Nia Long Says She Was Overwhelmed By Support After Affair Scandal

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 24: Nia Long attends the 22nd Annual Reel Works ChangeMaker Gala at The Ziegfeld Ballroom on May 24, 2023 in New York City.
(Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

Nia Long speaks of feeling an overwhelming amount of love after news of her ex-fiancé’s affair broke. 

While speaking to rapper Jeezy, she said that she was “genuinely stunned by the overwhelming support for her.” Long said, “I had to realize everything that happened in the last year and a half shouldn’t have nothing to do with me.” 

She continued, “I was not embarrassed. The way that Black people stood up for me, the way that Black women were like, ‘Oh no, you don’t do that to her,’ I was shocked.” Nia added, “I didn’t realize that what I had done in my career had so much impact.” 

Long played in movies and television shows such as “Friday”, “Love Jones,” and “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”  We reported that fans had rallied behind the actress after the news broke about Ime Udoka having an affair with a staffer of the Boston Celtics, the team he was the head coach for.

Udoka was suspended then fired as Head Coach. He and Long share an 11-year-old son together, which she filed for full custody. Nia went on to talk about how devastating the scandal really was for her. 

“I think I’m exactly where I need to be. Which is, some days I’m like totally good and then other days I’m like, ‘Oh God this feels like so much work,’ I feel that, you know. And then other days it feels like women shouldn’t have to be this strong.” 

She added, “I don’t want to be this strong sometimes.” Jeezy chimed in after speaking about his marital woes with Jeannie Mai and said that Black women go through emotional trials much harder. “Black people have survived insurmountable obstacles,” the actress said to the rapper. 

“The journey of being Black in America is not easy. And I;m not a victim to any of it, but I’m realistic to the journey. I know how I am treated differently in certain situations. I understand that I have to raise my boys to be men,” Nia added. 

According to Long, her ex has not provided any support for their son but admitted that she’s willing to let people go if they don’t grow.