of time and asked what the dog’s name was, prompting another tense exchange.
When Stutman said ‘Lola’, Porter told the court: ‘He (Smith) changed the name’
Brady, Porter’s lawyer, said that the dog’s name had been Bader, prompting Porter to recite her full name: ‘Brady Lola Majors’.
After blocking access to the animal, Smith changed the name, Brady said. Porter added: ‘And took me off as being the father’
When Judge Hoffman asked what the dog’s name was now, Porter said: ‘Lola, the mini cockapoo’. Smiths’ lawyer agreed it was now Lola.
The Pose star was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame Star during a ceremony in December 2022
The judge asked both sides to ‘arrange for reasonable access’ and said that daytime visits were a good start.
‘The dog is a member of the family. He can visit with the dog. Let’s work that out reasonably. Okay?’ the judge said, to which Stutman replied, yes.
Porter and Smith had briefly dated after meeting in February 2009 but Porter broke things off in 2010.
They got back together in 2015 with a brunch date and a trip to see Hamilton at the Public Theatre in New York.
Porter told Smith he loved him and he wanted to ‘give it another shot’ and Smith felt the same way.
They got married in January 2017 just 16 days after getting engaged because they wanted to be wed before Donald Trump took office as president.
DailyMail.com has contacted lawyers and reps for Porter and Smith.
In a statement to When asked for comment by Allegedly, Porter’s PR told the website: ‘Seriously? Aren’t there more important things you could be writing about?’
