Basketball Wives is full of reporting on the underbelly of sports relationships, which makes Gloria Govan the show’s one true romantic. She’s happily engaged to Matt Barnes of the Orlando Magic, much to the chagrin of her cast mates, who think that Gloria’s relationship isn’t as rosy as she thinks it is (even the show’s detached narrator, Shaunie, referred to Gloria as “naive”). Below, Gloria talks to us about being the black sheep of Basketball Wives, her “sleeping with the enemy” comment regarding Royce Reed, her fiance’s negative opinion of the show, and why she isn’t a fan of it herself.
And how do you feel about the show? Do you feel like your portrayal is accurate?
To a certain extent. I didn’t know the women coming into the show, so I think sometimes I may come off a little naive. I may come off as the shy-girl-in-the-background type, which is not my personality at all. I’ve never had a problem telling anybody how I feel. On the show, though, I’m being me, 100 percent real the whole time so there’s no surprises. I haven’t seen any surprises.
Speaking of naive, that’s what Shaunie labels you as at one point, and she’s piggybacking off of Evelyn and Jennifer sentiments about your relationship. What do you think about that?
I think it’s unfortunate. I don’t think I’m naive whatsoever. For me to say that I’m the only person that Matt’s ever been with, that would be naive. But I know the man that I’m with. We have our ups and we have our downs just like everybody else does. We’ve made mistakes but we’ve grown from them and moved past them, but I definitely wouldn’t say I’m naive. I’m aware that Matt is surrounded by groupies, being away from home as often as he is, but I know the kind of man I’m with and I trust him. I think I’m very fortunate in an unlucky way — Matt having lost his mom, I think, has really opened his eyes to how important family really is. I don’t think he’s willing to jeopardize it for anything.
What did you think of the fact that Jennifer and Evelyn seem insistent on pushing the point that he’s not as faithful as you seem to think he is?
You have these grown women who have been in the game for so long, and you would think they would say, “Hey listen, Gloria, I’ve been there done that for the past 10 years and here are my stories, here is my advice, take it for what it’s worth and good luck.” Instead they have to be so persistent and try to taint our relationship. I look at it as being bitter and jealous. I’m 10 years younger than most of the cast members on the show, I’m 24-years-old, and I’m in a respectful, loving relationship, I’m getting married in August, I have two beautiful kids and a family who loves me, and a lot of them are missing a majority of those components. It’s natural for them to be envious of what I have.
They’ve gone as far as to suggest that they have, maybe secondhand evidence, that Matt has been unfaithful to you. Do you have any response to that?
No. I think that they’re just very scarred individuals who don’t have anything else better to do than try to create misery. They would be happy if I was where they are now, and that’s unfortunate. If you’re someone who thrives on someone else’s misery and you’re trying to break up a happy home, I just think it’s kind of sad.
On the show, regarding Matt’s personal business you said, “If you go digging for dirt, you’ll get your hands dirty.” Can you explain what you meant by that?
If someone is saying, “Matt is this and Matt is that,” and you break into e-mails and you look in phones and you find nothing, I think that satisfaction becomes overwhelming and you assume this role of being a detective and an investigator. You start to lose who you are. I’m definitely not going to say that Matt is perfect. Who is? But I don’t worry about Matt being on the road. I don’t.
What did you think about Matt saying the show “disgusted” him in a recent interview?
Matt is very opinionated. I just asked him to make sure that he pinpoints exactly what disgusts him next time. That’s just such a broad and vague comment that it could be interpreted in any way. It didn’t surprise me, though. Matt has told me several times that he doesn’t like the show. It’s not necessarily about my role, but just how bitter the other women are. Bitter and angry and just jealous. He’s just like, “That’s not a good look, that’s not who you are, that’s not who you represent.” I think he’s more concerned about people thinking that I run in this kind of circle, because I don’t. I can’t say that I was disgusted by the first episode, but you know, I wasn’t really a fan.
Oh, really? Has your attitude changed since then?
No. I mean, I’m still not a fan of the show. I joined the show after Shaunie approached me last year in Phoenix and she had been pretty persistent over the summer about it. She said, “Hey, listen, the show is not going to be about drama, it’s not going to be about groupies. It’s about independent women trying to come out of the shadows of their significant others.” I was all about that. I’m involved in several charities, I’m an entrepreneur myself. I’m a stay-at-home mom, so I was definitely willing to show people that we’re not gold diggers. We don’t shop and spend all day at the spa. We don’t have six butlers and four nannies and personal chef. That’s not what this life is about.
