I never knew that Lamar Odom dated Taraji P. Henson back in the day. This was a year before he started dating Khloe Kardashian, so back in 2008(ish). Lamar is currently promoting his memoir Darkness to Light, and he’s revealing all about not only his marriage to Khloe, but what came before. Lamar says that he and Taraji were introduced and they immediately hit it off. She introduced him to some of her Hollywood friends too, like… Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. Taraji and Brad worked together on The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and they became work-friendly, so much so that they did a double-date. Some more highlights from Lamar’s book:
The double-date: “On the night of the Golden Globes, Taraji and I went to a restaurant and had dinner with her Benjamin Button costar Brad Pitt and his wife, Angelina Jolie.” The former Los Angeles Lakers forward also recalled how Jolie, 43, told him that he and the Empire actress, 48, seemed like they were “together forever” because they had such a strong bond. The basketball player told Us Weekly exclusively on Tuesday that the 2009 double date was his “you made it” moment. Following the meal, Odom and Henson continued to the awards show where they sat “right next to” actor Forrest Whitaker. The Khloé & Lamar alum noted, “That was amazing that night.”
On Taraji: “I think just to get that love from a black woman, and their perspective of life from her point of view, was important for me at that point in time. Yeah, it was authentic, me and Taraji’s connection. It was authentic. There was no bulls—t about it. She was just such a wise woman that she could see through whatever smooth act I was trying to put on. She refused to be just another conquest, and truthfully, I didn’t want her to be….I don’t think I ever connected with another black woman as deeply as I did Taraji.”
Other Hollywood friends: “She introduced me to her fourteen-year-old son, Marcel, and was at my house nearly every day. Sometimes she’d bring some of her Hollywood friends, like actress Sanaa Lathan who starred in Love And Basketball.”
How his relationship with Taraji ended: It fell apart when he cheated on Henson, noting, ‘I felt guilty, but I was craving immediate sex. Things were amazing, but of course, God gave me a layup and I blew it.’
[From Us Weekly & the Daily Mail]
I remember how Taraji and Brad really did get along well, so it’s not surprising that they would have organized a double-date with their partners. Angelina was like “you two are going to be together forever” and Lamar was all “Um, yeah, I gotta go.” Did anyone else think this was an odd statement though? “I don’t think I ever connected with another black woman as deeply as I did Taraji.” Does he mean that after Taraji, he only had deep connections with white women?
Photos courtesy of WENN and Getty.
I think he realizes that Taraji is amazing and he downgraded with the Kartrashians.
Yes, yes and yes.
He has nothing but praise for Khloe though. And tbh if he didn’t have the history he did with them, his memoir would likely not be as hyped as it is. People say the Kardashians were to blame for his issues, but he was struggling before that obviously and he went by way of many athletes-you shine so briefly, then you get injured or traded or older, and suddenly it’s over. Some become a Michael Strahan, some become a Hank Baskett, or some go by way of Lamar Odom. 60% of NBA players file for bankruptcy within five years of leaving professional play. Many of them fall into drug or alcohol issues, or mental health issues, or both.
(I know I named two football players in my analogy but they were the first two very famous former athletes I could remember that worked at the top of my head.)
This ^^^
I’ve never watched KUWTK before, and about a month ago I was craving a trashy show and was thinking “what’s the trashiest reality show I could watch”…. Naturally, KUWTK popped in my head and I started binge watching.
Right now I’m at season 12 and this is all after Lamar had his hospital scare and was in a coma (Both he and Khloe were separated at this time)
Season 11 and 12 really show how much Khloe was there for him, and how much she actually did for him. She was there when he started walking again, and she was in control of so many factors of his life, because he physically couldn’t do them himself, such as physical therapy, counselling, medication, eating healthy or enough during the day.
It’s honestly crazy to see how much shit the Kardashians are given for Lamar’s life and what was happening with him, when they were actually there with him the whole time, and were always communicating with him and concerned, and caring for him.
He truly cares for Khloe and the family
I’m no Kardashian stan, and don’t really know in detail of everyday life details, but I respect when respect is due
@ BeeCee
Kris Jenner and her daughters are the ones who decide how the show gets edited. They always make it so they look like perfect angels. Don’t believe everything you see on the show. If Khloe cared so much, how about give the cameras a rest and just be with your husband? Did the cameras really need to be there during such a “rough” time? Anything for ratings ! Also, just so you know the family also re-shoots scenes AFTER the fact…just to make sure they are the ones who look good.
@ ME
Oh I absolutely know that, again, I’ve been feeling like binge watching the trashiest show I could think of. I do know that they do plenty of reshoots after some type of drama has happened because it didn’t happen in camera first time round.
I don’t think they are perfect angels, and there are many times during the episodes that my eyes are rolling into the back of my skull because of the bullshit that comes out of their mouths.
But, there were many episodes that Khloe wasn’t in, because she was actually with Lamar out of state and supporting him.
I’m just agreeing with @Sassbr in terms of the fact that Lamar does praise and care for Khloe
Yeah, I paused at his statement about connecting to black woman. It would have been much better if he just left the a woman in there. Also how come you score Taraji and then go for a Kardashian is beyond me. But the main thing I take from this piece of gossip is that they had a dinner before the Golden Globes? So there are women who actually eat in their gowns? before getting on a red carpet? That is refreshing to know. I always thought they pull their dresses so tight they cam barely breath let alone eat.
Not many of the big stars eat much. I know a few folks in the industry and they always joke that Hollywood parties have the best food and no one eats it so it’s the best place to go if you’re hungry!!! And Angelina Jolie always wears sack dresses anyhow, so if she did pick at a bit of food beforehand, it wouldn’t affect the fit ha ha.
Man, taraji has super questionable taste in men.
I think it’s well known that Khloe is the one he cheated on her with. Also I’m pretty sure they were engaged (Taraj and Lamar) when that happened. I think it’s the reason Khloe wanted to get married sooo quickly.
Yes, he keeps saying “a black woman” as if he’s not black himself. It is so odd. It’s almost as if he doesn’t identify as a black person, or that he is above dating a black woman. He sucks!
It kind of sounds to me like maybe he typically dates non-black women, and gets some crap for it, so this is him trying to justify it? I don’t know. It is kind of an odd thing to say though.
He seems to be doing better, so that’s good.
Yep, he’s the type who says he’s not attracted to black women and thinks that black women are beneath him.
I know he’s a jerk but I find his smile to be really sexy.
Ugh. And this is what black women are talking about when we talk about black men who only date white women. Taraji was the ONLY black woman he could connect with?? Really?? And to qualify it was his way of explaining why he no longer dates black women. So by highlighting Tariji is that way he is insulting every other black woman.
THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yep. 100.
Unless he’s implying that Khloe is black because of paternity?
alex roldan isn’t black.
well he certainly fell from grace after this little date, from this to a kardashian.
I don’t think Angelina said “you two are going to be together forever” it sounds like she said something more like “it seems like you guys have been together forever” like it surprised her that their relationship was new-ish. That’s the impression I got from the excerpts.
Lamar is an idiot he could’ve had Taraji but blew it. I wonder if she knows about this book and she ok with talking about her. Taraji strikes me as very private.