In The Latest Entertainment News Of Nia Long
The actress recently did an interview with the Hollywood Reporter discussing her new role on Peacock’s The Best Man: The Final Chapters reuniting her with the original cast.
She also addressed her embattled relationship with former Boston Celtics’ coach and long-time beau, Ime Udoka. As previously reported, the Celtics cut ties with the 45-year-old for work misconduct.
Following his improper relationship with a female worker within the organization leading to his suspension, Long, who shares a son with Udoka said,
“I went home to be with my son, and that was what was most important to me because he was not having an easy time.”
Public Outcry Over Udoka’s Personal Actions
The former couple got engaged in 2015 after a seven-year courtship in 2009. Once news of the scandal made its way to the public, the Celtics held a press conference (Sept. 23) announcing Udoka’s suspension.
He was recently in the name pool of possible coaches to take the head coaching position for the Brooklyn Nets replacing Steve Nash.
However, the decision would’ve been seen as a controversial hire given the organization’s investigation of the matter and other factors, per Bleacher Report.
The Aftermath And Reflection
The situation had social media on fire and had various opinions from the public weighing in, especially women in support of Long leaving the relationship.
She expressed her disdain as to how the Celtics organization chose to respond as a result of the affair. To save her son any type of embarrassment, the actress removed her son from school post the revelation,
“I think the most heartbreaking thing about all of this was seeing my son’s face when the Boston Celtics organization decided to make a very private situation public.”
Long added,
“It was devastating, and it still is. He still has moments where it’s not easy for him. If you’re in the business of protecting women — I’m sorry, no one from the Celtics organization has even called to see if I’m OK, to see if my children are OK. It’s very disappointing.”
With her popularity in mainstream films and playing the leading lady in fan-favorite Black films, she saw an outpour of support from her fans,
“I literally felt like my heart had jumped out of my body,” she recalls of the media blitz. “And then what I found was this tribe of women and men who were standing up for me in a way that felt like I was in this bubble of protection, and that was very comforting.”
The Best Man: The Final Chapters is set to drop on Dec. 22.