Nia Long is opening up about moving forward after her split from her ex-fiancé Ime Udoka. As The Shade Room previously reported, the former couple parted ways in December 2022 after meeting in early 2010 and becoming engaged in 2015. Udoka, a former Boston Celtics coach, allegedly cheated on Long with a female coworker.
Since their split, Long and Udoka have been engaged in a custody battle regarding their 12-year-old son.
RELATED: UPDATE: Ime Udoka Reportedly Responds To Nia Long’s Request For Full Custody Of Their 11-Year-Old Son
Nia Long Speaks On Her “Really Public Breakup”
The 53-year-old sat down for an exclusive conversation with rapper Jeezy. The pair’s discussion was published on Tuesday, November 7, and titled, “I Might Forgive… But I Don’t Forget.”
The interview focused mainly on the rapper’s recent split from his wife of two-and-a-half years, Jeannie Mai.
RELATED: Jeezy Reveals How He & Jeannie Mai Tried To ‘Save’ Their Marriage (WATCH)
However, Long also dropped gems as she spoke about her own experience with a “really public breakup.”
Long explained that the moment was a “wakeup call.”
“I had a really public breakup recently,” Long told Jeezy, per E! News. “It was a wakeup call for me in the sense of like, ‘Okay, you’re going to do this on your own and you’re going to be fine and you’re not going to worry about what anyone thinks and has to say.'”
As far as Udoka’s infidelity, Long seemed unfazed in crediting it as the sole reason for their split.
“I don’t believe another person can break anyone up. I don’t buy that,” Long explained to the rapper.
Furthermore, the 53-year-old also explained that her and Udoka’s relationship “was rocky for a very long time.”
The 53-Year-Old Actor Shares How She Moved Forward
As Long’s sentiments continued, the actor explained how her view shifting from trying to “save” her relationship with Udoka to accepting their romance had run its course.
The 53-year-old ultimately explained how she moved forward.
“My older son saw me trying to keep the family together,” Long told Jeezy, per E! News, “But I had to come to a place where loving myself was bigger and more important than saving anybody.”
Long added that today she feels she’s “exactly” where she needs to be, although some days can be difficult.
“I think I’m exactly where I need to be, which is, some days, I’m totally good and then, other days, I’m like, ‘Oh God, this feels like so much work.’ And then, other days, it feels like women should’ve have to be this strong. I don’t want to be this strong sometimes… [but] it is what it is.”
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A Brief Recap Of The Former Couple’s Custody Battle
As The Shade Room previously reported, Nia Long filed for full custody of her and Udoka’s son Kez in August. The actor reportedly requested sole legal and physical custody of Kez while opting for Udoka to have visitation with the child.
In September, Udoka reportedly responded to Long’s filing. The 46-year-old reportedly requested he and Long both be awarded joint “legal and physical” custody of Kez, per The Shade Room.
Whether Long and Udoka’s battle remains ongoing or a ruling has been made remains unclear at this time.
