Photo: Getty Images
Nia Long is opening up about how she and her 11-year-old son handled the news of her longtime partner Ime Udoka's alleged affair.
“I literally felt like my heart had jumped out of my body,” Long told The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday (December 1).
Udoka, who helped lead the Boston Celtics to the NBA Finals in June, was banned from the franchise for a year after reportedly engaging in an improper and consensual relationship with a woman on the team's staff.
As news of the alleged cheating scandal broke, Long said she took Kaz, the 11-year-old son she shares with Udoka, out of school.
“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 said. “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.”
Long, who got engaged to Udoka in 2015, didn't provide an update on the status of her relationship, but the actress told THR she's received overwhelming support received amid the allegations.
“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 said.
Udoka previously apologized to his family in a statement after he was suspended for the 2022-2023 season.
“I want to apologize to our players, fans, the entire Celtics organization, and my family for letting them down,” Udoka said. “I am sorry for putting the team in this difficult situation, and I accept the team’s decision. Out of respect for everyone involved, I will have no further comment.”
Get the latest news 24/7 on The Black Information Network. Listen now on the iHeartRadio app or click HERE to tune in live.