Lala Anthony is truly one of those rare celebrities with a genuine heart, forming tight bonds with nearly everyone in the industry. She exudes authenticity; what you see is what you get with her, and her smile speaks volumes. But despite her knack for forging meaningful friendships, her romantic life has seen its share of turbulence. Her marriage to Carmelo Anthony ended in June 2021 after 11 years together, prompting many to question why she stayed for so long, especially in hindsight when red flags were aplenty.
To truly grasp the essence of Lala’s journey and the recurring patterns she finds herself in, we need to rewind a bit. Back in high school, she was confident, popular, and surrounded mostly by male friends, yet none of them ever made a move. In her book, “The Love Playbook,” which you can find linked below, Lala opens up about her early romantic mishaps, admitting her first love was a tumultuous ride due to her inexperience.
During a visit to Howard University, where she aspired to kickstart her radio career, she met an older DJ who swept her off her feet. Smitten by both the city and his attention, she chose Howard on an academic scholarship. But once college life began, their once-solid connection began to falter, leaving Lala emotionally devastated. She resorted to desperate measures, concocting emergencies or feigning illnesses just to grab his attention. Eventually, she uncovered the painful truth: he had fathered a child with another woman while they were together, yet had the audacity to ask her to accompany him to the hospital for the birth.
She swore to herself that she’d never let anyone else’s love eclipse her own after enduring the agony of trying to salvage a relationship that shattered when her partner fathered a child with someone else. It was back in 2003 when Lala was juggling her roles as the co-host of both MTV’s TRL and Direct Effect. She and her co-host DJ Clue formed a tight bond, spending endless hours together on set and hitting up club hosting gigs. Despite her flourishing career, her trendy pad in Edgewater, New Jersey, and cruising around in her brand new Mercedes-Benz, there was one thing missing—a special someone. Playfully, she’d nudge Clue to set her up with someone, but he’d always brush it off, claiming she wouldn’t like his choices.
Then came that fateful moment when Clue’s phone lit up with a message, and Lala seized the opportunity to ask him once more to play cupid. Without skipping a beat, he suggested she meet someone—a guy named Carmelo, a rookie with the Denver Nuggets. But the idea of dating an athlete, especially a newcomer, didn’t sit right with Lala. She imagined a young, reckless guy blowing through his millions and women left and right. She was wary of the athlete lifestyle and didn’t want any part of it. Looking back, maybe her gut was onto something.
Fun fact: DJ Clue had a knack for matchmaking; he’s the one who brought Cardi B and Offset together. But let’s get back to the story. During another one of Clue’s hosting gigs, Melo showed up at the club. Tall, handsome, and surrounded by admirers, he caught Lala’s eye. They struck up a conversation, discovering they had a lot in common—they were both from Brooklyn, both ambitious and passionate about basketball. Their connection deepened through phone calls and hangouts, leading to a revelation during a trip to Las Vegas. While trying to hit the blackjack tables, a security guard’s request for ID revealed Melo’s little white lie—he wasn’t 21; he was just 19.
Age Difference
Lala was taken aback when she recounted the night Melo waltzed into a New York club and managed to arrange for a bottle of champagne to be sent her way. She couldn’t help but wonder: how did he pull that off? If only she’d known his age from the get-go, she mused, she might never have given him the time of day. But by then, she’d already developed strong feelings for him. Interestingly, as time went on, the age gap between Melo and Lala seemed to shrink a bit. While some online sources pegged Lala’s birth year as 1982 and Melo’s as 1984, we here at RG can confirm exclusively that Lala was born in 1979, meaning she’d be turning 43 in 2022.
The Proposal
Shifting gears, Lala started noticing that Melo was far from your average teenager. He was already a multi-millionaire, had property in Denver, an impressive car collection, and even his own personal chef. What started as a weekly request to see her quickly escalated to a desire to have her by his side every single day. Melo’s affection was undeniable when he popped the question with a dazzling nine-carat engagement ring. Lala recalled the proposal happening on Christmas Day 2003, though there are conflicting reports online citing Christmas Day 2004. But since it’s her story, she gets the final say. Despite the non-traditional proposal, lacking the customary down-on-one-knee move or seeking parental blessing, Lala found it incredibly romantic. However, her eagerness to tie the knot wasn’t matched by Melo, leading to a decisive ultimatum.
As for why he proposed, that remains a bit of a mystery. Despite Lala moving into Melo’s Denver abode over the years, marriage seemed to elude them. Even the birth of their son in 2007 didn’t prompt any wedding plans. Media scrutiny labeled Lala as the eternal fiancée, prompting her to lay down the law. Ultimatums aren’t usually the best way to foster change in relationships, but in this case, Lala’s insistence led to a wedding date set for July 10, 2010. Their union hit a rocky patch in 2017 when TMZ reported their split, allegedly due to Melo’s involvement with another woman named Mia Angel Burks.
According to The Jasmine Brand, Melo crossed paths with Mia in Chicago, and despite her frequent visits, Melo has not publicly acknowledged their child. Lala and Melo appeared to reconcile in fall 2018. However, in 2019, during a medical examination in Vancouver, Lala was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat. Initially brushing it off as stress and lack of sleep, Lala eventually realized it was a more serious issue. Her decision to stop taking medication due to its draining effects was a personal one. In June 2019, while Lala celebrated her birthday in New York, paparazzi captured Melo aboard a yacht in southern France with a woman named Sarah Smeary.
Marriage Gossip
When photos surfaced, Melo quickly jumped on social media, insisting that the woman pictured was married, and their interaction was merely part of a business trip involving her husband. But the online sleuths weren’t buying it. They uncovered the truth: the woman was single, and Melo had only met her recently at a Paris fashion event. In response, Lala posted and then deleted a photo of a heart pierced by a dagger.
Then came June 1st, 2021. Lala’s family noticed something off—she was pale, sweating, and having trouble keeping her balance. Rushed to the hospital, doctors discovered an abnormal heartbeat that had been troubling her for two years and performed a procedure to fix it.
A few weeks later, a bombshell dropped. A woman approached Hollywood Unlocked, claiming Melo was the father of her newborn twins. She had receipts, including texts between her and Melo. The twins arrived prematurely, and according to the woman, Melo started dodging her calls, even going as far as to claim he broke his phone after throwing it against a wall.
But the drama didn’t stop there. The woman also alleged that one of Lala’s close friends hired a private investigator to dig into her past. While Melo reportedly provided financial assistance and covered her living expenses, he seemed to be MIA in the twins’ lives. If the claims were true, it meant Melo had fathered three children while still married to Lala.
As rumors swirled about how Lala was handling it all, People magazine dropped a bombshell of its own: Lala had filed for divorce. After everything she’d been through and all the signs she’d ignored, Lala admitted she wasn’t sure about marriage anymore. In an interview with The Angie Martinez Show, she said, “Marriage, I don’t think I can do that ever again. I mean, some amazing person would have to come. I don’t see that happening again.”