Nia Long recently provided an update on her relationship with her ex-fiancé, Ime Udoka, revealing that they are on good terms in their co-parenting journey.
Long, 54, and Udoka, 48, started dating in 2010 before welcoming their son, Kez, in November 2011. They eventually got engaged in 2015 before ending their relationship in December 2022 following allegations that Udoka – then coach of the Boston Celtics – cheated on Long with a married team staffer.
But Long, in an interview with The Cut for their latest cover story, stated that they’re currently not at odds with each other.
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“This summer, I traveled with my youngest son and my ex, Ime. We had a great time,” the Friday star revealed. “I’ve never walked that much in my life. But it was really beautiful because we’ve had a very public journey that has found its way to peace and understanding. And there’s a lot of mutual respect that we have for each other.”
Long then went ahead to emphasize that the “most important gift you can give your kids is to heal your trauma.” “I don’t talk much about my personal life ’cause it’s no one’s business, but every now and then people speculate things on social media and it’s like me and Coach are good,” she added.
In the wake of the cheating scandal, the former NBA player stepped down as coach of the Boston Celtics. Udoka now coaches the Houston Rockets, and Long said that she’s rooting for him.
“I hope he wins,” she said about Udoka. “He deserves to win. He’s really great at what he does. We can have experiences with our son and make him the priority.”
The Boyz n the Hood star, however, admitted that though there’s “still healing to be done and understanding to be had,” the “past is the past.”
“I’m not going to carry burdensome energy with me because that just transfers to my children and it transfers to everything else in my life. I’m proud of myself,” Long continued.
“I think we’re proud of each other as the parents of Kez, that we’re able to make this an annual thing and commit to these last sweet years of him being in grade school and high school before he goes off to college. We’re both going to be standing there watching him graduate.”
Long also touched on her relationship with her children and why she’s always open to them – regardless of whether she’s in good or bad spirits.
“I talk about my kids a lot because they take up so much space in my life and in my heart. Everything I do is for them,” she stated.
“I’m not a perfect mother. I’ve made many mistakes … My kids have seen me go through it. But that’s the type of mother I am. If I’m pissed, everyone knows. If I’m happy, everyone knows. Protect the innocence of your children, but allow them to see the truth in every situation.”
READ ALSO: Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka to pay Nia Long $32K in monthly child support
