Eddie Murphy and his ex-wife, Nicole Murphy, lived in marital bliss for twelve years before their eventual split. Since it ended, the former couple, who share five children, have remained on friendly terms.
Known for his large family comprising ten children from various women, Hollywood veteran Eddie Murphy had one relationship that relatively stood out. His relationship with ex-wife, Nicole Murphy, marked his only legal marriage and yielded five of the actor’s ten children.
Despite seemingly sharing twelve years of bliss, Eddie and Nicole’s marriage ended on a sad note. The resulting drama has remained part of the friendly exes’ lives to date.
EDDIE MURPHY AND NICOLE MURPHY’S RELATIONSHIP
Nicole and Eddie had their first encounter in 1988, at the NAACP Image Awards show. They kicked off their romance shortly after and sustained a long-term relationship for almost two years. During their time dating, the pair welcomed their first daughter, Bria Murphy, born 1989.
On March 18, 1993, Eddie Murphy tied the knot with the supermodel at New York City’s Plaza Hotel. The duo went on to have four other children, including Myles Murphy, Shayne Murphy, Zola Murphy, and Bella Murphy.
THEIR DIVORCE
Twelve years into their union, Nicole Murphy filed for a divorce from the “Dr. Dolittle” star, citing irreconcilable differences. They finalized the divorce in April 2006.
Despite their sad split, the one-time couple remained on friendly terms, becoming an epitome of the ideal co-parenting relationship. In a 2012 interview, the model addressed her relationship with Eddie, describing it as “great.”
NICOLE AND EDDIE’S ROMANTIC LIVES SINCE THEIR SPLIT
Eddie Murphy and his former wife, Nicole Murphy, wasted no time moving on to other relationships after their separation.
The actor and comedian had a brief fling with former Spice Girl, Melanie Brown. Their short-lived affair yielded a daughter, Angel Iris Murphy, born in April 2007.
He also began a relationship with movie producer Tracey Edmonds. The two exchanged vows privately on January 1, 2008, in what they later described as a “symbolic union.” The union crashed two weeks later, with several sources reporting that their relationship was plagued with fights and misunderstandings.
The actor hooked up with model Paige Butcher in 2012. Butcher and Eddie Murphy have since welcomed two kids, a daughter, born in 2016, and a son born in November 2018. Butcher became Eddie Murphy’s fiancé in September 2018, and the lovebirds have sustained their relationship to date.
Nicole also lived out an interesting romantic life. She kicked off a relationship with football star Michael Strahan in 2007 and enjoyed a blossoming romance for two years. Strahan popped the big question in 2009, sealing their romance with an engagement ring.
Sadly, like Eddie, Nicole had little luck with her post-divorce relationship. Her romance with the NFL star crashed after a five-year engagement. The pair went their separate ways in 2014.
HOW NICOLE EMBARRASSED THE MURPHYS
In September 2019, photos of the 51-year-old model snuggling with director Antione Fuqua surfaced on social media, affirming their romance. The world received the news with disdain, with most sharing their disappointment at Nicole for having an affair with a married man.
Fuqua, who had been married to actress Lela Rochon-Fuqua for 20 years, was immediately tagged as an adulterer. Nicole, on her part, released a statement days later, claiming she and the director were family friends and simply shared a friendly kiss in the pictures.
Fans revolted over her petty excuse, prompting the star to release another statement apologizing to the public. She also rendered an apology to Lela and her family for her alleged affair with Fuqua.
Following the whole kissing frenzy, sources confirmed that Eddie Murphy was disappointed in his ex-wife. Reportedly the duo had a heated exchange, with the comedian pointing out that the affair was an embarrassment to the family. He also expressed his concern over the negative impact of the affair on their five children.
FACTS ABOUT NICOLE MURPHY
Now 51, a mother of five, and a grandmother of one, Nicole Murphy landed the planet on January 5, 1968. She delved into modeling earlier on in her career and made a name for herself in the industry with her fitness finesse and fashion prowess.
Aside from modeling, the icon, born Nicole Mitchell, has made several appearances in movies and television shows. Some of her appearances on the big screen include “Hollywood Exes” and “Just Love.”
After quitting modeling, Nicole focused on her entrepreneurial endeavors and now owns several companies. After divorcing Eddie, a long-time acquaintance, Troy Stratos conned Nicole out of her divorce settlement, crippling her finances.
Notwithstanding, the model made it out of the terrible financial state and eventually brought Stratos to book.
She has since attained an impressive financial standpoint, establishing the Nicole Murphy Fitness, Zobela by Nicole Murphy, and her handmade jewelry company FLP among others.