Joe Francis, the founder of the ‘Girls Gone Wild’ franchise, is getting married to his on-again, off-again girlfriend Christina McLarty, though the two won’t be having a traditional wedding, Page Six reported on July 1. Francis and McLarty, a Los Angeles-based CBS reporter, have been together for four years.

Page Six quoted Francis as saying “We have chosen to have a civil domestic partnership because we don’t believe it’s appropriate to be married until our gay and lesbian friends are afforded the same rights as us to legally marry in the United States.” The couple will have a ceremony at his beachfront estate in Punta Mita, Mexico, with about 200 guests. Francis also said that music producer Quincy Jones will serve as his best man.

Francis made headlines in 2008 when he served nearly a year in jail in Florida for several charges. He also pleaded guilty last year for filing false tax returns, and the IRS said he owed almost $34,000 in back personal taxes.

Written by: Karen Benardello

Christina McLarty

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