Despite Other Public Splits, Here Are 18 Black Celeb Couples Still Standing Strong [Update]

While some Hollywood couples are falling apart, these Black couples are thriving.

Photo: Getty Images Stefanie Keenan/VF22 / Contributor

After the recent news of white celebs calling it quits like Tom Brady and Gisele, and Pete Davidson and Kim K, we have to shine a light on the Black celeb couples who are doing just fine.

Boris Kodjoe and Nicole Ari Parker

Photo: Getty Images Kevin Tachman/amfAR / Contributor

Actors Boris Kodjoe and Nicole Ari Parker met on the set of Showtime’s Soul Food. They were married in 2005 and have two children together, Sophie and Nicolas.

Snoop Dogg and Shante Broadus

Photo: Getty Images Kevin Winter / Staff

Snoop Dogg married his high school love, Shante Broadus, in 1997. They got divorced in 2004 because of irreconcilable differences but eventually remarried in 2008. They have three children, Cordé, Cordell, and Cori. They are also grandparents.

Teyana Taylor and Iman Shumpert

Photo: Getty Images Dave Benett/amfAR / Contributor

NBA player Iman Shumpert and singer and actress Teyana Taylor were married in 2016. They first met at a party in 2011 after Iman was drafted into the NBA. They have two children together, Junie and Rue. The couple also has a reality show called We Got Love Teyana and Iman.

Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson Jackson

Photo: Getty Images Theo Wargo / Staff

The entertainment power couple, Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson Jackson are still so much in love since meeting as Morehouse and Spelman as students in 1970. They are not only married but have worked together on several acting projects. They also have one daughter, Zoe Jackson.

Oprah Winfrey and Stedman Graham

Photo: Getty Images Prince Williams / Contributor

Oprah Winfrey and Stedman Graham met in 1986. He proposed in 1992, but they decided that marriage just wasn’t in the plan. Nevertheless, they are still happily together.

President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama

Photo: Getty Images NICHOLAS KAMM / Staff

Our favorite First Couple, Barack and Michelle Obama, have been together for more than 30 years, having been married since October 1992. They were co-workers when they first met at a law firm in 1989. The rest is history. Oh, and they have two gorgeous and smart daughters, Malia and Sasha Obama.

Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade

Photo: Getty Images Jason Mendez / Stringer

Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade were married in 2014 after meeting seven years earlier at a Super Bowl party. Their relationship has been a mixed bag, from Wade having a child outside of their relationship, to dealing with criticism for protecting and accepting their daughter, Zaya, after coming out as transgender, but they have persevered.

Sterling K. Brown and Ryan Michelle Bathe

Photo: Getty Images Axelle/Bauer-Griffin / Contributor

Actors Sterling K. Brown and Ryan Michelle Bathe first met in 1998 as students at Stanford University and eloped in 2006. They have worked on screen together a few times and have two children, Andrew and Amaré.

Russell Wilson and Ciarra

Photo: Getty Images Momodu Mansaray / Stringer

NFL player Russell Wilson and singer, Ciara, began dating in 2015. Their relationship has been in the spotlight from the beginning for their vocal Christian values, with some people begging for Ciara’s prayer: to find a husband that cherishes them as much as Russell cherishes her. Ciara had one child, Future Jr. with rapper, Future, before marriage. Now, the Wilsons have two children together, Sienna and Win.

Denzel Washington and Pauletta Washington

Photo: Getty Images Emma McIntyre / Staff

Denzel and Pauletta Washington met in 1977 on the set of Wilma and after 3 marriage proposals, were wed in 1983. They have four children together, John David, Katia, Malcolm, and Olivia, and all of them are actors!

Ayesha and Steph Curry

Photo: Getty Images Sean Zanni / Contributor

NBA player, Steph Curry, and author and television personality, Ayesha Curry, first met as teenagers at a church in North Carolina. They did not start dating until adulthood and were married in 2011. They have three children together Riley, Ryan, and Canon.

Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee

Photo: Getty Images Momodu Mansaray / Stringer

Spike Lee and Tonya Lee met at a Congressional Black Caucus dinner in 1992 and were married one year later in 1993. They have two children, Satchel and Jackson.

Morris Chestnut and Pam Byse

Photo: Getty Images Paras Griffin / Contributor

Morris Chestnut and Pam Byse keep a pretty private profile (probably the key to success). They have been married since 1995 and have two children, Grant and Paige.

Viola Davis and Julius Tennon

Photo: Getty Images Axelle/Bauer-Griffin / Contributor

Viola Davis prayed for her Prince Charming, Julius Tennon, and he appeared in her life a little over three weeks later. The couple tied the knot in 2003 and adopted a daughter, Genesis.

LeBron James and Savannah James

Photo: Getty Images Jon Kopaloff / Stringer

LeBron and Savannah James have been together ever since their high school days in Akron, Ohio. They got married in 2013 and have three children, Lebron “Bronny”, Bryce, and Zhuri.

Omar Epps and Keisha Epps

Photo: Getty Images Leon Bennett / Stringer

Omar and Keisha Epps got married in 2006. The singer and actor have two children together Amir and K’mari, and a daughter from Epp’s previous relationship, Aiyanna.

Courtney B. Vance and Angela Bassett

Photo: Getty Images Dan MacMedan / Contributor

The two beloved actors, Courtney B. Vance and Angela Bassett got married in October 1997, celebrating 25 years of marital bliss. They have two twin children together, Bronwyn and Slater.

