Sutton Stracke has gone public with a new romance.
The “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star, 52, is dating John C. Kelly, a former Morgan Stanley banker who left Wall Street more than a decade ago following a criminal case involving secret recordings of women. The pair were first seen together this past Sunday at Aerosmith’s sold-out “California Dream On” concert at the Hollywood Bowl, where Stracke attended as a personal guest of Janie’s Fund, the Steven Tyler charity supporting girls who have survived abuse and neglect.
“They met on Bumble,” a source said. “They have been spending time together since the summer.”
Stracke hard-launched the relationship with a series of photos showing intimate moments between the couple, including one capturing Kelly kissing her on the cheek as confetti fell around them. During the concert outing, the Sutton Brands sustainable fashion house founder wore a vintage Walter Payton varsity jacket, a one-of-a-kind circular-fashion piece from her own sustainable clothing line.
Kelly’s departure from finance in 2013 followed his arrest for allegedly videotaping three women during sexual acts without their consent between 2011 and 2012. He faced a 19-count indictment but ultimately accepted a plea deal that allowed him to avoid jail time.
The new relationship marks a significant turn in Stracke’s personal life, which had remained relatively quiet since her 2018 divorce from Christian Stracke. The former couple, who share three adult children together, saw their marriage later annulled by the Catholic Church in a move that reportedly blindsided the reality star.
Kelly comes from a prominent legal family. His father, John Q. Kelly, spent over four decades litigating high-profile cases, including representing the estate of Nicole Brown Simpson and President Donald Trump in his case against Meta.
Stracke joined the “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” cast in 2020 for the show’s tenth season and has since become known for her sharp wit, Southern manners, and frequent clashes with co-stars over etiquette and social standing. Her West Hollywood boutique, Sutton, and her growing fashion brand have become central storylines in recent seasons.
The timing of the relationship reveal coincides with ongoing shifts in Stracke’s personal narrative on the Bravo series, where her dating life and search for companionship have been documented in recent episodes.
Neither Stracke nor Kelly has publicly addressed the relationship beyond the social media posts that surfaced this week. Representatives for the “RHOBH” star did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the new romance or how it might factor into future seasons of the show.
The Hollywood Bowl appearance marked a public coming-out for the couple after months of private dating that began in the summer months, according to the source familiar with their relationship.
The pairing draws fresh attention to Stracke’s romantic life following years of storyline focus on her adjustment to singlehood after the end of her long marriage. The annulment by the Catholic Church added a layer of complexity to her post-divorce identity that she has discussed in interviews and on the series.
Stracke is expected to return for the upcoming season of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” with production on new episodes anticipated to begin in the coming months.