Eliza Shaffy is best known as the former wife of Randy Jackson, the youngest brother of Michael Jackson and a member of The Jacksons. Her brief marriage to Randy in the early 1990s pulled her into one of the most famous families in music, and into a domestic violence case that made headlines at the time. Since her divorce, she has lived almost entirely out of the public eye.
This article lays out what is verifiable about her life: her background, the marriage, the court case, her daughter Stevanna Jackson, and where she is today. Where public records are thin, we say so.
Eliza Shaffy: Quick Facts
| Full name | Eliza Shaffy (also spelled Eliz Shaffe) |
| Date of birth | April 23, 1951 (reported) |
| Birthplace | Cleveland, Ohio, USA (reported) |
| Background | Iranian-American |
| Education | Psychology degree, UC Berkeley (reported) |
| Known for | Former wife of Randy Jackson of The Jacksons |
| Marriage | August 1989 to 1991 |
| Children | Stevanna Jackson (born June 17, 1990) |
| Current status | Living privately in the United States |
Early Life and Background
Publicly verified details about Eliza Shaffy’s early life are scarce, which is consistent with how private she has always been. She is reported to have been born on April 23, 1951, in Cleveland, Ohio, and to be of Iranian-American heritage. Some biographical accounts state that she earned a degree in psychology from the University of California, Berkeley, though original documentation for this is not publicly available.
What is clear is that she was not a public figure before her marriage. Unlike many people who marry into celebrity families, she had no entertainment career of her own and sought no spotlight.
Marriage to Randy Jackson
Eliza Shaffy married Steven Randall “Randy” Jackson in August 1989. Randy, born October 29, 1961, is the youngest brother of the Jackson family performers: he joined The Jacksons in 1975 when Jermaine Jackson left the group, and he co-wrote hits including “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground).”
Their daughter, Stevanna Jackson, was born on June 17, 1990, roughly a year into the marriage. The marriage itself lasted about two years and ended in divorce in 1991.
A Note on the Two Randy Jacksons
Randy Jackson of The Jacksons is frequently confused with a different Randy Jackson: the musician and television presenter born June 23, 1956, best known as a judge on American Idol from 2002 to 2013. They are two entirely different people. Eliza Shaffy was married to the Jacksons member, not the American Idol judge.
The Domestic Violence Case
The marriage ended amid serious and well-documented allegations. In January 1991, Randy Jackson was charged with battery after Eliza reported that he had assaulted her and their infant daughter, then about 14 months old.
According to contemporary reports, Jackson was ordered to enroll in a domestic violence rehabilitation program. When Eliza later told police the abuse had continued, he was arrested again. He was subsequently ordered to spend 30 days in a psychiatric facility in Canoga Park, complete probation, and finish a 12-month domestic violence rehabilitation program.
Eliza filed for divorce following these events. The case was widely covered in tabloids at the time and remains the most publicly documented chapter of her life.
Life After the Divorce
After the divorce was finalized in 1991, Eliza Shaffy withdrew from public life almost completely. She raised her daughter in Los Angeles, largely shielded from the Jackson family media circus. She has given no major interviews and maintains no public social media presence. A small-claims case involving her surfaced in Los Angeles court records in 2019, but beyond that, she has kept her privacy intact for more than three decades.
Her Daughter: Stevanna Jackson
Stevanna Jackson, born June 17, 1990, is the only child of Eliza Shaffy and Randy Jackson. She has pursued a creative career in music and acting, recording under the moniker Billie Bodega. Her acting credits include roles in Zoey 101 (2005), The Wrong Child (2016), and American Horror Stories (2022). She has also spoken publicly about mental health awareness.
The Alejandra Oaziaza Entanglement
One of the strangest footnotes to this story involves Alejandra Oaziaza. During Eliza’s marriage to Randy, he was also in a relationship with Oaziaza, with whom he had a daughter, Genevieve, born December 3, 1989, while still married to Eliza. Randy and Oaziaza later had a son, Randy Jr., born in 1991.
Years later, Oaziaza married Randy’s older brother Jermaine Jackson, with whom she had two more children. The overlapping relationships blurred family lines considerably and deepened rifts within the Jackson family.
Where Is Eliza Shaffy Now?
Eliza Shaffy is believed to be living privately in the United States. Now in her seventies, she has never sought fame from her Jackson family connection and has successfully stayed out of the spotlight since the early 1990s. Her story is ultimately one of a woman who walked away from a famous name and chose a quiet life instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Eliza Shaffy?
Eliza Shaffy is the former wife of Randy Jackson of The Jacksons. They were married from August 1989 to 1991 and have a daughter, Stevanna Jackson.
Why did Eliza Shaffy and Randy Jackson divorce?
Their divorce followed a 1991 domestic violence case in which Randy Jackson was charged with battery after Eliza reported assaults against her and their infant daughter. He was ordered into a domestic violence rehabilitation program.
Who is Stevanna Jackson?
Stevanna Jackson, born June 17, 1990, is the daughter of Eliza Shaffy and Randy Jackson. She works as a musician (under the name Billie Bodega) and actress.
Is Eliza Shaffy’s ex-husband the American Idol judge?
No. Eliza Shaffy was married to Randy Jackson of The Jacksons (born 1961). The American Idol judge Randy Jackson (born 1956) is a different person.
What is Eliza Shaffy doing now?
She lives a private life in the United States and has stayed out of the public eye since her divorce in the early 1990s.
Sources
- Randy Jackson biography and family details, The Jacksons Wiki: https://thejacksons.fandom.com/wiki/Randy_Jackson
- Randy Jackson personal life and marriage details, Michael Jackson Wiki: https://michael-jackson.fandom.com/wiki/Randy_Jackson
- Eliza Shaffy life story and domestic violence case reporting: https://digiblogs.co.uk/eliza-shaffy-life-story-tied-to-the-jackson-family-legacy
- Randy Jackson arrest and battery charge reporting: https://entrepreneurmindz.com/eliza-shaffy/
- Eliza Shaffy background and legal history: https://unfoldbusiness.com/eliza-shaffy/
Note: Some details of Eliza Shaffy’s early life come from secondary biographical sources, as she has never published an autobiography or given major interviews. Dates of the marriage (August 1989) and her daughter’s birth (June 17, 1990) are consistent across sources; some sources date the divorce to 1992 rather than 1991.