Even with the drama, I do get the sense that you all have your own stuff going on.
I think the show maybe touches on those things, but I don’t think it’s the main focus. It’s supposed to be about friendship and showing people we’re a support group for one another, and that definitely doesn’t come off in the show. That’s unfortunate, because we really are a support group for one another. We’re not catty, cliquey people. We’re all in the same boat together, so we’re all very respectful of people’s situations.
Are you referring to the people you’re on the show with?
No, no, no. My friends. And not just my immediate circle, but majority of the women in the NBA.
Your storyline isn’t exactly drama-free, though. When you talk about Royce you say to fraternize with her would be like sleeping with the enemy.
What I mean by that is Royce is Dwight Howard’s baby mother, and Matt is on the same team as Dwight Howard, so being friends with Royce is not worth messing up Matt’s team camaraderie. If Royce comes over here and we’re all buddy-buddy and Matt’s around, that could really end up messing up Matt and Dwight’s friendship.
Regardless of whether or not Royce is a nice person, this overrides that?
Yeah absolutely, yeah. You’re talking about something long term. You’re talking about a championship. You’re talking about my fiancé’s career, his friendships. That definitely precedes my friendship to Royce, absolutely.
Was this always your concern with Royce, or did you develop it after getting to know her?
It was a concern immediately with Royce. I feel Royce’s actions sort of justify why women, wives and girlfriends in general should be concerned with the proximity or the availability that cheerleaders have to basketball players.
Obviously the reason she was so aggressive in the boxing ring is because everyone had sort of informed her of your opinion of her. Did you feel betrayed by everyone at that point?
Not necessarily betrayed, I just think that they realize that I’m not going to conform to their little group, and so I think they try really hard to make me the black sheep or the outsider. Which is fine. I don’t have a problem with that, it was just kind of funny that they try to make it seem like I’m the only one who feels this way. They’re so quick to tell Royce, “Oh, well Gloria said this,” but in turn, they were agreeing with me or it may have been that they started the conversation and I just chimed in a little bit. I just think it was everybody’s opportunity to say, “Now we have a way to turn the tables.”
Was it disappointing or stressful at all for you that you were made out to be the black sheep?
I wouldn’t say disappointing, no. I actually like being the black sheep. I like representing who I am and letting people know that I just don’t conform to peer pressure and everything. Was it stressful? To a certain degree. That kind of stuff doesn’t bother me, though. I graduated high school obviously and graduated college, so those high school cliques don’t stress me out whatsoever.
I’m sure that you don’t want to get into it about your sister’s alleged affair with Shaq, but did that add any level of stress as well? The fact that you were coming in with people already whispering about your family?
No. Like I said, in the show, they already formed their opinions and they’re already friends with Shaunie. And although I’m friends with Shaunie, I can’t say that we talk on the phone or we text each other. We are cordial, but she’s not invited to my wedding. She’s not that type of friend, so it didn’t bother me. You guys have already formed your own opinions, and I’m not here to change that. I’m here to say you’re not going to talk about my sister in front of me and think that that’s OK.
This show kind of presents you as a minority. Certainly you’re the only person that isn’t jaded about your relationship. You seem to be the only person who believes in the possibility of monogamy. In the overall scheme of basketball-wifery that goes beyond this show, are you a minority?
No, not at all. That’s unfortunate, too, because I think that the cast members of the show stereotype all athletes and put them all under this one umbrella because they were scarred and they were disrespected and they were in a relationship that was unsuccessful. So it’s easy to point the finger and say, “Well he cheated on me, so because everybody plays basketball, they cheat on wives, too.” And that’s not the case. We all have to deal with the same stuff, the groupies, and we do all have to deal with the concerns of possible infidelity, but that’s not the case whatsoever. There are tons of relationships that are great and healthy and respectful and have been long term, so I am definitely not a minority on the league, but definitely on the show.
Knowing what you know about the way the show turned out, would you do it all over again?
No. No, no.
Would you participate in a second season?
No.
