David Del Rio, formerly part of CBS’ Matlock reboot, has hired high-profile defense attorney Shawn Holley following his recent dismissal from the show.
Multiple outlets, including TMZ and Us Weekly, confirmed that Del Rio, 38, retained Holley several weeks after he was removed from the production amid a sexual assault allegation involving co-star Leah Lewis.
Holley, 63, is known for representing notable clients such as Kim Kardashian, Justin Bieber, and Lindsay Lohan. Her involvement marks the first significant development from Del Rio’s side since the incident was first reported.
The alleged incident took place in late September during production on Matlock’s second season. Lewis, 28, reported the matter to CBS shortly after the incident.
Del Rio was fired and escorted off the studio lot the same day the complaint was filed. Scripts were rewritten to remove the character of Billy Martinez from upcoming episodes. The series, which stars Kathy Bates in the lead role, continued filming without interruption.
Lewis publicly addressed the situation last month, sharing a message of support and resilience on Instagram. “Mom is here, we’re moving forward in love and strength. I’m in good hands,” she wrote, thanking those who reached out. “Truly, we’re moving forward in strength. Key word, strength. Please, let that be the takeaway.”
Del Rio has not made a public statement regarding the firing. However, his wife, Katherine Del Rio, reacted on social media shortly after his exit was confirmed. In an Instagram Story, she referred to Lewis as “the most disturbing human being I have ever met.” The post was later removed, and the Del Rio family has issued no additional comments.
Before the off-screen controversy, the show had recently aired an emotional storyline between Billy and Lewis’ character, Sarah Franklin. In one episode, Billy defended Sarah during a tense moment at the firm, telling a colleague, “Stop gaslighting Sarah.”
Matlock premiered in 2024 as a reimagining of the classic courtroom drama, following Bates’ character Madeline “Matty” Matlock as she investigates a large law firm tied to her daughter’s death. Season two premiered on October 12 and continues to air with Del Rio’s role phased out in the second half of the season.
Holley has not yet released a comment on behalf of Del Rio. The investigation remains ongoing.
If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual assault, help is available. You can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 or visit rainn.org for confidential support.