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Fresh Prince of Bel Air actress Nia Long kept her mouth shut when asked if she was patching things up with her flirty Boston Celtics fiancé Ime Udoka — and even laughed at the question.
The 51-year-old star, who first surfaced since learning of her NBA head coach partner’s affair with a staffer, was approached by a photographer in Los Angeles on Saturday to comment on the confirmed infidelity.
Long was not wearing her engagement ring at the time.
Footage from the exchange shows the starlet, dressed all in black, refusing to comment as news of her husband-to-be’s romance with an unnamed collaborator continues to make headlines.
When asked if they were out together, Long—who was joined during the meeting by her and Udoka’s ten-year-old son, Kez—let out an exasperated laugh before walking away and getting into her car.
The exchange happened when Long left a local Whole Foods — and came more than a day after the starlet told TMZ in a statement, she was “blinded” by the affair she reportedly only learned of when the… Celtics suspended Udoka, 45, Thursday.
Reasons for the suspension – which will see the staffer out for an entire year – were that Udoka, a former player who would start his second year as the Celtics captain, for violating ethical rules by having a consensual affair with a staffer .
The employee’s identity has not yet been released.
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The 51-year-old star, who showed up for the first time since learning of the affair with her fiancé, was spotted on Saturday shopping in Los Angeles with the couple’s 10-year-old son, Kez.
When asked about the affair, the Fresh Prince of Bel Air actress kept her mouth shut, saying: ‘I’m not going to comment on that now’
The starlet was dressed all in black and sporting shades for the shopping excursions as news of her longtime partner’s romance with an unnamed associate continues to make headlines.
Despite the whirlwind surrounding the confirmed infidelity, Long wore her engagement ring
When asked if the couple were “patching things up,” Long—who played Will Smith’s love interest in the ’90s sitcom Beulah Lisa Wilkes and has since been named a lead character in Peacock’s modern reinterpretation, Bel-Air—laughed. just and ignored the question
Long put on a brave face for the interaction after saying in a statement Thursday that she was “blinded” by the affair, which she reportedly learned of through news coverage.
Udoka, the Celtics sophomore head coach with a once stellar record, was banned Thursday from the entire upcoming season for “multiple” unspecified team rule violations.
In a statement on Thursday night, he said: “I want to apologize to our players, fans, the entire Celtics organization and my family for disappointing.
“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 not comment further.”
The Boston Celtics employee who had an affair with head coach Ime Udoka was responsible for making all of his travel arrangements and even arranged travel arrangements for his fiancée, Nia Long.
Long with the couple’s ten year old son recently
Long, 51, and Udoka, 45, have been together for over ten years. They were seen together at the Barclays Center in New York last August
Disbelief: Nia’s fans and friends tweeted their anger and disbelief on Friday
Udoka is said to have received a ‘significant financial fine’, although the amount has not been disclosed.
The 45-year-old is said to have had an inappropriate relationship with a female employee.
That woman has not been named.
In the team statement appointing assistant Joe Mazzulla as interim coach, Boston said Udoka’s future would be determined “at a later date.”
Long became a household name with her role in the Fresh Prince of Bel Air as Lisa Wilkes, Will Smith’s girlfriend.
She also starred in Boyz In The Hood, Soul Food and Big Momma’s House.
The beloved actress is also the recipient of three NAACP Image Awards and a Black Reel Award.