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Retired NFL star and TV commentator Tiki Barber and current girlfriend, Traci Lynn Johnson, felt compelled to sit-a-spell with "Entertainment Tonight" (ET) to dispel some of the negative press that has plagued them over the last few months.
Barber has been crucified by the media for reportedly having an affair with former NBC intern Johnson, 23, and leaving Ginny, his wife of 11 years, while she was pregnant with their twins. Barber denies the allegations and agreed to meet with "ET" hosts to let people see that he and his girlfriend aren't the villains that they have been made out to be.
"People who know us know that we're not bad people," Barber said. Traci Lynn added, "I just feel that now's the time to make sure the rumors that were said are false ... including that I was his babysitter or I was in the waiting room while Ginny was giving birth."
Although Ginny filed divorce papers at a Manhattan court back in April before she gave birth to the couple's twins and cited adultery as the grounds for the split, Barber insists that he did not cheat:
"We were only friends when I was still married,' Barber told ET. "I was separated, out of my house so it wasn't until then that we took things to the next level." The young blonde said, "Tiki and I were romantically involved when he was separated, and plenty of people who are separated have boyfriends and girlfriends."
Ginny gave birth to twins in May and the soon-to-be ex-couple are in the throes of a divorce settlement tug of war. Barber claims that his former college sweetheart is being very unreasonable with regards to support for herself and their children.
Barber's cozy ties with Johnson has cost his wallet to get walloped in huge ways. He got benched as an NBC Today Show correspondent after making a reported $300k a year. The former gridiron great's contract as a sports commentator on the network's NFL coverage was also not renewed when it expired earlier this year. Apparently, NBC has conduct clauses in their contracts, so in actuality, Barber brought about these casualities on himself. Barber's earnings took yet another hit when a well-known cycling fitness chain dropped him as their spokesperson. The company rendered his "celebrity worthless" after the former Giants star's alleged affair hit the fan.
Meanwhile, Barber and Johnson are now living together and remain positive about weathering the storm as a couple.
Watch the interview here:
Comments: (22)
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By: Tee on 8/10/2010 10:24AM
The money has stop coming for ole Tiki, it just a matter of time to see how long Becky going to hang around. By the way, can anyone tell me what was he drinking in the cup.
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By: Deep Thinker on 8/10/2010 11:26AM
It sounds like both of them are more concerned about repairing their "reputations" than doing right by his children. Perhaps he's missing the millions rolling in and wants to get back to work and nobody will hire him (or her).
What 35-year old "married" man strikes up a "friendship" with a 23-year old female? Even if they were not doing anything their relationship was still innappropriate.
So wifey is being difficult. Hummm, Ginny must have some black in her. Now that it is not financially convienant enough for Tiki and his tart to lay up together.
Tiki claims he was not cheating, but never explains why he seperated from his PREGNANT wife. Any woman with any self-esteem would have run from a man in a situation like this. Why not wait until atleast his divorce is over.
This Traci chick may be attractive, but it is obvious she is evil and not wrapped too tight.
I hope Ginny cleans him out and busts both of them in the mouth!
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By: yupyup on 8/10/2010 12:39PM
your comment was right on point.. this is not monkey see monkey do.. just because other ppl have a relationship while they are still married doesn't make it right.. a real women and a real man would get that divorce that they so desperately want b4 taking up w/someone else..
i can't stand when women do this 2 other women.. even if they were separated have him get a divorce.. he is still married.. how can he have a gf and she have a bf if he is still legally married 2 someone else.. 4 goodness sakes he had kids on the way.. i swear women are dumb as hell when it comes 2 men..
y do they keep calling her the young blond? does she not have a name?
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By: Miss A on 8/10/2010 12:57PM
@Deep Thinker....you are so right! I think ole Tiki is getting hit very hard in the wallet by losing his jobs and endorsements, and now he is trying to mend it. I don't think his reputation is fixable at this point. A rich black man cheated on his pregnant Asian wife with a young white girl....please! His career is over...I just hope Becky was worth it!! I hope his ex-wife cleans out every bank account and wallet he owns. Then let's see how much in love he is with his current gf....
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By: CuriousMind on 8/11/2010 1:09AM
As smart as they both "appear" to be, surely they could have defined Separated and Divorced to see what the real meaning was.
Hmmmm what state did Ginny file for divorce in? I'm hoping it's not one of the nine that allows the wife to sue the mistress for "alienation of affection"...cause then she will realize that she should have waited until he was divorced, instead of separated.
Interesting.....
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By: David on 8/11/2010 7:36AM
"He got benched as an NBC Today Show correspondent after making a reported $300k a year. The former gridiron great's contract as a sports commentator on the network's NFL coverage was also not renewed when it expired earlier this year. Apparently, NBC has conduct clauses in their contracts"
Today Show host Matt Lauer was cheating on his wife too... but I guess NBC "conduct clause" doesn't including fukking another man.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/27/alexis-houston-matt-lauer_n_591558.html
Tiki is getting what he deserves..just like Matt Lauer should.
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By: Politically Incorrect on 8/11/2010 1:16PM
He is black so it is Bush's fault...
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By: lawannal on 8/11/2010 1:26PM
did he not learn anything from tiger, you don't cheat on white women or any other non blk woman.. these blk men don't understand, a white man does not care about how you treat a blk woman, but how dare you when being allowed to date outside your race , that you dare cheat , their the only ones allowed to do that. you should be happy that you were even allowed in the firest place. tiki it might be 2010 but, in all the major companies that still run america its still a white mans world and your just a small fish in a big pond
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By: Beauteey on 8/11/2010 2:30PM
Tiki Barber deserves just what he gets. Its so sickening when a man thinks that because he is seperated from his wife its ok for him to start dating someone else. When a married couple are seperated you both are taking time apart to work out your problems in hope of reconciling. That's not going to happen if the husband or the wife is romanticly involved with someone else. If there is no possibility of reconciling then you both need to end your marriage by legally divorcing. So much could have been avoided if only he was honest with his wife from the start.
Another thing people we need to stop playing that race card everytime something happens. If Tiki Barber was married to a black woman he still would have cheated, if its in your mind and in your heart to cheat you are going to cheat.
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By: Lind on 8/11/2010 4:38PM
Mama always told us what goes around comes around. Women need to know that if a maried man cheat on his wife with her, then he is going to cheat on her with somebody else it's only a matter of time
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