EXCLUSIVE: ‘Ime made a mistake, but he’s not a bad guy.’ Nia Long’s ex and father of her oldest son reveals she is sticking by the cheating Celtics coach 100% and the actress is giving him ‘unconditional love’

  • Nia Long’s ex Massai Z. Dorsey has weighed in on the cheating scandal between the actress and her Boston Celtics coach fiancé Ime Udoka
  • Dorsey tells DailyMail.com, ‘Ime made a mistake. He’s not a bad guy. Hopefully, he’s learned from this’
  • Long and Dorsey are still close and co-parent their 21-year-old son, Massai Dorsey II. Dorsey said of Udoka, ‘I’m happy he’s in my son’s life’
  • Udoka has been suspended for the rest of the NBA season after it was revealed he had an affair with a female staffer 
  • ‘We talk as a family, and it’s all about unconditional love, and that’s what she’s giving him,’ Dorsey said. ‘We’re sticking by him 100%’

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Fresh Prince of Bel Air actress Nia Long has said little about her cheating Boston Celtics coach fiancé, Ime Udoka, but the father of her first son is all about forgiveness.

‘We talk as a family, and it’s all about unconditional love, and that’s what she’s giving him,’ Massai Z. Dorsey told DailyMail.com, sharing his thoughts on the scandal in an exclusive interview. ‘We’re sticking by him 100%.’

Dorsey, an actor and businessman in Beverly Hills who met Long on the set of her NBC crime drama Third Watch, remains close to his ex. The two are co-parenting their 21-year-old son, Massai Dorsey II, with whom he speaks regularly.

‘All I could say is good things about Ime,’ Dorsey, 51, told DailyMail.com. ‘He’s a good man. All these years. I’m happy he’s in my son’s life.’

‘Ime made a mistake,’ Dorsey said of the coach’s affair with a female staffer, which led to an investigation and a decision by the team to suspend him for the season.

‘Every man needs another chance,’ Dorsey continued. ‘Like the Bible says, the flesh is weak. He’s not a bad guy. Hopefully, he’s learned from this.’

Nia Long's ex Massai Z. Dorsey has weighed in on the cheating scandal between the actress and her Boston Celtics coach fiancé Ime Udoka. The former couple are pictured together in 2000

Nia Long’s ex Massai Z. Dorsey has weighed in on the cheating scandal between the actress and her Boston Celtics coach fiancé Ime Udoka. The former couple are pictured together in 2000

Udoka has been suspended for the rest of the NBA season after it was revealed he had an affair with a female staffer

Udoka has been suspended for the rest of the NBA season after it was revealed he had an affair with a female staffer

At the same time, Dorsey alluded to the pressures of Udoka’s job and a #MeToo society out for blood.

‘It’s easy to get to the top, but to stay at the top it takes a different type of person,’ he said.

Long and Udoka have been together for more than a decade. They became engaged in 2015 but have never married. Pictured together in 2017

Long and Udoka have been together for more than a decade. They became engaged in 2015 but have never married. Pictured together in 2017

‘Right now in this season, you have to be very sensitive with women, unfortunately, because they hold the cards right now,’ he added.

Long told TMZ in a statement last week that she was left ‘blindsided’ by the affair, which came to light as she and their 10-year-old son were moving to Boston to be with him.

‘The outpouring of love and support from family, friends and the community during this difficult time means so much to me,’ Long said through her spokeswoman.

‘I ask that my privacy be respected as I process the recent events.

‘Above all, I am a mother and will continue to focus on my children,’ she said.

Long, 51, and Udoka, a former player turned coach who previously played for the San Antonio Spurs, have been together for more than a decade. They became engaged in 2015 but have never married.

Their family bliss was destroyed earlier this month when the Celtics suspended Udoka for violating ethics rules by having a consensual affair with the unnamed staffer.

Udoka, the Celtics’ second-year head coach with a once-sterling reputation, was cited for ‘multiple’ unspecified violations of team rules.

Long and Dorsey are close and are co-parenting their 21-year-old son, Massai Dorsey II (pictured). Dorsey said of Udoka, 'I'm happy he's in my son's life'

Long and Dorsey are close and are co-parenting their 21-year-old son, Massai Dorsey II (pictured). Dorsey said of Udoka, ‘I’m happy he’s in my son’s life’

Dorsey tells DailyMail.com, 'Ime made a mistake. He's not a bad guy. Hopefully, he's learned from this.' Long has a 10-year-old son with Udoka and her 21-year-old son with Dorsey

Dorsey tells DailyMail.com, ‘Ime made a mistake. He’s not a bad guy. Hopefully, he’s learned from this.’ Long has a 10-year-old son with Udoka and her 21-year-old son with Dorsey 

In a statement last week, the 45-year-old coach said: ‘I want to apologize to our players, fans, the entire Celtics organization, and my family for letting them down.

‘I am sorry for putting the team in this difficult situation, and I accept the team’s decision.

‘Out of respect for everyone involved, I will have no further comment.’

Udoka is said to have suffered a ‘significant financial penalty,’ though the amount has not been disclosed.

The woman, meanwhile, has not been named.

In the team statement naming assistant Joe Mazzulla as interim coach, Boston said Udoka’s future would be determined ‘at a later date.’

Long became a household name with her role in the Fresh Prince of Bel Air as Lisa Wilkes, Will Smith’s girlfriend

As news of the affair spread across social media, Long's fans and famous friends jumped to her defense

As news of the affair spread across social media, Long’s fans and famous friends jumped to her defense 

Long became a household name with her role in the Fresh Prince of Bel Air as Lisa Wilkes, Will Smith’s girlfriend.

She also starred in Boyz N the Hood, Soul Food and Big Momma’s House.

The beloved actress is also the recipient of three NAACP Image Awards and a Black Reel Award.

As news of the affair spread across social media, Long’s fans and famous friends jumped to her defense.

Many chastised Udoka for his indiscretion, asking how he could have betrayed the actress – a universally popular star and one of the most beautiful actresses of her generation.

‘Sending nothing but love to Nia Long,’ tweeted New York Congressman Jamaal Bowmann. ‘We’re not letting a man, who didn’t recognize the luxury her presence was, dim all her beauty and glory.

‘Matter of fact, we need a Nia Long national holiday!’ 

‘Nia Long has an 100% approval rating with Black America and Ime Udoka is about to understand that,’ added film producer Van Lathan.

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