NFL Star Tiki Barber Left His Wife For 'RHONJ' New Cast Member Traci Lynn Johnson
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Real Housewives of New Jersey producers wanted to add some new faces to their cast, and one woman in particular is getting plenty of attention for joining the show. Her name is Traci Johnson, and she’s the wife of sports commentator and former NFL star Tiki Barber.
Sounds like standard Real Housewives stuff, right?
Well, Traci and Tiki have a pretty intense relationship history—and they definitely made headlines as a couple before they were married. Here’s what you need to know about Traci and Tiki’s relationship.
Tiki left his wife for Traci.
Let’s just get this out there up front: Traci and Tiki’s relationship was splashed across newspapers everywhere in 2010 after news broke that Tiki left his then-wife of 11 years, Ginny—who was 8 months pregnant with twins at the time—for Traci. Traci was an NBC intern and Tiki was working as a Today show correspondent, per the New York Post.
“After 11 years of marriage, Ginny and I have decided to separate,” Tiki said in a statement to the Post. “This decision was a painful one, but we are moving forward amicably and will continue to work together to raise our children with the love and dedication they have always known.”
Tiki later said in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, per Us Weekly, that he and Traci were “only friends” when he was still married. “I was separated, out of my house so it wasn’t until then that we took things to the next level,” he said. “Tiki and I were romantically involved when he was separated, and plenty of people who are separated have boyfriends and girlfriends,” Traci said.
There’s a big age difference between them.
When Tiki left his wife for her, Traci was a 23-year-old, per the Post. Tiki was 34.
And they're not unusual: WH rounded up more celebrity couples with big age gaps.
They got married in 2012.
Tiki and Traci tied the know two years after he left his wife. The two said their vows at the Marriage Bureau in New York City, according to the New York Daily News. Tiki was 38 and Traci was 24 at the time.
“Many thanks to the NYC Clerk's office, especially James Mitchell who married me to my love Traci Lynn Johnson!" Tiki wrote in a tweet that’s since been removed, per Us Weekly. "Excited for the next chapters . . ."
They now have two kids.
Traci regularly posts pics of the couple’s two daughters on Instagram.
Traci seems ready for her close-up.
Back in June, Page Six announced that Traci is “in talks” to join the show and had been spotted filming with the cast at several events.
Traci seems pretty excited to be joining the cast. She dropped an Instagram last week, noting that she’s “giving some love and throwing some shade @bravotv 8 more days!! #RHONJ 🎬🎞📽” next to shots of herself doing interviews with producers.
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