LL Cool J and Simone Smith

Photo: Getty Images David Livingston / Contributor

LL Cool J met Simone Smith after being introduced on Easter by her cousin. They have been married since 1995. They have four children: Najee, Italia, Samaria, and Nina.

Straight From The Root

Sign up for our free daily newsletter.

Latest from The Root

If You Thought You Knew Everything About Prince, Here Are Some Things That Will Shock You

If You Thought You Knew Everything About Prince, Here Are Some Things That Will Shock You

June 7 would have been Prince's 67th birthday. Here are a few things few people know about the legendary rocker ...
Father's Day 2025: Fave Black Dads in TV and Film

Father’s Day 2025: Fave Black Dads in TV and Film

From films like "The Pursuit of Happyness" and "Daddy's Little Girls" to shows like "Family Matters" and "Black-ish," we're celebrating our favorite dads in media ...

You Know Of The Tuskegee Airmen, But  You Don't Know What 'The Harlem 'Hellfighters' Did to Win The War

You Know Of The Tuskegee Airmen, But You Don’t Know What ‘The Harlem ‘Hellfighters’ Did to Win The War

There are many Black people who served in the U.S. Army with honor. Let's give them their flowers ...
Sole Survivor Explains How He's Alive After Air India Crash

Sole Survivor Explains How He’s Alive After Air India Crash

An Air India flight crash that claimed over 240 lives had one remarkable sole survivor. Viswashkumar Ramesh, 40, was one of the 242 people on board the London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which crashed in the northwestern Indian city of Ahmedabad about half a minute after takeoff on Thursday. While recovering ...
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET

The Very Short List of Black Celebs Speaking Out Against Trump’s ICE Raids

Although the list is short, folks like Doechii, Vic Mensa and Ava DuVernay are not happy with Trump's handling of anti-ICE protests ...
White George Floyd Advocate and Husband 'Target of Political Assasination' but It Gets Worse

White George Floyd Advocate and Husband ‘Target of Political Assasination’ but It Gets Worse

This is a sad day for America. But we all knew something like this coming ...
The Wild, Unbelievable Timeline of Kendrick Lamar's First Toronto Show Post-Drake Diss

The Wild, Unbelievable Timeline of Kendrick Lamar’s First Toronto Show Post-Drake Diss

Lamar touched down in Drake's hometown for his Grand National Tour and let's just say things went off-script in the most hilarious way ...
Expert: Brace Yourself For Anti-Ice Protests, But That's Not The Scary Part

Expert: Brace Yourself For Anti-Ice Protests, But That’s Not The Scary Part

Father’s Day weekend might be met with a side of anti-fascist chaos… across the country ...
Fans Get Too Close to Rumi Carter at the 'Cowboy Carter Tour' Until They See ...Jay-Z

Fans Get Too Close to Rumi Carter at the ‘Cowboy Carter Tour’ Until They See …Jay-Z

“Beyoncé’s youngest daughter was among the crowd during the latest ‘Cowboy Carter’ show in London.” ...
Embattled Shannon Sharpe Claps back At Nicki Minaj! Here's What We Know?

Embattled Shannon Sharpe Claps back At Nicki Minaj! Here’s What We Know?

Minaj took aim at Sharpe in a new song and now that he's gotten wind of it, he's a got a whole lot to say! ...
Former NBA Star Grabs His Privates and Pays a <i>Huge</i> Price For What He Does to a Fan

Former NBA Star Grabs His Privates and Pays a Huge Price For What He Does to a Fan

DeMarcus Cousins catches a steep penalty from his basketball team for very unsportsmanlike conduct caught on camera ...
Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images

Behind Florida’s Sheriff’s ‘We Will Kill You’ to Anti-Trump Protesters

With Sheriff Ivey basically giving the green light for violence against Americans using their First Amendment right, Black folks took it all in ...
What Black Men Secretly Want For Father's Day

What Black Men Secretly Want For Father’s Day

It's not socks. Nor is it cologne. What Black men want for Father's Day is simple and free ...
How Trump is Now Involved in R. Kelly's Legal Mess, Explained

How Trump is Now Involved in R. Kelly’s Legal Mess, Explained

The once beloved R&B singer is pulling out all the stops to try to get out of prison and his latest attempt just might involve the president! ...
Detroit Mother Kicked Out Of Zoom Court For Making Daughter A PB&J

Detroit Mother Kicked Out Of Zoom Court For Making Daughter A PB&J

Turns out you can't make PB&Js during a court hearing, even if it's on Zoom ...
Kenny Lattimore and Faith Jenkins Go After Youtubers For Spreading Lies About Them

Kenny Lattimore and Faith Jenkins Go After Youtubers For Spreading Lies About Them

Lattimore, a popular singer, has remained out of the headlines as of late. But this new development has now changed that! ...
Black Internet Reacts To Nelly And Ashanti's New Reality Show Trailer

Black Internet Reacts To Nelly And Ashanti’s New Reality Show Trailer

If reality TV wasn't already starting to get juicy with the comeback of Love Island USA, it's definitely going to get interesting with a new show everyone is talking about. Spin the block couple, Nelly and Ashanti, are coming out with a reality TV show, "Nelly & Ashanti: We Belong ...
Wait...Who's Trying to Kill R. Kelly??

Wait…Who’s Trying to Kill R. Kelly??

Kelly, the disgraced R&B singer, has been trying to get out from under his 31 year prison sentence. But this latest attempt might be the wildest ...
Will Ryan Gosling Play Black Panther? Answered

Will Ryan Gosling Play Black Panther? Answered

After a new Marvel comic introduces a white Black Panther, fans discuss whether Ryan Gosling should take on the role ...