Source: Sheri Determan/WENN.com and Derrick Salters/WENN.com / WENN
Van Jones is not the one to be trifled with, friends.
The 50-year-old news commentator and former lawyer made that clear when he appeared on an episode of The Wendy Williams Show on Tuesday. He was there to speak on his new CNN series, The Redemption Project, legal cases in the news, as well as stars involved in trying to change the laws (including Kim Kardashian and Meek Mill). These were all serious topics, but Williams found a way to throw a question in the fold about Jones’ private life, specifically his ongoing divorce from Jana Carter, with whom he shares two sons.
Both Jones and Carter are executive producers on the new series, which premieres April 28 (9 p.m. ET/PT) on CNN. When Williams started asking about Carter and why Jones is still wearing his wedding band, he threw back what Williams was trying to dish out.
“Let’s talk about your ex-wife, your soon-to-be ex-wife,” she said. “This show is a breakthrough for the Jones family because Van and his wife have kids, but they are getting a divorce. The divorce is not finalized. You still wear your ring.”
“You got something on your hand so I ain’t talking about that,” he responded, laughing. “I’m just saying! We talking about jewelry!”
Williams, of course, is going through a very public divorce from Kevin Hunter, which was filed earlier this month. She wasn’t wearing her wedding set as he thought though, she’s since swapped it out for her favorite floral ring. However, she reminded Jones that while he’s on her purple couch, she’s going to be the one asking the questions, not answering them.
“Excuse me! This side of the couch is for the asking of the questions,” she said. “That side is for giving up the information.”
Attempting to be a team player, Jones did share that he and Carter were attempting to maintain their friendship, despite her filing to end the marriage.
“In our case, she was my best friend 20 years ago, she’s my best friend today,” he said. “We’re raising these two boys together, we got this show together, we’re going to keep on doing good. Just because one thing changed doesn’t mean everything has to change. We try to do it the right way.”
When Williams pressed him about whether or not he was going to keep wearing his ring while dating, he politely wrapped up the conversation on his romantic life, letting folks know, he doesn’t have one.
“You getting personal, man! First of all, I ain’t got no dating life,” he responded. “Let me tell you something. I’ve been off the market for 20 years. Now you got to go on apps and put all your information in there. I ain’t doing all of that, man. So I’m good. I’m just trying to save the world.”
Jones announced back in September that he and Carter were calling it quits. According to the filing, they had been separated since May.
“Divorce means the end of a marriage,” he wrote on Instagram, “not the end of a family. #FamilyForever.”
You can see the awkward moment between these two soon-to-be divorcées below, starting at the 9:00 mark:
