Keshia Knight Pulliam, whom you might remember as youngest daughter, Rudy, on The Cosby Show, is 38 years old. I don’t know about you, but that makes me feel very old. Pulliam made headlines earlier this year when she sort-of defended Bill Cosby against the dozens of extremely credible, strikingly similar stories of his rape and assault of women. She didn’t say he didn’t commit those crimes, just that she worked “with him for a really long time,” that wasn’t “the man that I know” and that she loves him “dearly still.” Which – she could have said “no comment” or just that it “wasn’t the man that I know.” It’s worth noting that the other three actresses who played the daughters on The Cosby Show have not said a word. (Phylicia Rashad, who played his wife, has defended Cosby. Raven-Symone, who was brought in as character Denise’s stepdaughter, issued a carefully worded statement.)
Keshia has a podcast now, it’s called Kandidly Keshia, and she got married in January to a former NFL linebacker named Ed Hartwell. Ed was previously married to Lisa Wu, who stars on Real Housewives of Atlanta. This is Keshia’s first marriage. Anyway Keshia announced last week on her Instagram that she’s pregnant. Except Ed has filed for divorce and wants a paternity test. We know this because he issued a harshly worded statement to The YBF. Ed’s rep told them:
“Right now, the only thing I want is a paternity test for the baby.”
The YBF also had the divorce declaration, which cites irreconcilable differences as the reason, including “constant disagreements on life changing decisions that couples typically make together.” Plus they report that Ed blindsided Keshia and that she did not know he was filing for divorce.
A “source close to” Ed told even more of his side to People Magazine, and it’s not good:
A source close to Hartwell tells PEOPLE the former NFL star “doesn’t have any evidence of her cheating” but wants a paternity test because he is concerned about the timing of the pregnancy.
“It’s just that he had told her he wanted to wait before having a baby and things got really bad between them and then she pops up pregnant,” says the source.
“He even told her he didn’t want to release the bump picture so soon, but she did it anyway,” adds the insider.
The source also says that Hartwell, who has a son from a previous relationship, “just wants to make sure that just because they were married he still covers his bases and gets everything checked out.”
“The pregnancy came during a very dark spot in their relationship,” explains the source.
So Ed wants us to believe that Keshia trapped him with a baby he told her he didn’t want. Am I reading correctly between the lines? Even assuming that’s exactly what happened here, and we can’t be sure, it’s still low to tell all this to the press.
I don’t watch Real Housewives of Atlanta, but those of you who do may have some insight as to Ed’s personality. (He was married to castmember Lisa Wu up until 2011, and she was on that show for the last three years of their marriage, from 2008 to 2011.)
Whatever is going on, Ed made this a huge story. He could have just divorced Keshia and refused to give statements to the press. Instead he dished! It sounds like he’s really trying to hurt her. Plus she’s pregnant. Whether he wants the baby or not, whether he feels manipulated or not, she’s going to be his child’s mother. Or maybe not I guess, depending on the paternity test.
photos credit: FameFlynet and Keshia Knight Pullman/Instagram
What a mess, and I feel sorry for the child that will be coming into it.
A “Very dark spot” six months into your marriage? Yikes! I feel sad for this baby. Seems like this is going to play out similarly to the Sherri Shepard situation.
Exactly. Poor child.
+1
Wow, that’s cold. Is leaving his pregnant gf the new trend?
Has this happened to another celebrity recently?
One of my bffs got dumped aaaand kicked out of the house when she was 24 weeks along. He told her sister he was tired of living with a “moody beached whale”. Two years later when he had an accident that landed him in a wheel chair, guess who he came crawling back to? He is such an effing demon face! She took him in for a month while he got his life in order and when he tried to extend his stay, she kicked him out, cops and all. She didnt set out to get revenge but I cant fault ger for getting sone satisfaction out of it.
Not really, but it made me think about that stunt rob Kardashian pulled yesterday.
What happened to your friend is awful, kudos to her for the way she handled it.
effing demon face…. bwah! Username inspiration!
He sounds like an utter ass. I don’t remember him from RHOA but I barely watch that show. (Just background at the gym)
People on Dlisted were saying this guy is just bad news all round. Some were saying that he gave an interview just after the wedding saying they were trying for a baby but who knows.
Feel sorry for any baby being born into this mess.
Wow, did she turn out to be a pretty woman.
I thought the same thing when I saw the headline: “RUDY is now 38 years old??”
Wonder what happened to her real soulmate, Bud?
Aww loved Bud too bad that show is ruined now.
Awwww, Bud. Remember her light-up sweater that didn’t work? 🙂
So, he had nothing to do with conceiving the baby? Because, if HE didn’t want a baby that soon there are things he could have done to have a hand in preventing pregnancy. Also, the woman is clearly showing. It’s HER body the baby is residing in. She was going to get papped and speculation would start about baby bumps. Where does this guy get off thinking he has agency over her body and what she does with it regarding pictures?
Exactly. That comment about telling her when to disclose the bump are all the confirmation we needed that this guy is an ahole of epic proportions.
Right! This notion of “trapping” men by using a baby is UTTERLY RIDICULOUS. Men have resources at their disposal.
Agree with you. Honestly, I would have a difficult time allowing him to be in the child’s life after all this crazy. I would walk away, take care of that child by myself and consider it a win for me to not have to deal with that ass. Even if something did happen between them, keep it private until you figure that junk out. *sigh* Poor baby.
