Kevin Durant's Reason For Not Having Kids Yet Is One More Of His Peers Should Adopt
Since the beginning of time, all the way to just this morning (for me), a childless woman has been asked when she will "finally" decide to bear children. Oftentimes, we can't even be out here happy, healthy, and celebrating the fact that we have none without the question slapping us in the face from granny (or the like), who probably had about 12 of them thangs by the time she was 30.
And what's wild is that the disrespect follows us around, where even legends like THE Tracee Ellis Ross, who lives her best rich auntie life regularly, isn't safe. She, a woman with a full career that comes from a legendary family and that lives as fiercely and positively out loud as she does, is surrounded by baby-making innuendos from interviewers who are inviting themselves--and society--to be all up in her uterus.
And listen, this has me mad, y'all. I mean, because let's be real: while Tracee is stigmatized for her choices, childless celebrity (Black) men are rarely publicly force-fed the kid requirement (or at least it isn't the topic of conversation in male spaces), yet, there are pages and pages for women who have been categorized as disappointments for deciding to be without (for now). I tested this theory and honestly couldn't find much evidence to support otherwise except an old 2021 interview with mega-athlete Kevin Durant, who was publicly asked why he doesn't have kids at the age of 34.
And somewhere in the midst of my hunt for evidence, I went from initially being pleasantly surprised by the fact that Durant was even asked about his offspring choices to becoming even more distracted by his response altogether.
It all took place on Bleacher Report's, Chips With Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors. In the segment, while chopping it up about life, Green went right in, asking the usually private Durant, "So, family. You have no kids. I got three kids, and I'm 31, so I, you know, took a little different route. But you have no kids. Why? Do you want kids ultimately, do you not want kids?"
After taking a nervous moment to listen to the question, Durant responded notably, saying:
"That's a big commitment. For one, I always felt like I was just really zoned in on my work and my alone time, and my free time. It's too much for me to lock in on something like that, you know. And eventually, I do want that, but the older I got, I think it's the better because I'm maturing more, knowing myself more, and knowing my situation a little bit more, so I think the longer I wait, is only going to be for the better."
He then goes on to reveal that time has been on his side in this way because he wouldn't even want his child to know what his profession is in order for them to "escape the pressures of being KD's son." And despite the fact that Durant was famously close to family life in 2013 when he became engaged to his high school sweetheart, former WNBA player, Monica Wright, they would eventually go their separate ways, which he was also refreshingly honest about, telling GQ:
“I had a fiancée, but…I really didn’t know how to, like, love her, you know what I’m saying? We just went our separate ways…We was just hanging out, chilling. And I felt the energy. I felt 'I need to do this right now.' And I just did it. I was like…We’re engaged right now? We’re about to get married? So I was just like, cool! I love this girl. But I didn’t love her the right way.”
So far, that's 2/2 mature, and accountable, responses regarding the life choices of Kevin Durant from Kevin Durant himself, I accept. But this conversation is seemingly one-of-one. Is it time to normalize this pressured conversation in predominantly male spaces too? Or should we stop asking altogether?
Watch the full interview below (Durant/Green begin speaking on family life at 20:00):
Draymond and KD Reveal What Really Happened with Warriors Fallout | FULL INTERVIEW (Chips)
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by Theo Wargo/Getty Images
Charmin Michelle is a southern native and creative spirit who works as a content marketer and events manager in Chicago. She enjoys traveling, #SummertimeChi, and the journey of mastering womanhood. Connect with her on Instagram @charminmichelle.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Rihanna Talks Shedding Expectations And Finding Balance As A Mother
Since becoming a mother in 2022, Rihanna has defined parenthood by her terms and hopes to pass that sense of autonomy on to her children.
For Vogue China’s April cover story, Rihanna shared her perspective on raising her two sons with A$AP Rocky, and how she hopes to preserve her children’s uniqueness, devoid of societal expectations.
"The most beautiful thing...is that [children] come into the world with their own individuality and sincerity, without any logic or conformity,” she told the publication. “Which usually makes you feel that you must fit into a certain group."
The “Work” artist, known for her trendsetting style and captivating persona, expressed her desire to support children in fully embracing their individuality and encouraging them to be whoever they want to be. "It's really beautiful to see and I want to continue to help them navigate that and make sure that they know they can be whoever they want to be,” she says.
She continues, “They should embrace it completely, because it's beautiful, and it's unique. I love them just that way."
From shattering music charts to shaking up the beauty industry, Rihanna has forged a path that has since created the “dream” life we see today. One that she says has made her parents proud of.
“I’m living my dream,” she continued. “My parents were very proud of that because they just wanted me to be happy and successful. So, I think the key thing is to find some kind of balance. Yes, balance is important. Do this and you get the best of both worlds. You can write your own life the way you want, and it will be beautiful. Sometimes, you just need to let go of everyone’s expectations and start living your own story.”
Rihanna, who shares sons, RZA, 23 months, and Riot, 8 months, with rapper A$AP Rocky, recently shared her vision for expanding her family in the future in Interview Magazine.
When stylist Mel Ottenberg asked about the number of additional children she hoped to have, Rihanna replied, "As many as God wants me to have.”
"I don't know what God wants, but I would go for more than two. I would try for my girl,” she adds. “But of course, if it's another boy, it's another boy."
Featured image by Neil MockfordWireImage
