Following the rumoured affair involving her fiancé Ime Udoka, Nia Long remained mainly silent on Saturday in Los Angeles, where she was seen for the first time with son Kez.
When questioned by the media how she was faring in the wake of the issue involving the Celtics head coach, 45, who was expelled from the organisation for violating the code of conduct over an alleged romance with a female staff member, the 51-year-old Long had no remark.
According to the site, Long, who has been dating Udoka since 2010, also didn’t appear to be wearing her engagement ring, noting that “she doesn’t always rock it when out and about.” When asked if they were “working things out,” she laughed.
Long issued a statement on Sept. 22 shortly after the Celtics revealed that Udoka had been suspended, thanking everyone for their support.
In a statement to Entertainment Tonight, Long stated, “The outpouring of love and support from family, friends, and the community during this terrible time means so much to me.
“While I contemplate the recent events, I kindly ask that my privacy be respected. Since I am a mother first and foremost, I will continue to put my children first.
Udoka, who assisted the Celtics in reaching the NBA Finals last season, issued a statement of his own after the ban in which he expressed regret to family members and the team for “letting them down.”
“I apologise for placing the team in this challenging situation, and I respect the choice made by the team. I won’t have any further comments out of respect for everyone involved,” he stated.
According to ESPN, the independent legal firm’s investigation into Udoka revealed that the coach had spoken to a female employee in “crude language” before the unlawful working relationship started.