Over the weekend, I covered Michael Strahan and Nicole Murphy’s split. They had been together for seven years, and they spent the last five years “engaged.” The wedding never came. My gossip sixth-sense was activated and I really felt like there was going to be more drama to come. And wouldn’t you know? There’s tons of drama. As it turns out, Nicole Murphy was the one to publicly announce the split and she announced it just hours before Strahan’s induction into the NFL Hall of Fame.
Michael Strahan had no idea his split from Nicole Murphy would be announced at the EXACT moment he was entering the NFL Hall of Fame … and friends think Nicole or someone close to her was trying to ruin the biggest moment of his career.
Sources close to the former couple tell TMZ Sports the break up has been a long time coming … Michael and Nicole had actually broken off their engagement several weeks ago. But we’re told there was no plan — certainly not on Michael’s side — to announce it before his induction into the Hall of Fame this weekend.
As it turned out, Michael was right in the middle of receiving his official HOF yellow blazer when the story came out … according to our sources. We’re told several people close to Michael think the timing was extremely suspect.
As for whether it upset Strahan’s HOF festivities — we’re told he celebrated his Saturday night induction deep into Sunday morning. He also opened his speech by saying, “This has been the best weekend of my life.”
So, the drama was percolating… Nicole and Michael had split weeks ago but were waiting to announce it and BAM, she tried to jack his Hall of Fame publicity with the messiness of the breakup. So, why is she mad? Page Six says it’s because of money. Their sources claim that Michael wouldn’t marry her without a prenup and Nicole was “unwilling to sign” even though Michael has always been “very generous” to her financially. But what about her divorce settlement from Eddie Murphy? Well, she gave some grifter named Troy David Stratos her money years ago and he made some shady investments and she sued him. So, she doesn’t have much money these days. But was it all about money? Or did Nicole think Michael was cheating?
Nicole Murphy decided to tell the world she had broken up with Michael Strahan — right when he was entering the Hall of Fame — because that’s when she “confirmed” he was unfaithful.
A source close to the couple tells TMZ … Nicole first got wind Michael might be dating another woman in early July and started investigating … the way scorned women do. We’re told she was finally convinced it was true on Friday and immediately decided to go public.
The source did not know the nature of Nicole’s proof. We’re told Nicole insists her timing wasn’t out of revenge, rather a total coincidence because that’s when she knew for sure. It just happened to come precisely when Michael was getting the greatest honor of his career.
Other sources tell us Nicole and Michael have been broken up for several weeks — and, in fact, their bi-coastal relationship has been on and off for almost 2 years … since Michael took the ‘Live’ gig. Ultimately this may come down to that old “Friends” theory — but we’re told Nicole definitely did NOT think they were “on a break.” Reps for Michael and Nicole have not responded to calls for comment.
Nicole Murphy really isn’t coming across like a nice woman here. At all. It sounds like Nicole and Michael had been on the outs for a while and he started dating someone else less than two months ago, before he had declared his engagement with Nicole over and done with. So, that’s on him for not being entirely clear. But still… it sounds like Nicole was out to hurt him and it sounds like their relationship was a huge mess and more trouble than it was worth.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I ain’t saying she’s a gold digger…
LOL! I was thinking the exact same thing and believe he’s known this all along. Don’t know what kept in him there for 5 years, ego maybe.
To be fair, she’s an incredibly beautiful woman.
Also, nasty people are sometimes the ones most capable of turning on the charm when it suits them.
Uhhh, not sure I at all understand your point there @Bread and Circuses. (“To be fair she is a really beautiful woman.”)
Soooo, a man (or woman) should not legally protect all of the money that HE has worked his *ss off his entire adult life for simply because the woman he is dating/engaged to is good looking?! Good lord. Please tell me that isn’t what you actually think!
Besides, this chick already tried to clean Eddie Murphy out something like a decade ago and pretty much got everything she demanded and then some. Someone refusing to or putting up a big stink about singing a pre-nup while simultaneously professing to only be with you for love is a HUGE and glaring red flag.
P.J. B&C was responding to the comment above “Don’t know what kept him there for 5 years” and pointing to her beauty as a possible reason for Michael Strahan to stay with her for 5 years even with the potential knowledge that she was out for his money. B&C wasn’t justifying Nicole’s actions.
I am. No prenup? Bitch, please. This is one guy who for once isn’t thinking with his dick.
After being divorced myself, I WISHED we had planned ahead before all the hatred & lawyer fees. I have to problem with pre-nups, she would have to agree to it anyway with her lawyer presumably fighting for her best interest. And she has a track record of being terrible with money, and apparently a little psycho if the whole GPS tracking story is accurate.
Yeah, I kind of feel that way about her, too. And the timing of her breakup announcement was straight up cold. Nicole Murphy is one of the most breathtakingly beautiful women I’ve ever seen. But, hey girl, pretty is as pretty does.