The idea of trapping a guy is far from rediculous. I know someone who literally had to hide his condoms from his then-GF as she had threatened to poke holes in them with a needle so she could get knocked up.
There are also women who will flat out lie to their partners about their own b/c use, and then “forget” to take their pills. Yes, if the guy doesn’t want kids he should be using condoms too, but it’s not a stretch to think maybe you should just be able to trust your partner to do as she says.
As for the pregnancy photos – yes, it’s her body and she can do what she wants, but being part of a couple means listening to your partners wishes and also compromise. It comes across as very disrespectful for him to say “please don’t do this yet” and it happens anyway. (assuming his claims are true)
Screw that. ALL of that.
Your friend is either a grade A moron for having sex with a woman who made such intentions known to him OR he is lying through his teeth. That notwithstanding, the “pregnancy trap” has always been an insane gamble for the simple fact that a guy who doesnt want to be bound will not be bound. Back in the day, you couldnt even prove his paternity if he decided to deny it. Nowadays, even if you do, its not like he wont still walk and tarnish your name while he is at it. And even if he marries you, you cant possibly believe he wouldnt be banging every thing that moves or that he wouldnt replace you when he grew tired of the game. One of the many reasons its such an offensive theory is that it assumes these women are too stupid to see the multiple flaws in that plan.
Easy solution: Don’t have sex with women who threaten to poke wholes in your condoms.
Otherwise, stop whining if she get’s pregnant and take care of your child.
Oh dear, minimii. Oh dear. Your comment inspired me to reply, but also left me lost for words.
Just no. No. No.
That man is a DOG. How dare him leave a pregnant woman with a divorce and got the nerve to say she trapped him with a baby????? I can’t believe this. Keisha Knight Pullman is a beautiful, young woman and maybe I don’t anything about her but you never hear a word about her in the newpapers or magazines that just shows what kind of a woman she is and he did her dirt.
Shame on Ed Hartwell. SHAME ON YOU.
He sounds like a jerk. I’m so tired of people pushing the lie that women magically get pregnant all by themselves.
what a douche. hopefully she won’t take him back. being pregnant, blindsided and publicly humiliated this way doesn’t forecast anything good from this guy.
As SOON as she popped up with the marriage announcement, the commenters on gossip sites were like “gurrrrlll you in danger”. He’s a known ass. It is WELL KNOWN. If I recall properly he was very abusive toward Lisa.
And FYI-the reason he wants to get divorced? Because he just wants to be single again.
Hollyyy Shiiiittt That is so very Messy! like cause Ya’ll JUST got Married … and just that quickly you changed your mind? Paternity tests?? Good God! and Wait also How can Lisa Wu Be Smug now?? cause OH BAYBEHH she was So Very Smug!!
Another place with this story mentioned the relationship was fine enough for him to use her money to open a gym, but he said she was too spoiled.
She’s 38, she probably didn’t want to wait, and it is a little too soap opera to say you’ve been trapped.
He seemed very nice on rhoa and I was surprised he and Lisa got divorced. But a lot of gossip blogs have suggested he is actually a bit of a con artist/Fame whore.
I could see her not wanting to wait to have kids at 38. Not sure that I follow his logic as to why his desire not to have kids means that the paternity is murky. I just don’t understand how men in 2016 claim to be trapped by pregnancy. There’s way too much readily available (hi Google!) information about reproduction for that.
Lisa and Ed were boring as hell on RHOA…they didn’t last long and neither did their marriage!
Regardless of the mess with her husband, she is lovely and I know we’re pretty snarky around here but she clearly wants this child and I hope that motherhood enriches her life. The situation isn’t ideal, but the baby has a mother that loves it.
It’s 2016 – does this fool NOT know how to NOT get a woman pregnant?
Well, I can’t paint a picture of Ed’s real personality from watching Real Housewives of Atlanta, because Ed and Lisa Wu painted this picture of an adorable, funny, loving relationship. Then the next thing you hear they divorced. So who knows what he was like in a relationship, because they were bothy phony on RHOA, portraying what they wanted to for the show..
From what I’ve read on other sites-Hartwell is bipolar and something has big blow up moments like this where he reacts. Not sure it’s true-but it’s a frame work.
And if she’s showing that much she’s at least 14-20 weeks. So your marriage was in a rough spot 2-3 months in? Yikes. To me it sounds like she wanted a baby (and at 38 who can blame her), he didn’t, and now he’s trying to frame it as her ‘trapping’ him. Dude if you don’t want kids-wrap it up or go get snipped. It’s not like she stole your sperm in your sleep
Wow, what a mess! To me it sounds like she suspected she may be pregnant, had a discussion with him about starting a family and he said not yet. Then when she confirmed her pregnancy and told him he got mad that it had already happened and she was going to keep it. Sorry, dude, but you were married and having sex with your wife. If YOU weren’t ready for kids you should have taken steps to prevent it yourself instead of blaming her.
I have a friend who is 32 and his wife is 39. They were together 2-3 years prior to marriage and have been married 2 years now. He is “overwhelmed” by the fact that his wife is pressuring him to have a kid. Given her age, I cannot believe they did not have this conversation PRIOR to marriage!!! He claims he isn’t ready, but her time is ticking and he feels she is nagging him. I sometimes feel like people simply don’t have open honest conversations before major life altering decisions and then wham, drama and crazy like the above story ensues. Her husband is dumb, she should be glad to be rid of him.