Gloria Govan And Derek Fisher Postponing April Wedding Due To Coronavirus
Gloria Govan And Derek Fisher Postpone Wedding Due To COVID-19, Say It Was “Really Crappy” Decision To Have To Make - Page 8
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After Derek Fisher popped the question to former Basketball Wives star Gloria Govan, the couple took their time in planning out their wedding. But now that COVID-19 is a major issue and it’s unclear when people will be able to even go outside freely and without fear, they’re halting their plans.
The 35-year-old former reality TV personality shared that news with PEOPLE, saying concern over the well-being of guests was in the forefront of their minds when they made the decision to postpone their April nuptials.
“It was just based off of what the CDC advised and the current state of affairs,” she said. “We just felt like it was in everyone’s best interest, really.”
She also noted that they had loved ones they would have wanted to attend who would need to travel, and that’s obviously not being allowed.
“So we were like, ‘Yeah, it’s just probably best to postpone.’ We had a few people traveling, a lot of our parents and aunts and uncles who are a little older. So we felt like it was in their best interest, and for everybody, to just not put anyone at risk,” she said. “It was obviously a really crappy decision to have to make.”
Nevertheless, their loved ones were understanding of their decision, which Govan said was “really sweet.”
After more than five years together, the couple was ready to take that next step with family and friends present, but Govan says it’s still going to happen. They’ve waited this long, so they aren’t pressed about waiting a bit longer.
“I still like him,” she said. “I’m gonna keep him around for a while.”
Hit the flip for more couples of the photo from over the years, as well as the story behind their complicated road to the altar:
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The couple first started dating in 2015, and as previously mentioned, Fisher proposed to her in front of family and friends back in 2018. Before committing to take that step with one another, they had recently divorced other people. Gloria and ex-husband Matt Barnes called it quits, finalizing their divorce in 2016. Fisher divorced wife Candace and finalized that split in 2016.
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This isn’t the first time that Govan has had to postpone a wedding. When she was engaged to Barnes while on the first season of Basketball Wives, they postponed their big day too. She said that she called off the wedding because they felt like they were doing it for the wrong reasons, including worrying about pleasing other people.
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Initially, when Barnes found out that his then-estranged wife was dating his former Lakers teammate in Fisher, he was pissed. In fact, he was so pissed, we all know that he drove to Govan’s L.A. home to beat up her new man. Barnes would later say that it was his sons who relayed to him was what was going on.
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Looking back on that infamous incident, which ended with Govan and Fisher continuing their relationship and Barnes being suspended from his team and fined at the time for the off-the-court fight, Barnes didn’t regret it for some time. “Every man who looks at the situation knows what’s right and wrong,” he said. “Violence is never the answer, but sometimes it is. And unfortunately, it happened.”
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But after the incident became public knowledge, Fisher made it clear that he didn’t understand why Barnes was so upset. “Matt and Gloria [Govan] were not trying to work things out, and I certainly wasn’t seeing her behind Matt’s back or in secret” he wrote in an essay at the time. “The relationship wasn’t something I was trying to publicize, but it also wasn’t something I was trying to hide, either. There was no reason to.”
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Fisher would end up being fired the next year in 2016 (after the big fight with Barnes) from his coaching position with the New York Knicks. When asked if she felt like the drama Fisher found himself in over her was possibly a reason he lost his job, Govan said no. “I don’t think so, I don’t think so at all,” she said at the time. “This is really a business. I think people forget. It’s not anything personal.”
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Two years later, Fisher proposed to Govan, and surprisingly, Barnes was supportive of the move — because of his kids. “I have two beautiful boys from my ex we are both focussing [sic] on co-parenting & providing the best atmosphere & childhood for them,” he wrote on social media. “They love him, so I love it.”
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While Barnes said that he and Fisher were “on the same page & communicate weekly” about his sons with Govan, she made it clear that they’re not “friends,” nor would either she or Fisher ever consider inviting him to their wedding. She said Barnes would make things “really awkward.”
“[Matt] and Derek aren’t cool,” she said of their relationship. “They’re cordial. I wouldn’t say ‘beef’ but they don’t talk every week.”
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With Fisher’s help though, co-parenting between Govan and Barnes was eventually able to get to a better place. “It takes a lot of patience,” she said of dealing with her ex for the sake of her sons. “I really have to pull a lot of strength from my relationship with God … and my boys. When I look at them I don’t ever want to be responsible for them not having a relationship with their dad.”