And he had a VERY messy divorce a few years ago. He lost $15 million in a divorce settlement (more than half his net worth at the time) in addition to $18,000 monthly child support. And you should read his ex-wife’s appeal for more money for child support for ‘accessorizing’ and what not. And that all was WITH a prenup. No way he was getting remarried without an ironclad one this time–and she had to have known it.
And way back in 2009, he was worried about *her* cheating. He’d even, according to gossip reports, put a GPS on her car to prove it. She had apparently been carrying on with Universal Records A&R exec Demetrius Spencer for nearly a year behind Strahan’s back. I guess either she wasn’t or he forgave her.
A pre-nup doesn’t really mean anything, it’s just an admittance of future failure, with a bottom line offer. The custody can get ugly, the disputes can get ugly, there is nothing to circumvent future ugly.
@homegrrrl admittance of future failure? you can’t be serious. it’s a clearly laid out plan for what happens in the worst case. if you’re a responsible person, then you think about things like that before you go into any sort of agreement – if you’re the type that sees protecting yourself as an admission of failure, then I feel sorry for you.
you know how to circumvent future ugly? put an agreement in writing and have each party put their signature to it to confirm they understand what they are going into.
if you don’t, then that “future ugly” you talk about would only occur if one of the parties decides after the fact they no longer want to abide by those terms. a divorce doesn’t have to be ugly – if adults really love each other, then a prenup like that would just be something they can negotiate on and get out of the way so they can get married. come to something both people agree is fair, get married, hopefully stay together, and never mention it again.
Exactly!!!
Finally an explanation. I couldn’t picture them together — his persona is so relaxed and warm, she’s I don’t know what, freaky-deaky ice queen?
This explains it a little.
But …… LOL
I always liked her. But I always felt a certain way when she would use his Black card everytime she would go shopping. Not just for herself but for her friends. That doesn’t make her a bad person. And he clearly gave her access. I’m just saying…..she’s going to miss that money tree.
Silly Nicole. This will make her look bad. She should keep in mind as she burns bridges here that there isn’t a huge market for 50 year old beard/gold diggers who go “off message”.
She didn’t just find out he was cheating on Friday. That’s strains credulity.
Considering she blew through her divorce settlement money of $15 Million in four years, and lost another $7 Million by investing with a crook, did she really think Michael would marry her without a prenup? She’s doing better now but still, there are some glaring clues here that this is someone who likes to spend heavily and not think of the consequences. It’s better they go their separate ways.
Nicole was nasty to announce their break up while he was being inducted into the Hall of Fame, but it seem neither party is exactly a saint. I’m betting he dodged a huge bullet and an even bigger hole in his wallet.
+1. I also don’t understand what is up with celebrities or partners/spouses of celebrities with money needing other persons money. I guess I come from a background that is all about earning your own money and they have theirs and keeping it seperate. But, she doesn’t have any of his kids, she’s not pregnant, so I’m not sure why she feels entitled to his money. Does anyone get this feeling from this piece?
True. The timing was a bad, but its something we’ve known for at least a week, right?
She has a “hard” look to her too much Tox I guess. 🙁
My thoughts exactly. You can tell she has pretty features, but there’s this overlying hardness/coldness to her that makes the entire look off-putting.
Does anyone remember the story about Michael placing a tracking device on Nicole’s vehicle? This was years ago, but I remember reading it and thinking that was nuts. I think they broke up for a bit around that time. There may have even been police involvement.
Yup. Just found it on huffpo. 2009 story.
I find this interesting because TMZ just had a story about an actor’s x wife doing the same thing & trying to allege that he was having an affair with Bill Nye (yeah, the science guy).
Yes, she had apparently been carrying on with a music exec for a year and he was trying to prove it. I guess they worked it out regardless because they lasted another 5 years.
I really liked them both.. So sorry the situation is so messy.
I think it’s CDAN who said there was crazy jealousy and control on his part. Nonstop texts etc…
Strahan is not a choir boy. He had an acrimonious divorce from his wife and while his ex was nuts, Strahan was not without having some issues like infidelity in that relationship.
He may play the “Awww shucks, I am a nice guy” on tv but over the years I have read some not so flattering things about him.
There are three sides to a story: Hers, His and The Truth.
ITA! Something tells me his whole “nice guy” act is just a schtick but in a relationship he probably is a controlling asshole.
The 3 sides thing, definitely and for sure.
Yep. But apart from the ‘he said, she said’ over their marriage, the ex-wife’s requests about child support were crazy. I think she eventually got shot down over that but can’t remember all the salacious details.
this seems like a mess on both sides. yikes.
someone commented on the last story that she looks like annie lennox – i can’t unsee that now.
She completely looks like Annie Lennox’s Biracial sister. Those eyes and that face. Both beautiful women. It’s too bad the modeling industry discriminates against women over 40 because she could make a career right now representing a cosmetic or clothing line. She has the body of a 25 year old.
