On last night’s Basketball Wives: L.A., Imani and Laura need action, Malaysia designs baby bling, and the sisters Govan can’t wait for Draya to get in the ring…literally.
After the wedding, everyone heads to the clerb to celebrate with the happy couple. Gloria remarks that she thinks Jackie and the girls are taking it hard that Draya was a no-show. Um, why? They all seem to pretty much dislike her, but whatevs. They can’t focus on that when Imani starts crying to Jackie about how lonely she feels and how she’s given up on love. Crying to the bride after her wedding. Sounds like someone is trying to steal some wedding thunder, and now Imani is the center of attention. No one seems to mind, though, and the ladies group-hug it out.
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On last night’s episode of Basketball Wives LA, it was the wedding of the year for Jackie and Doug Christie. Literally, as they marry every. flipping. year. Gloria’s players get waxed on the court, while Draya just gets waxed, and Imani forges a friendship with Malaysia.
Laura Govan and Jackie Christie meet for an afternoon cocktail, because that seems to be the staple gathering for the L.A. wives/pseudo-wives/girlfriends/exes. Jackie admits to Laura that in addition to the fifteen (with one to grow on) weddings she’s had with Doug, she was married three times prior to him. Jackie wants Laura’s self-confidence to grow after her recent split, and she hopes telling her of the three men who walked down the aisle before Doug’s fifteen times will help Laura realize that the right man is out there for her.
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As the new season of Basketball Wives LA heats up, we are learning a bit more about the ladies and their pasts. Laura Govan made a splash in the premiere after she attacked fellow cast mate Malaysia Pargo. After the smack down, the two women maturely (shocking!) discussed the situation and vowed to move forward with their friendship. Laura blamed her anger on a bitter break-up with her long time love, Gilbert Arenas.
In a recent interview, Laura opens up about reconciling with her ex, the drama behind the show, and why she’s more than what you see on the VH1 show. Check out her interview with Essence.com below.
We don’t know much about you except what we read on blogs and see on the show. Who is Laura Govan?
One thing is that I’m a dedicated mom of four. I’ve played basketball all my life. I coached on a college level and I attempted to play overseas, but I was injured. It was time for basketball to end for me. I worked for the Golden State Warriors, which is where I met Gilbert [Arenas], my fiancé. Then I got my masters in Sports Psychology. I was in a masters PhD program but I started having children so I stopped. I’ve had four kids in five years. My youngest is three months old.
You refer to Gilbert as your fiancé. You two are back together?
Yes, we are, and we plan to get married soon. When and where, I don’t know yet. I feel like we’re already married though, ten years, four kids later. People say he’s a mess, and I’m a mess. You know what, we’re each other’s messes. Everybody has breakup and make-up moments. It just so happens that ours is out in the public. You learn to grow. At this point in our lives Gilbert and I have been there, done that; the drama, the chaos. We’re older now, and we’re more mature. Now we’re better parents, and we’re taking the steps to make things better. Regardless of our past, we want our kids to see a good future.
You got a lot of flack for fighting Malaysia on the first episode of “Basketball Wives: L.A.” Looking back, what goes though your mind?
I think it’s horrible. We look uneducated… it was just a really bad look. I feel bad because when you get to know her she’s a good person. On her side, it was a defense situation, and on my end, I was just going through a lot and she happened to push the wrong buttons that day. I feel like had it not been her that provoked me, it might have been someone else. As soon as the altercation ended, there was a little boy there, and I saw my son in him. I just started bawling. That’s when I thought, ‘you know what, I need to go see a counselor.’ I need to start taking steps to take care of myself. For the past five years I’ve had baby after baby. People ask me, ‘do you have postpartum depression?’ I don’t even know what that is. Then the chaos with Gilbert… it’s just been a very chaotic time.
What do you think of the criticism of the “Basketball Wives” franchise?
I think it’s right, to a certain extent. The producers do what they need to for TV. It’s really sad that people want to see us fighting, pulling each other’s hair out and arguing. But you have to pick and take. There’s a lot of good things about us as well, some of us are businesswomen, authors, designers. My sister Gloria is doing a bunch of things. I have a clothing line for after pregnancy. We all have things going outside of what people see for entertainment. I think it’s fair, I think its TV, its entertainment. Don’t go to church talking about it, don’t go watching it for morals, don’t go to church praying for us. [laughs] No, do pray for us. Don’t take it there, it’s just entertainment.
In other Basketball Wives: L.A. news, it has been revealed that Draya Michele isn’t the only cast member with allegedly shady parenting skills. After breaking the story on Draya, MediaTakeOut.com is alleging that cast mate (and pot stirrer) Imani Showalter may have some skeletons of her own in the closet. As you may recall, Imani is having a hard time accepting Draya into the group because of her questionable past.
It’s being reported that when she began dating basketballer Stephen Jackson, Imani told him she only had one child, although in fact she had two children. Apparently Jackson was notorious for dating women with no children, so Imani didn’t want to ruin the potential relationship by revealing that she had multiple children.
According to a source, she had her son live with his father’s family while she pursued a two-year relationship with Jackson before calling off their wedding when he requested she sign a prenuptial agreement. There is no word on whether she regained custody of her son after her relationship crumbled. And she had all those things to say about Draya? It’s a pot/kettle situation if I’ve ever seen one!
A new episode of Basketball Wives: L.A. airs tonight at 8:00 PM ET on VH1.
Draya Michele is quickly becoming one of the season’s most talked about cast mates on Basketball Wives: Los Angeles. Whether it’s her stripper past, issues with her son, or feuding with the ladies, she is sure to bring the drama.