Wow. I think you might be the first person on VH1 to have a taste of reality TV not to want more of it. You talked about Shaunie presenting the show as a way for you to break out and show your independence. Do you feel like you’re living in Matt’s shadow?
I think being married to somebody that casts such a big shadow is difficult and Matt has been in the limelight since he was 18. It’s difficult to stand on your own and say, “Well, wait a minute, I’m not just Matt’s fiancé, I’m Gloria.” If I had my own limelight coming in, then it would be a different story. But I think trying to create or establish some sort of individuality is always challenging.
You mentioned your charities and the fact that you’re an entrepreneur, can you talk about that a little bit?
I’m the executive director for Athletes vs. Cancer, which is Matt’s foundation, and we do a lot of events that’s not just cancer based, but we do a lot of events that help underprivileged children or for young women who had children who don’t have the supplies that they need. We’re also doing something with Hoop Connection, which helps provide scholarships to underprivileged children or children who maybe have the potential but don’t have the outlets or the networking skills to go out there and get a scholarship. I just got on board to do one of the Florida Children’s Hospital’s biggest events next year, also. My parents own night clubs in California and that’s something both my brother and I are looking to do in Orlando. I actually have a baby product out. It’s a mattress that should help prevent SIDS. There are a lot of things that the show doesn’t portray or doesn’t show, so that’s frustrating.
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Basketball Wives » Watch Video
| Episode | Type | Title | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| -- | Show Clips | Videos: Basketball Wives Most Dramatic Moments | 6/28/10 |
| 109 | Show Clips | Videos: Reunion Special Show Clips | 6/20/10 |
| 108 | Show Clips | Videos: Episode 8 Show Clips | 5/30/10 |
| 108 | Bonus Clips | Videos: Episode 8 Bonus Clips | 5/30/10 |
| 107 | Bonus Clips | Videos: VH1 Blog: Exclusive Interview with Royce Reed | 5/25/10 |
| 107 | Bonus Clips | Videos: Episode 7 Bonus Clips | 5/23/10 |
| 107 | Show Clips | Videos: Episode 7 Show Clips | 5/23/10 |
| 106 | Bonus Clips | Videos: Episode 6 Bonus Clips | 5/16/10 |
| 106 | Show Clips | Videos: Episode 6 Show Clips | 5/16/10 |
| 105 | Show Clips | Videos: Episode 5 Show Clips | 5/09/10 |
| 105 | Bonus Clips | Videos: Episode 5 Bonus Clips | 5/09/10 |
| 104 | Show Clips | Videos: Episode 4 Show Clips | 5/02/10 |
| 104 | Bonus Clips | Videos: Episode 4 Bonus Clips | 5/02/10 |
| 103 | Show Clips | Videos: Episode 3 Show Clips | 4/25/10 |
| 103 | Bonus Clips | Videos: Episode 3 Bonus Clips | 4/25/10 |
| 102 | Show Clips | Videos: Episode 2 Show Clips | 4/18/10 |
| 102 | Bonus Clips | Videos: Episode 2 Bonus Clips | 4/18/10 |
| 101 | Bonus Clips | Videos: Episode 1 Bonus Clips | 4/11/10 |
| 101 | Show Clips | Videos: Episode 1 Show Clips | 4/11/10 |
| -- | Show Clips | Videos: Reunion Sneak Peek | 06/17/10 |
| More Basketball Wives Episodes | |||
115 responses to to The Celebreality Interview – Gloria Govan
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Gloria, i think you just came off as a cold hearted )%(`^#^)^@_@&*@*_ with the situation with Shaunie, i understand your loyalty to your sister, but her being a friend, you should have felt for her, and been able feel and understand her pain even though your loyalty was to your sister. If you think you were portrayed as being shy and in the background, and i saw you to be a )%(`^#^)^@_@&*@*_ i would hate to see you at your full potential. Reflect of this, years back Shaunie and Shaq were right here you and Matt are now, so what happens when in 5 years or 10 years (since yours so pround to be 10 years younger and everyone is just jealous and bitter of your relationship with Matt) when you are in the exact same position that Shaunie is in now, and what if the other woman is indeed the sister of a friend? What would you say then? Just how its her today, it could be you tomorrow……..don’t be a )%(`^#^)^@_@&*@*_ Learn how to be a “real” friend!
