VH1 Faces Decision on Reality Show After Arrest of Chad Johnson

By BRIAN STELTER

The Miami Dolphins receiver Chad Johnson's arrest on a domestic violence charge has left the cable channel VH1 with an expensive decision to make: whether to televise his coming reality show, “Ev & Ocho.”

The show was to feature Mr. Johnson, previously known as Chad Ochocinco, and his new wife, Evelyn Lozada, who was a star of the VH1 series “Basketball Wives.” (She was previously engaged to the basketball player Antoine Walker.) Eleven episodes about the couple's engagement and wedding were taped earlier this year, including a two-part season finale. The first episode was scheduled to be shown on VH1 on Sept. 3.

But Mr. Johnson is now in the news after being accused of head-butting Ms. Lozada during an argument on Saturday night, at a time when the channel's cameras were not present. His contract with the Dolphins was terminated the next day. VH1, though, isn't acting as swiftly. A spokesman for the channel, o wned by Viacom, said Monday that no decision had been made yet about whether to postpone the premiere date or scrap the series altogether.

Three years ago the channel was confronted by a cancellation decision when a reality show cast member was found dead after being named a suspect in the murder of his former wife. The show, “I Love Money 3,” was never televised, but a sequel to it, with different cast members, did eventually make it onto the channel's schedule.