Draya recently sat down for an interview with VIBE Vixen where she discusses her business aspirations, her favorite Miami cast members, and how she is portrayed this season on the show. Read an excerpt from the interview below.
You’re obviously pegged as the girl who’s going to shake up the show, but how do you want to portrayed on the show? Hopefully, after editing and everything, it changes some people’s opinions of me. I know what to expect, so I won’t be shocked if a lot more people hate me than they already do. People don’t always have the nicest things to say about me, so I’m used to it already.
I want people to see what I do and how I live me life, just so they have a better understand of what it is that I do. A lot of people are confused about how I live my life and why I live my life a certain way and I’m able to travel so much. I want to put a light on what [my life] really is. It is not always a party. I don’t look at a party as a party; I look at a party as a job, so [the show] will let people know what is really going on inside of my world.
Can you let people know what you do?
I do everything. Anything and everything I can get my hands on out here in LA, I’m into it. I’m doing my acting, my modeling and starting a business–a million things.
Now, make it clear — what’s you connect to the basketball world?
Basically, now I’m friends with a bunch of wives and I dated a basketball player before. I mean, it was nothing currently or anything like that. It was a couple years ago. No big deal.
Who is your favorite wife or cast member [from Miami franchise]? I bounce back and forth between Tami and Evelyn. I like different things in each of them, so I bounce back and forth between them.
Would you say you have the same feisty nature as well, or do you like them because that’s them?
I like them because that’s them, but I have similarities that I see in Evelyn. I am little bit more reserved, and I don’t really like to snap on people and show that side. I don’t think it is really necessary for me to get all crazy, but I can. I definitely have that inside of me. All I need the right person to bring it out.
Now that everyone is critiquing you and being on the show, are you regretful at all?
No, I’m having fun, and it’s a learning experience for me.
Do you have any close friends in the industry or on the show?
Close friends is a touchy [thing] for me. As far as models go, I like to keep most of them as associates. Girls are designed to disappoint you, so I am very careful and selective of who I call my friends. I don’t really want to shout anybody out as my friend, but I do have some. Everybody don’t hate me [laughs]. I got a personality that if you know me, you will like me. It just comes off as a little bit cold at first, but eventually I can warm up to anybody if I want to.
There’s been talks about the child endangerment arrest and your son, will we be able to meet your son on the show?
You will definitely see me doing my family thing, my mom thing and my work thing. Anything that is me is going to be on there. Of course, my son is an important part of my life, so I wouldn’t do anything that didn’t involve him. I didn’t leave anything uncovered.
What projects do you have in the works?
I am working on a bikini line right now for all types of girls. Its going to be affordable for everybody and stylish enough for everybody.
And while Draya may not be concerned about being friends with the other ladies, cast mate Imani Showalter has been getting some negative attention from calling Draya “worthless” during the women’s life coaching session on last week’s episode.
During her tweeting last week, Imani did not back down or apologize for her opinions, even when the backlash increased. She took to twitter to say, “Having an opinion and judging are 2 separate things. Even if its unpopular I have to stick to my beliefs. Sorry guys. I will take all the backlash but my words had nothing to do with her stripping or any man issues. It’s was a deeper issue. Will all unfold.”
However, the following day, Imani gave a shout out to her cast mate, tweeting, “Myself & @drayaface have spoken since that taped & we are at a good place. Communication heals :)” Does it? I am sure we’ll see it all unfold this season. A new episode of Basketball Wives: Los Angeles airs tonight at 8pm ET on VH1.
Basketball Wives L.A.premiered last week to not only high ratings, but a ton of drama!
The L.A. cast wasted no time as a physical altercation occurred on the premiere episode! Laura Govan and Malaysia LaQuisha Pargocame to blows after Laura referred to Malaysia as a “rat.” Even more shocking, Laura had just given birth to her fourth child 3 weeks earlier.
In a recent radio interview, Laura’s little sister Gloria Govan reveals she was “upset” about the fight. “Ooh, I was so upset. But you know when I realized what it was really about, I couldn’t really be mad at her. She was going through so much stuff,” said Gloria about her sister. Gloria also promises that fight will be the only physical altercation on the show. How disappointing!
When it comes to her relationship with fiance Matt Barnes, Gloria admits the 5-year romance hasn’t been perfect. This was clearly evident following Matt’s arrest last year for domestic violence. Even more surprising, she doesn’t deny that he’s never been unfaithful to her. “I’m not gonna sit up here and be like, ‘No, you know he’s perfect and we’re fabulous’… it’s never been in my face,” said Gloria.
The rumor today is that Matt might have dumped Gloria. Below is more gossip and secrets about each of the Basketball Wives L.A. cast member as well as their bios!
A new episode of Basketball Wives L.A. airs tonight on VH1 at 8/7c.
Draya Michele – Draya is currently a model and aspiring actress in Los Angeles with several music videos and magazine covers to her credit. A controversial beauty with a history of dating players, the funny and engaging Draya says “I have a million haters. I open the list of haters and it rolls across the floor.” No word yet if any of the new LA wives make that list.
Gossip - Before joining Basketball Wives LA, Draya (real name Andraya M. Howard) had a pretty poor reputation as being a big time groupie. One who has allegedly slept with a ton of athletes, rappers, and entertainers. The former stripper is from Philly and is also a single mother of one. Draya, 25, actually lost custody of her 7-year-old son earlier this year after she was arrested for child endangerment. Her son called 911 and told cops he was being left home alone on a regular basis. Draya also dated R&B singer Chris Brown just last year.
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