CNN
—
The love for Nia Lengthy is flowing sturdy on social media as her longtime accomplice, Boston Celtics head coach, Ime Udoka, finds himself embroiled in controversy.
Lengthy and Udoka share a 10-year-old son and have been engaged since 2015.
Consequently, a lot of Lengthy’s supporters expressed upset after reports surfaced that the previous skilled basketball participant was dealing with suspension for having an alleged consensual relationship with a member of the Celtics workers.
“Dishonest on Nia Lengthy? Finish of days needs to be upon us. As a result of ain’t NO WAY,” tweeted Nina Parker, an Emmy-nominated TV host and designer.
On Friday Lengthy responded to the outpouring with an announcement offered to CNN by her rep.
“The outpouring love and assist from household, associates and the group throughout this tough time means a lot to me,” she mentioned within the assertion. “I ask that my privateness be revered as I course of the current occasions. Above all, I’m a mom and can proceed to give attention to my youngsters.”
She is beloved, particularly by the Black group, as she has starred in such basic movies as “Love Jones” and “Boyz N The Hood.”
The Celtics suspended Udoka for all the 2022 to 2023 on Thursday.
“I wish to apologize to our gamers, followers, all the Celtics group, and my household for letting them down,” Udoka mentioned in an announcement to ESPN. “I’m sorry for placing the staff on this tough scenario, and I settle for the staff’s choice. Out of respect for everybody concerned, I’ll don’t have any additional remark.”
Lengthy has not spoken publicly concerning the matter, however on Wednesday she shared a repost of a well being and wellness video on Instagram that referenced discovering mild within the darkness and embracing positivity.
Final yr, she spoke to Popculture.com about Udoka nabbing the pinnacle teaching job after being an assistant for 9 years.
“He’s one of the disciplined folks I do know. He’s labored actually exhausting for this and now he’s acquired to only get to work along with his gamers and do what he does finest,” she mentioned on the time. “So, it’s an thrilling time for our household to have the ability to sit within the stands.”