Gloria, i think you just came off as a cold hearted *#+!`&+$_`)@~~$`& with the situation with Shaunie, i understand your loyalty to your sister, but her being a friend, you should have felt for her, and been able feel and understand her pain even though your loyalty was to your sister. If you think you were portrayed as being shy and in the background, and i saw you to be a *#+!`&+$_`)@~~$`& i would hate to see you at your full potential. Reflect of this, years back Shaunie and Shaq were right here you and Matt are now, so what happens when in 5 years or 10 years (since yours so pround to be 10 years younger and everyone is just jealous and bitter of your relationship with Matt) when you are in the exact same position that Shaunie is in now, and what if the other woman is indeed the sister of a friend? What would you say then? Just how its her today, it could be you tomorrow……..don’t be a *#+!`&+$_`)@~~$`& Learn how to be a “real” friend!
Gloria,
I am sooo ashamed at your comments. This interview proves how weak and dependent you are on Matt. You are all over the damn place, for 1. An entreprenuer is NOT a stay at home mom, they are someone out there getting ^!!)$+$&%@&`+~~` done on many different levels. 2. You say that basketball wives/girlfriends are a great support system to one another, BUT yet you won’t even ++&@#&#@*&*^~_+ ociate with Royce because she has a child by your boyfriend’s teammate, WTF is that!! That is some straight weak minded ^!!)$+$&%@&`+~~` right there!! Does that mean you won’t befriend any of your boyfriend’s teammates women just because!! You nor Matt should be concerned with ANY of their personal business!! 3. PLEASE PLEASE stop boasting on being 10 years younger than the other ladies when TRUTH is you look every bit of 10 years OLDER than all of them! Real talk!! 4. Never uphold ANYONE in wrong doing! You front like you defend your sister just because she is your sister, TRUTH is you defend her because there is some truth to the ^!!)$+$&%@&`+~~` and you know it! Guilt does that to a person…makes them defensive and agitated! Lastly, you are in no different situation than the other ladies. They were all in your spot years ago when their exes first got into the league and I can bet money that no one could tell them that their “fairytale” wouldn’t last. Trapping a man with kids will NOT keep him! AND you need to get familiar with that letter I and not HIS or MATT’s! You will truly lose yourself if you don’t! Sadly if you don’t, you will be that “Evelyn” or “Suzi” in 5-10 years!!
I feel u gloria 100 percent!!!!!! I like how u keep it real! I understand the shaunie thing too. Your loyalty doesn’t lay with your so called “friends”, but with your family! However, I don’t think it is right for your sister to sleep with a married man (if she did) but it is not your fault for that, you are not your sister’s keeper. How she chooses to live her life is between her in God you only need to let her know that you are here for her if ever she needs you. I feel like the show put a negative view on the basketball “wives”. It showed the “wives” getting into drama, being #~+^!!~_^)++@*)%) es to each other, not a good look at all. You all know exactly how it is being in a relationship with someone that is famous so you should help uplift one another. It is hard being a woman in a relationship we all have to deal with women trying to get with our men, but I believe that if you keep a happy home and bed your man doesnt have to creep around. How much you put in is how much you get out of it!! And when your man was creeping it wasn’t the first time that they did it. A man can only do what you allow them to do. If he cheats and there are no consequences then what makes you think that want do it again. Gloria I wish you the best in your relationship, with your family, and with your career goals!!!!
i agree with you gloria. don’t let these bitter women phase you. there are good men out there!
and i applaud you for not doing another season of that sh*tty show.
lots of love <3
Gloria,
you made the right decisions and moves. The problem is that you didn’t betray your sister with them, and you were cold with it. I watched the shows and I always like how you stood your ground with all of them. The main problems with the ladies on the show and viewers is that you never said you knew or did not know and right you were to do that . @#$% them all and good luck.
So proud of you and that u stood on your own two feet. I dont know if the ladies gave you a chance. I think once they started to like royce, they had to gang up on you. As far as your sister, I am big on family, but i have to tell you right is right and wrong is wrong. If a family member does something wrong, I will call them on that, they shouldnt be given a pass, or not held accountable for what they did because they are family. I suport them as my family. Just something to think about. I am glad to see you continue with your life. I think VH1 should follow your family and what you all are involved in…I would watch it. the housewives was a little lame, no substance. Keep following your own path and dont trash anyone in public, like the other housewives.
