After a long day of being dragged by Twitter, Nia Long‘s longtime boyfriend, Ime Udoka, has broken his silence about the controversy.
As you might know, it was reported on Thursday morning that Udoka, who is the coach of Bolton Celtics, was involved in inappropriate relations with a female staff member, violating the code of conduct of the basketball team.
Nia Long’s Boyfriend Ime Udoka Apologizes For Scandal
Udoka addressed the scandal via a statement through ESPN journalist Malika Andrews. Andrews shared the message on Twitter, and it read:
“I want to apologize to our players, fans, the entire Celtics Organization, and my family for letting them down. 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.”
MEGAFans had mixed reactions to the apology. One fan believed that the statement was unnecessary as he should only apologize to Long. “This is so overblown. He only needed to apologize to one person, and we shouldn’t have even known about this.”
Another netizen shared a similar sentiment, writing, “The only person he needs to apologize to is Nia Long. I could never cheat on that.”
For his actions which were deemed a “violation of the franchise’s code of conduct,” Udoka was suspended for the upcoming 2022-23 NBA season. Per reports, the suspension is effective immediately, and his future with the Celtics will be determined later. In the meantime, assistant coach Joe Mazzula has been made the interim head coach.
Reportedly, Udoka isn’t the only one who has had something to say about the controversy. Per ET Online, Long broke her silence on the saga in a cryptic Instagram Story update.
According to the publication, in the now-deleted update, the “Are We There Yet?” actress reposted a video about healing and referenced embracing positivity, spirituality, and finding light after darkness.
Long & Udoka Have Been Together For Over A Decade
Despite not being married, Udoka and Long have a relationship that has defied most Hollywood relationships. The lovebirds became an item in 2010 after being introduced by a mutual friend. At the time, the Nigerian-born coach was playing for the Sacramento Kings. A year after becoming public, the “Friday” star welcomed their son Kez Sunday in November.
“I almost fainted. It was the best moment and the sweetest surprise ever,” Long said about her pregnancy. She is also a mother to 21-year-old Maasai Zhivago Dorsey II. Four years after expanding their family, Udoka got down on one knee and popped the big question.
Although the pair have been engaged for over six years, Long and Udoka are in no rush to walk down the aisle. The three-time NAACP award winner has been open about her choice not to get married.
She once explained, “I understand the religious aspect of marriage. That is beautiful, and it’s fantastical, and it’s dreamy and it’s every girl’s fantasy to have that moment. But I don’t know that I need that. Love is complicated … and then you start a marriage, which I’ve never been married. And there’s a reason for that because I don’t know that I need to say ‘I do’ to prove to you that I love you.”
Twitter Trashes Udoka For Fumbling Nia Long
Following the news of Udoka’s scandal, Twitter threw its full weight behind Long, trending the hashtag #FumblingNiaLong. Many bashed the sports coach for cheating on a beauty like Long.
NEW: Statement from Celtics coach Ime Udoka pic.twitter.com/MFutFx7c3l
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) September 23, 2022
One fan wrote, “Ime Udoka fumbled Nia Long and the NBA Finals. I’ve never seen an L worse than this one.” Another follower stated, “Cheating on Nia Long is not something a sane man does. Ime Udoka must’ve gotten CTE from coaching Al Horford.”
Publicist Zara Rahim commented, “THIS MAN MOVED NIA LONG TO BOSTON and CHEATED ON HER??? ooooomg I’ve never hated the Celtics more in my f*****g life.”
Udoka became the head coach of the Celtics in 2021-22 season and helped them get to their first NBA Finals in over 10 years.
