CBS's 'Matlock' Rocked With Alleged Sexual Assault, Firing And Looming Court Battle

CBS's legal drama series "Matlock" has gone from fictional court battles to a real-life showdown between two of its stars. 

The shocking on-set incident became public knowledge in October when actress Leah Lewis leveled scathing sexual assault accusations against her former co-star, David Del Rio.

The network and "Matlock" showrunners reportedly took action immediately after Leah Lewis dropped her allegations, leading to the actor's prompt exit from the series. However, David Del Rio isn't backing down without a fight.

According to new reports, Del Rio has enlisted the services of a famous celebrity attorney to prove his innocence in court. Sources with direct knowledge revealed he had retained Shawn Holley, a powerful legal practitioner known for working with Kim Kardashian, Justin Bieber, and other A-listers.

There have been no reports of a formal lawsuit against Lewis or CBS; however, Del Rio's decision to hire Holley showcases his intent to fight the sexual assault allegations in court. The LAPD also told TMZ that there was no record of Lewis' accusations.

According to authorities, there was no evidence that the actress had filed an assault report against Lewis. They noted that there was no record matching the date or location of her claims; nonetheless, her words have cost Del Rio his job and reputation in the industry.

Deadline covered the sexual assault drama, reporting that Del Rio was fired on October 2, the same day Lewis dropped her allegations. The incident allegedly occurred in Lewis' trailer on September 26, days before the actress informed the series' producers and CBS Studios.

The legal series's showrunners took immediate action against Del Rio, reportedly launching an internal investigation to find the truth. Unfortunately for the actor, the results led to his prompt exit, and he was escorted off the Paramount lot on October 2.

Sources claimed Del Rio's exit received the attention of higher-ups, as "Matlock's" executive producer, Eric Christian Olsen, was among those who kicked him off the premises. Additionally, there was no hope for his character's return, with the series' creative team reportedly reworking the script to write Del Rio off.

Following news of the TV personality's exit from the legal drama series, his wife fired back against his accuser. Katherine Del Rio posted and deleted a zoomed-in picture of Lewis' face alongside the words: "This is the most disturbing human being I have ever met."

Katherine's shade continued in a since-deleted post that mirrored Lewis' reaction to the sexual assault drama. She shared a picture of herself posing with her mom and captioned it: "Mom is here. We're moving forward in love and strength after what Leah did to our family. Thank you all for the love and support!"

She also thanked fans for their support, reiterating that she was moving forward in strength. "Keyword, strength. Let that be the takeaway," Lewis concluded.

Katherine's fierce defence of her husband stems from their years-long connection. Like David, she has ties to the entertainment industry as an actress and co-founded the production company, Theatre Row Productions, with her beau.

Besides acting and producing, Katherine has made a name for herself as a chef. She once revealed that she started a small cooking business during her time in New York and landed her dream job in 2019 as a private chef for the Jonas Brothers.

The Disney alums weren't the only celebrities Katherine has served, as PEOPLE reported that she had catered for other celebrity events and music festivals like Coachella and Stagecoach. Outside her jobs, Katherine is the proud mother of two beautiful girls: Lilliam Kellie Wallace Del Rio III and Coco Del Rio.

David and Katherine's love story came straight out of a romance book, with a love at first sight theme. Katherine was studying at New York University when she decided to let loose and relax by watching the Broadway production of "In The Heights."

Katherine stepped out for the show with her parents, who were visiting at the time, and was mesmerized by David's performance. She confessed that she had a "little crush" on him and happily agreed when her father offered to take their picture.

Despite the connection Katherine felt with David, the pair's relationship did not turn romantic until they reunited three years later at a mutual friend's party. They got engaged in 2017 and tied the knot a year later at the same place they first met: Richard Rodgers Theatre.