After a 13-year relationship that included a seven-year engagement, Nia Long and Ime Udoka have officially broken up. This comes nearly three months after Udoka was suspended by the Boston Celtics for an alleged affair he had with a female subordinate. The news caught Long completely off-guard.
“The situation is unfortunate and painful, but Nia is focusing on her children and rebuilding her life,” one source close to the situation said, according to PEOPLE. That sentiment was echoed by a representative for Long, who added they’re “no longer together but remain fully committed to co-parenting their son.”
Luckily for Long, she has two loving sons and an entire army of loyal supporters that have continued to give her the strength and comfort to move forward with her life. It also helps that the famous actress has several projects in the works – as well as several other projects she finished this year – to keep her busy.
RELATED: Adam Levine Issues First Statement After a Model Who Isn’t His Wife Claims They Had an Affair
The news of the split comes a week after her interview with The Hollywood Reporter, where she called out the Boston Celtics for their handling of the situation. She first called them out for making a private matter public. “I think the most heartbreaking thing about all of this was seeing my son’s face,” she said.
She then called the organization out for not checking in with her – before, during, or after the situation went public. It was something that many of her supporters in Hollywood and on social media echoed, as people wondered if there was a better way to handle such a private matter between a mother and father.
And while Nia Long faced a media blitz in the coming days and weeks, she was blown away by the support she was receiving online. “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,” she added.
While the couple is no longer together, they’re going to stay fully committed to co-parenting their only child together. For someone like Nia Long, who has never really believed in the idea of marrying someone, you have to wonder what the future holds after the rapid downfall of her engagement to Ime.
Nia Long is Keeping Herself Busy in 2023
In case you were wondering if her recent fallout with Ime Udoka would get in the way of her work, it won’t. Sure, she took some time to herself after the news broke and even pulled her child from school, but that’s understandable. Even after some time to herself, she has a lot to look forward to in the new year ahead.
First and foremost, she’s starring in the upcoming film You People, to be released in January 2023. The cast includes several high-profile names including Jonah Hill (who co-wrote the film), Eddie Murphy, Mike Epps, Lauren London, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. It’s supposed to be a well-reviewed film.
She’s also starring in another upcoming film titled Missing, which will also be released in January 2023. This all comes after starring in Look Both Ways, which was released in August, and The Best Man: The Final Chapters, which will be premiering on Peacock this month. There’s a lot going on right now!
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Indiana Pastor Admits Affair To Congregation, Woman Emerges From The Crowd As His 16-Year-Old Victim
As for her relationship with Ime Udoka, you can consider that done. They’ll likely remain cordial, at least for their child’s sake, as Udoka attempts to right his wrongs in the public eye. He’ll eventually want to return to coaching and shouldn’t have any issue finding a job in the NBA – albeit with criticism.