Gloria I think you are a Bit** and your sister is an Hoe and dont know one care about your dame wedding I hope some one trashs it you should of never did that show U pretty much threw matt career down the down I not going to watch an team he old I hope one of your friend sleep with matt so you can see how it feels Lmao
She is the biggest SNAKE on the show!!! The fact that she wasnt even at the reunion says it all!!
People who are scared or have s**t to hide always run and hide!!!
Gloria even if something is not right with you and your husband, that is you all’s business!! Be like the other wives do not share or air your dirty laundry,feelings, problems(especially with your husband. You seem to have a good husband. At least he is not humiliating you on television!!! Girl, stick with the other basketball wives & stay private!!!!
I think the show should be called basketball ex’s!!! None of them are still married or in most cases have been married to a basketball player. Evelyn, dumped,Susie-ddumped,Shaunie-divorced!! Come on re-name the next season!! Shaunie show the true reason behind the show, “no drama”, yeah right it shows how cold,heartless,vindictive,backstabbing, and two-faced, want to be hood-classy at the same time bi@#@#’s yall want to be!! B@##@ change the show !!!!
Gloria. You came off extremely judgemental. Well you and Matt have 2 kids and you are still a fiance?! Are you kidding me. It appears to me that you were almost not A WIFEY with a ring like you told Royce. I didn’t like how 2 faced you were. Tell your husband to lay off of Shaunie! Her settlement from Shaq will be more than what he makes riding that bench… In thae famous words of SHAUNIE! (Matt who?) Face it you fiances days are numbered on the court. No one knows him.
Gloria,you was the realiest one on the show,none of them are Basketball wives,Eric don’t want Jennifer and she knows it,all I gotta say is you kept it real and don’t change for no one!!!they couldn’t stand that you was strong minded and you wouldn’t fall for there negativity!!!all of them are miserable ole’ women,just keep being true to yourself and your future husband,and God will deal with the rest!!!
OKAY! NOW LET’S REALLY CUT THE BULL! DON’T GET ME WRONG, GLORIA, YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO RIDE OR DIE WITH MATT. BUT SERIOUSLY BOO LET’S KEEP THIS REAL! IF HE IS GOING TO CHEAT THEN HE’S GOING TO CHEAT, WITH OR WITHOUT YOU, THERE IS A REALLY BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STANDING BY YOUR MAN AND BEING PURE IGNORANT! FOR YOU TO TO SOCIALIZE WITH SOMEONE BECAUSE OF HIM SAYS ALOT ABOUT YOUR CHARACTERE AS A WOMAN. I AM A MARRIED WOMAN AND TRUST AND BELIEVE MY HUSBAND DOES NOT HAVE A SAY SO ABOUT WHO I HANG WITH. HE CAN GIVE ME HIS THOUGHTS…BUT THAT’S THAT! NOW YOU SIT HERE AN TALK ABOUT THE OTHER WIVE’S AS IF THEY ARE NOTHING MORE THAT PURE TRASH. BUT LOOK AT YOUR SISTER BOO-BOO. SHE’S DOING THE SAME THING TO ANOTHER WOMAN THAT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU. YEAH,YEAH,YEAH I KNOW YOU SAY “OH I TRUST MATT”, BUT “(%&)##!`(&)(_() PLZ! WHEN HE IS OUT ON THE ROAD AND YOUR AT HOME, THE KIDS ARE IN THE BED, AND YOUR ALONE YOU CAN’T SAY THAT YOUR MIND DOESN’T WONDER OFF AND QUESTION WHAT HE’S DOING AND WHO’S HE DOING IT WITH. EVERY WOMAN DOES IT WHETHER THEY HAVE MONEY OR NOT. SO WHEN YOU REALLY DO GET THROUGH WITH THE BS….BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF HONEY!
Gloria, Gloria, Gloria, some of the comments and initial reactions that I’ve seen, have been arrogant. Once Royce stated that the girls were jealous of you because your mixed is completly racist, and it seems that you had a problem with the other girls, who were black. Your attitude was disguisting on the show, and your a dime a dozen. You have some really important lessons to learn.Also, domestic violence is no joke, you were laughing it off, but it wasn’t like you were having a loud party you were having a fight… big difference. You are in denial about, your looks, your identity , and your relationship. Get a grip, you are not cute.
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