The Funny Moment Niecy Nash Knew She Developed Feelings For Her Wife
Niecy Nash’s marriage to singer Jessica Betts was a surprise to many. Nash never identified as a member of the LGBTQ community but she says falling in love with Betts and building a relationship was seamless. She hilariously remembers the moment her feelings for Betts turned romantic while eating a seafood meal together.
Niecy Nash says she fell in love with Jessica Bates while the two ate crab legs
Nash and Betts’s romance came as a shock to fans but the two were longtime friends. They first connected on social media in 2015. Nash was a fan of Betts’s music. Betts made an appearance on Nash’s TNT series Claws as a wedding singer for Nash’s on-screen wedding.
Nash told People Magazine that at the time that she met Betts, she was happily married to her ex-husband, Jay Tucker. Tucker and Nash announced their split in October 2019. Less than a year later, Nash broke the internet with her surprise nuptials to Betts.
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As for how the relationship between Nash and Betts became romantic, Nash says it was an easy and natural transition due to having a foundation of a friendship. “I loved her before I was in love with her because she is such a special human being,” she says.
During a recent appearance to The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Nash says she realized she was developing feelings for Betts four years into their friendship. The epiphany came over a casual meal.
“We were already friends for about four and a half years – I was already divorced and we were still friends and we went to go eat crabs…and the next thing you know…it’s a gateway people, Nash joked. “If you don’t want this life, don’t go eat crabs.”
DeGeneres also joined in on the fun, telling Nash, “Oh that’s it, that’s the gay thing.”
The actor refers to Jessica Betts as her ‘hersband’
Of course, many questioned Nash’s decision to marry a woman after two marriages to men. But Nash insists her marrying Betts was not a coming out moment.
“[My marriage] has absolutely nothing to do with gender and it has everything to do with her soul,” Nash says of Betts in her interview with People. “She is the most beautiful soul I have ever met in my life.”
She even told DeGeneres that her youngest daughter made her watched a television program on ways she could identify as a member of the LGBTQ community. But Nash says she was left even more confused.
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“It was like a thousand different things you could have called yourself…I was like ‘I’m Black and I’m your mama not go and sit down,’” she jokes.
But, Nash does have a loving name she references Betts as. “You call her my wife, I lovingly call her my hersband,” Nash reveals. When DeGeneres asked if Betts calls Nash the same, Nash declared, “No, I’m her wife.”
Nash says her family and friends are supportive of her and Betts’ marriage. Furthermore, the support of her children is the most important. She says she’s in the best place she’s ever been in her life and more confident than ever.
