Greetings everyone, welcome. Recently, there have been circulating images showing Nicole Murphy, former spouse of Eddie Murphy, in an intimate embrace with Antoine Fuqua, a renowned director recognized for his work on ‘Training Day’ starring Denzel Washington.
Now, let’s delve into who Nicole Murphy is. As mentioned, she was once married to Eddie Murphy for 12 years, with whom she shares five children, ensuring her financial stability. Yet, Nicole’s pursuits didn’t halt there; she later entered a relationship with Michael Strahan, a former football player turned sports commentator with his own show on ABC, ‘Strahan and Sarah,’ amassing significant wealth. Nicole, renowned for her preference for affluent partners, epitomizes the archetype of the modern urbanite.
Nicole and Michael’s relationship endured several ups and downs over the span of six to eight years, even leading to engagement. However, rumors of Michael’s infidelity and Nicole’s purported reluctance to sign a prenuptial agreement eventually led to their split. Additionally, whispers surfaced of Nicole’s involvement with ex-NBA player Jim Jackson during breaks from Michael. Jim, worth a substantial sum, was a viable option for Nicole, albeit complicated by his marital status. Indeed, relationships entangled in such complexities often lead to messy outcomes.
Nicole remained entrenched in her pursuit, ultimately finding herself entangled with yet another married man named Antoine Fuqua. Now, let’s delve into Antoine Fuqua’s story a bit because it’s quite a spectacle. Here’s a married man attempting to embrace the spirit of a ‘hot boy summer’ with a city girl. But how does one manage such a feat while tethered by marital vows? It’s a perplexing notion. But, for the sake of indulging in a bit of gossip, let’s explore Antoine’s background. Antoine is wedded to the actress Lela Rochon, recognizable for her iconic role in ‘Waiting to Exhale’. Their union, which commenced in 1999, spans two decades and has yielded two children. As far as I’m aware, Lela and Antoine hadn’t undergone any separation prior to the emergence of these incriminating photographs featuring Nicole and Antoine. Undoubtedly, this revelation must have sent shockwaves through Lela’s world, prompting her to deactivate her Instagram account in response to the scandal.
Nicole’s actions may be questionable, but I’ve got some serious issues with Antoine too. Antoine, what’s going on with you? And Lela, how could you betray your wife like this? Just take a look at these photos – it’s obvious they weren’t even trying to hide their affection. They were all over each other, kissing and hugging right in front of the camera. They even went to a festival in Italy together, looking like they were on a romantic date. It certainly seems like they’re in a full-blown relationship, yet his wife had no idea. Who knows what’s really happening behind the scenes, but it’s clear his wife was blindsided. It’s a shame because she seems like a genuinely nice person, and she’s still beautiful despite any weight she may have gained over the years. I can’t say for sure if her husband strayed because of that, but regardless, his behavior is completely unacceptable.
Nicole’s reaction to the situation only exacerbated matters. In a statement to Love B. Scott regarding the photo, she asserted, “Antoine and I are simply family friends. I bumped into him in Italy, and we exchanged pleasantries, nothing more.” But come on, what’s visible in that picture speaks volumes. It’s not just a friendly hello; it’s a full-blown rendezvous. Nicole’s attempt to downplay it only backfired. Remaining silent would have been a better move, allowing speculation to swirl. Now, she’s forced to fabricate stories to the public, clearly aligning herself with Antoine. It’s painfully obvious.
It’s puzzling, considering Nicole’s appeal. Despite being a stunning woman in her 50s with five children, she’s effortlessly attractive and could easily find companionship with a single man. Take Shannon Sharpe, for instance. There were rumors linking them at one point. Shannon fits the bill—he’s affluent, a former football star turned prominent sports show host on ‘Undisputed.’ He seemed smitten with Nicole, but whatever ensued between them remains a mystery. It’s a missed opportunity, and Shannon likely felt the sting of disappointment.
Someone raised the issue with him when the photos of Nicole and Antoine surfaced. They mentioned, ‘I heard Antoine and Sharpe talking about it this morning, discussing his child,’ to which he responded, ‘They’re just friends. Nicole is still my girl, and I still love her.’ LOL. Another individual who weighed in on Nicole and Antoine’s involvement is Lisa Raye, an actress best known for her roles in ‘The Players Club’ and ‘All of Us.’ She commented, ‘Girl, Nikki Murphy, you pursued Lela Rochon’s husband, SMH, so wrong again, Lisa Raye.’
Lisa Raye’s statement prompted people to ask, ‘Wait, her husband too? Did she have a fling with your ex-husband, Lisa?’ This revelation was surprising, as it was new information to many. For context, Lisa was previously married to Michael Misick, the former Chief Minister of Turks and Caicos and First Premier. During their relationship, Misick was also romantically linked to Omarosa, and while married to Lisa, he cheated on her with multiple women, including Rocsi Diaz, an entertainment reporter who was also the host of ‘106 & Park’ at the time. The affair between Rocsi and Michael became public knowledge, and Lisa addressed it on Angela’s radio show.
So, there was quite a bit of drama, especially involving you and Rocsi from ‘106 & Park,’ right? Did you ever feel like maybe he misled her into thinking things were over between you two, and she just went along with it? Do you think it might have been more his fault? It’s tricky because being in someone else’s home, here’s my issue: it’s not the woman’s fault; he definitely put her in a tough spot. It’s something I struggle with because, historically, being in her position is significant. Just like Michael was as the First Lady of this country, if you’re involved with someone as a mistress, you have to maintain discretion. You have to protect the image of the country you represent and work for. He failed to do that, and when she got caught up in it, it’s like, “We don’t know what you’re getting into here, let me give you a reality check.” Andress, stop this, it’s way beyond you, it could bury you. So, to me, she’s like a kid, almost the age of my daughter. Is she relevant to me? Absolutely not.
That backstory about Michael and Rocsi might not seem relevant, but I think it’s important for context. Michael Misick wasn’t just involved with Rocsi; there were also allegations about him and Nicole Murphy back in 2007. This explains why Lisa called out Nicole on Instagram under the Shade Room’s comments. Nicole wasn’t just involved with Lela’s husband; she also had a history with Lisa’s husband.
In situations like this, I always hold the perpetrator accountable. If you’re married, you shouldn’t be straying from your marriage vows. So, while Antoine deserves most of the blame, Nicole also shares a significant portion of it. She has a pattern of getting involved with married men, seemingly without remorse.
What’s worse is that she was a family friend of Antoine and Lela’s, which makes her actions even more egregious. She really needs to get her act together and find someone who’s not already committed to someone else. My heart goes out to Lela; she’s in a tough spot. But let me make this clear: Lela has every right to leave the marriage and claim what’s rightfully hers. I don’t know if they have a prenup, but considering Antoine’s public behavior, she could still walk away with a significant settlement, including child support and alimony.