Well the announcement could have come from his side to forestall questions as do why she was t there.
Once he had to move to NYC for Live and she had to stay in LA for her kids, I think the relationship was cooked. Careers can do that, not foul on anyone’s part.
I won’t be surprised to see him with someone new soon. Men can’t be alone.
His last divorce was not pretty.
Does anyone else remember how ugly Strahan’s last divorce was? They fought bitterly over money – lets just say golddigger might be his type. And he and Nicole got together while that whole thing was still going on. What I’m surprised at is that Nicole didn’t just negotiate a good prenup and lock him down years ago, because there’s no way that man was going to get married without one.
Wasn’t this relationship one of those “arrangements”?
I think she’s beautiful still.
But I don’t know why people bother getting married so much. Or tying. Oy.
Even if he did cheat, she will look bad. Michael has built up all the goodwill he gets from his live show and people think he’s a nice guy. His ex-wife tried this stuff too (she implied he was gay or into kink, if I recall correctly) and he still came out looking great. If Nicole needed money, perhaps she could consider, uh, working for herself? It seems stupid to put the screws to a man to pony up. And yeah, the timing totally stinks. I don’t believe it for a minute.
Nicole has money. She gets a nice check from Murphy for some child support still and has her own reality show on VH1. The gigantic home in California belongs to her and was not something Strahan bought for her. She is fine on her own and a source of income from her show.
yeah, but that doesn’t matter. to some people, you can never have enough money, she might be fine on her own but she’s d&mn gonna get some of his
Well, the point is kind of moot as they are broken up and never married so what she got from him is what he GAVE. She won’t get more.
Micheal’s ex-wife also accused him of cheating and abuse. At one point she also tried to imply that he gay. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2221349/Live-host-Michael-Strahan-speaks-divorce.html
She has a mean looking face. Wasn’t her divorce from Murphy also messy because of money?
I only recall the messy part being Eddie was caught with a transvestite prostitute that led to the divorce but they were divorced in under a year and that usually doesn’t happen with an acrimonious divorce.
Naaah I think she hung around in that marriage w Eddie for years after that.
Didn’t she even have one more baby after the transvestite pickup?
That happened in the late 90s, it definitely didnt break up Eddie and Nicole. In fact, if she stayed with him through that I wonder what actually broke up that marriage?
I know of the cheating but they were together for a bit after that, from what I remember. Hmmmm.
I don’t remember an acrimonious divorce. I remember he had a very messy situation with Mel B over their daughter. (He tried to deny paternity) I thought the Murphy’s divorce was pretty quiet (if lucrative for her) by Hollywood standards.
How does this dude have time to cheat when he has like 20 jobs? So disappointed in him. He had a wholesome image and the public really liked him…but a lot of male celebs rarely get damaged from cheating scandals.
Don’t know if he’s a nice guy or not but it sounds like they were officially broken up when he started dating again. Just that he didn’t want to announce it to the press before his HOF induction. She probably agreed to pretend they were still together for good PR leading up to the HOF thing then she found out about his new woman and got mad. I can understand her feelings of betrayal since she had been pretending for him but to announce it the way she did will hurt her image as well as his.
I don’t really care how mad she was at him, it was an asshole move to make the divorce announcement at that time. His football career started long long long before she came along.
They were not married. Just engaged.
I knew that – my mistake. They may both be assholes but in my opinion she’s assholier for this move.
If they haven’t already, Mattel should come out with a Nicole Murphy Barbie Doll in time for Christmas. With a red gown, sales would be through the roof. She rocks the red.
This would have been Strahan’s THIRD marriage, all of his ex’s have accused him of cheating.
2 ex wives and four kids later–he just needs to be single.
the end
Whatever the truth, this makes her look shady, and desperate. Have some pride woman!!!!!!
I admire Nicole she did the right thing. With so many kids on both sides and the need to blend a family, this guy has no interest and no time. I think she put her children’s interest first not money. Look at how many things Micheal is into maybe he doesn’t even give his own children the attention they need from a dad.
that was really mean of her to do that during his big day….i can understand being upset but to ruin his hall of fame is a bit ott
TMZ has pics of her on vacation with ex NBA player a month ago.Ratchett
So there are pics of her cheating
He seems like such a sweet, easy going guy, but something must be up with him that he gets into all these crazy, drama-filled relationships. Either he has the worst taste in women or he’s a real dog.
She’s such a beautiful woman, but her botox fixed face makes her beauty hard. Lacquered. Porcelain doll. And that diminishes it.
She was a beard looking for a new man. Word on the street says he’s been DL for years. But comin out isn’t for everyone. Who has 5 year engagements?! She was filling a role for him to get things lined up. He’s good now- so she’s no longer needed. End of story.
How is Nicole looking bad? What person would be ok with their longtime fiancé cheating on them??? He is a jerk for cheating on her and I can totally understand her announcing the truth when she found out he had been cheating. He is the one who is looking bad right now.