Teyana Taylor claimed her estranged husband Iman Shumpert was a ‘jealous narcissist’ in divorce documents she quietly filed this past January.
The 32-year-old actress-singer made a number of claims about what she characterized as a dysfunctional relationship with the former NBA player, 33, TMZ reported Wednesday after reviewing new docs in the split Taylor filed in Georgia.
The Harlem, New York native, who filed the divorce docs in January, announced her separation from Shumpert this past September. They are parents to two kids: Iman ‘Junie’ Shumpert, seven, and Rue Rose Shumpert, three.
In the legal docs, the White Men Can’t Jump actress said that the relationship was doomed by Shumpert’s insecurity about their respective levels of fame and whether he was ‘good enough for her.’
Taylor in court docs accused Shumpert of ‘treating her cruelly and displaying extreme narcissistic behavior throughout the majority of their marriage.’
The latest: Teyana Taylor, 32, claimed her estranged husband Iman Shumpert, 33, was a ‘jealous narcissist’ in divorce documents she quietly filed this past January. She was pictured earlier this month in NYC
Taylor said Shumpert was envious of her and ‘aggravated by her notoriety’ even at a time he was surging in his NBA career, inking a four-year, $40 million contract deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2015, after taking in $8 million with the New York Knicks for his salary the previous season.
Taylor said Shumpert was especially rankled when they would attend public events and photographers would request he step out of the frame so they could take pictures of her solo.
Taylor said Shumpert ‘became more and more angry’ with her fame, and would grill her about it and provoke arguments via text messages, later saying he was sorry, in a toxic and repeating cycle.
Taylor said she ‘began to intentionally dim her light for her husband to try to have a harmonious and peaceful marriage,’ even passing on projects because he ‘did not want her to work.’
Taylor said Shumpert could not be satisfied no matter what she did, as he would complain about her not bringing income into the household after she passed on work. Taylor said in court docs that she did her best to keep the marriage going in spite of Shumpert ‘being extremely emotionally and mentally abusive towards her.’
Shumpert ‘remained in an insecure state as his NBA career continued to wind down’ Taylor said. Shumpert’s last season came in 2020-2021, when he played two games for the Brooklyn Nets in February of 2021.
Shumpert, an Oak Park, Illinois native, played for five teams during a 10-year NBA career, winning a championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Taylor said that she used her show business connections to keep Shumpert busy with on-camera jobs after he was retired from professional basketball, but Shumpert ‘unfortunately insisted on bickering’ with her, paving the way to their split. (She was present at his side during his run on Dancing With the Stars during the show’s 30th season in late 2021.)
Taylor said Shumpert was especially rankled when they would attend public events and photographers would request he step out of the frame so they could take pictures of her solo. Pictured in January at the Sundance Film Festival
Taylor said in court docs that she did her best to keep the marriage going in spite of Shumpert ‘being extremely emotionally and mentally abusive towards her’
Taylor said Shumpert was especially rankled when they would attend public events and photographers would request he step out of the frame so they could take pictures of her solo. Pictured last year in NYC
Taylor said that by 2022, the relationship had deteriorated to the point that she filed for divorce, then asked her lawyers to withdraw her filing the next day. She told the court she was ‘unable to handle the emotional rollercoaster’ by the time 2023 rolled around and decided to move forward with the divorce.
In confirming their separation in September after seven years of marriage, Taylor said that infidelity was not the cause of the break-up, but took a different tack in her divorce court papers, saying that Shumpert had cheated on her.
Taylor also mentioned multiple run-ins with the law Shumpert has had, including an August 2016 DUI arrest in Atlanta; and an August 2022 arrest in Dallas when officials said he has 6.12 ounces of marijuana on his person at the airport.
In the court docs, Taylor claimed that in one instance, Shumpert totaled her Rolls Royce and left the scene to avoid getting arrested again. Taylor said that despite her loyalty to Shumpert, he ‘reacted with further cruel treatment and selfishness.’
She was subjected to another ’embarrassing and humiliating’ cheating scandal after he made a last-ditch effort for them to reunite after she filed for divorce in January, the outlet reported.
In April, Taylor denied rumors that circulated on TikTok that she had a drug overdose after learning Shumpert had been unfaithful to her.
‘These types of rumors and lies hurt the most because I take pride in being a mother and would never be that irresponsible,’ Taylor told Ebony magazine. ‘I’ve never used drugs a day in my life, nor do I smoke and only drink occasionally.’
She added: ‘To read the comments on my page being flooded by people’s assumptions of me and my family and creating stories and scenarios that doesn’t exist and never have, I will ABSOLUTELY ALWAYS respond and protect the integrity of my family. Especially if lies are being told.’
Taylor in September confirmed that she and Shumpert had separated after seven years of marriage. Pictured in LA that month
The actress-singer took to Instagram two months back with a long post detailing the major life development involving Shumpert, who she shares two children with
Taylor said Shumpert left the family home last month and has not returned, and is requesting temporary and permanent primary physical custody of their kids and joint legal custody and child support.
Insiders told the outlet that Taylor used her initials in her filing to avoid attracting attention, but has used both of their names in recent filings.
Taylor initially took to Instagram September 17 with a long post detailing the major life development involving Shumpert.
‘AHT AHT! Not too much on my bestie!’ Taylor said alongside a shot of the former couple dressed up as the Wayne’s World characters Wayne and Garth. ‘In all fairness, Iman and I are separated and have been for a while.’
Taylor said that cheating was not the cause behind her marriage ending, and that she remains on good terms with the NBA alum.
‘To be 1000% clear, “infidelity” ain’t one of the reasons for our departure,’ Taylor said. ‘We are still the best of friends, great business partners and are one hell of a team when it comes to co-parenting our 2 beautiful children.’
She continued: ‘Most importantly we are FAMILY & in the 10yrs together, 7yrs married we ain’t ever played with or about THAT.’
Taylor said that she and Shumpert were both focused on keeping family matters private, which she said was the reason they were ‘able to successfully & peacefully separate without all of the outside noise.’
The couple was together for 10 years total, seven of them as husband and wife. Pictured last year in LA
Taylor headed to a launch party for Pandora’s lab-grown diamonds in NYC ahead of NYFW in September
This past May, Shumpert posted a kind message on social media honoring Taylor on Mother’s Day.
‘Your strength, persistence and patience has never ceased to amaze me,’ Shumpert said. ‘Your lil head fits all of the hats no matter the size…but there’s something so beautiful about that mommy hat, so pure and so forever!
He added: ‘Keep on pushing the love and creating the memories that remind us what this life is about. We love you.’
Taylor said on the comment section: ‘You always know what to say…my personal poet. Thank you my love.’
Taylor and Shumpert were pictured with their children at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah earlier this year
Taylor said that she and Shumpert were both focused on keeping family matters private, which she said was the reason they were ‘able to successfully & peacefully separate without all of the outside noise.’ Pictured earlier this month in NYC
In June, the A Thousand and One actress called the New York Knicks alum a happy 33rd birthday, calling him ‘a super dope human being.
‘My Bestfriend, my husband, my children’s dad, my other half. Crazy how ya bday feels like my day cause you a gift. One of the greatest gifts I’ve ever received. Happy bday king!’
Taylor and Shumpert initially met in 2011 at a party before getting involved romantically in 2014. They got engaged in 2015 – the same year they welcomed daughter Junie – and exchanged vows in late 2016.
