Sabrina Dhowre Elba Reflects On Past Criticism She Faced Over Idris Elba Relationship
Locking down one of Hollywood's sexiest men may come with its perks, but it can also come with judgment. Sabrina Dhowre Elba has experienced both after going public with her relationship with Idris Elba in 2017. The couple met earlier that year in a Vancouver jazz bar and wed a couple of years later in Morocco.
Recently, the former Miss Vancouver stopped by the Awf The Record podcast and described all the public attention she received at that time as "super overwhelming."
"I was like, I've never seen a picture of the back of my head like that. I was like stop showing me all these different sides of myself. It's making me really sort of analyze and nitpick things," she said. "And I was like, oh gosh. And it was a huge, like, moment of, am I good? Can I even do this?"
As she was adjusting to the new fame, she also dealt with a lot of judgment from the Luther star's female fans. Sabrina admitted that she was taken aback by all of the negativity she received from her relationship with Idris.
"I was met with so much kind of judgment and criticism. I grew up in a very supportive community of friends and people, and I was just like, well, I didn't realize so many people are so angry that this guy got married." She continued, "And it felt a little bit like bullying at first. I mean, Idris at one point was like, just stop reading it."
She later added, "I remember thinking, wow, even my own people are picking me apart."
The S'ABLE co-founder credited her mom and her philanthropic work for helping her build her confidence and use her platform as a voice for those in need. Once she began focusing on herself and her happiness, she noticed Idris' fans began to accept her, and now she jokingly refers to them as her sister's wives.
"I do love the sister wives. Like I noticed it at one point that people would be like, 'Yes, I love you and our husband' (laughs). And I realized, like, oh my gosh, it's actually quite a large group of these people who are in my marriage," she said.
"But Idris also makes me feel like the most confident woman in the room that I can joke around like that and embrace that and have a sense of humor about it, because, yeah, he's an attractive man, and he's got a community of fans who are die hard and will you know, chase after him. But I can be a part of that with him and that to me is like so fun that his fans have accepted me."
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Feature image by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Devale Ellis On Being A Provider, Marriage Growth & Redefining Fatherhood
In this candid episode of the xoMAN podcast, host Kiara Walker talked with Devale Ellis, actor, social media personality, and star of Zatima, about modern masculinity, learning to be a better husband, emotional presence in marriage, fatherhood for Black men, and leading by example.
“I Wasn’t Present Emotionally”: Devale Ellis on Marriage Growth
Devale Ellis On Learning He Was a ‘Bad Husband’
Ellis grew up believing that a man should prioritize providing for his family. “I know this may come off as misogynistic, but I feel like it’s my responsibility as a man to pay for everything,” he said, emphasizing the wise guidance passed down by his father. However, five years into his marriage to long-time partner Khadeen Ellis, he realized provision wasn’t just financial.
“I was a bad husband because I wasn’t present emotionally… I wasn’t concerned about what she needed outside of the resources.”
Once he shifted his mindset, his marriage improved. “In me trying to be of service to her, I learned that me being of service created a woman who is now willing to be of service to me.”
On Redefining Masculinity and Fatherhood
For Ellis, “being a man is about being consistent.” As a father of four, he sees parenthood as a chance to reshape the future.
“Children give you another chance at life. I have four different opportunities right now to do my life all over again.”
He also works to uplift young Black men, reinforcing their worth in a world that often undermines them. His values extend to his career—Ellis refuses to play roles that involve domestic violence or sexual assault.
On Marriage, Family Planning, and Writing His Story
After his wife’s postpartum preeclampsia, Ellis chose a vasectomy over her taking hormonal birth control, further proving his commitment to their partnership. He and Khadeen share their journey in We Over Me, and his next book, Raising Kings: How Fatherhood Saved Me From Myself, is on the way.
Through honesty and growth, Devale Ellis challenges traditional ideas of masculinity, making his story one that resonates deeply with millennial women.
For the xoMAN podcast, host Kiara Walker peels back the layers of masculinity with candid conversations that challenge stereotypes and celebrate vulnerability. Real men. Real stories. Real talk.
Want more real talk from xoMAN? Catch the full audio episodes every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don’t miss the full video drops every Wednesday on YouTube. Hit follow, subscribe, and stay tapped in.
Featured image by YouTube/xoNecole
Devale Ellis On Being A Provider, Marriage Growth & Redefining Fatherhood
In this candid episode of the xoMAN podcast, host Kiara Walker talked with Devale Ellis, actor, social media personality, and star of Zatima, about modern masculinity, learning to be a better husband, emotional presence in marriage, fatherhood for Black men, and leading by example.
“I Wasn’t Present Emotionally”: Devale Ellis on Marriage Growth
Devale Ellis On Learning He Was a ‘Bad Husband’
Ellis grew up believing that a man should prioritize providing for his family. “I know this may come off as misogynistic, but I feel like it’s my responsibility as a man to pay for everything,” he said, emphasizing the wise guidance passed down by his father. However, five years into his marriage to long-time partner Khadeen Ellis, he realized provision wasn’t just financial.
“I was a bad husband because I wasn’t present emotionally… I wasn’t concerned about what she needed outside of the resources.”
Once he shifted his mindset, his marriage improved. “In me trying to be of service to her, I learned that me being of service created a woman who is now willing to be of service to me.”
On Redefining Masculinity and Fatherhood
For Ellis, “being a man is about being consistent.” As a father of four, he sees parenthood as a chance to reshape the future.
“Children give you another chance at life. I have four different opportunities right now to do my life all over again.”
He also works to uplift young Black men, reinforcing their worth in a world that often undermines them. His values extend to his career—Ellis refuses to play roles that involve domestic violence or sexual assault.
On Marriage, Family Planning, and Writing His Story
After his wife’s postpartum preeclampsia, Ellis chose a vasectomy over her taking hormonal birth control, further proving his commitment to their partnership. He and Khadeen share their journey in We Over Me, and his next book, Raising Kings: How Fatherhood Saved Me From Myself, is on the way.
Through honesty and growth, Devale Ellis challenges traditional ideas of masculinity, making his story one that resonates deeply with millennial women.
For the xoMAN podcast, host Kiara Walker peels back the layers of masculinity with candid conversations that challenge stereotypes and celebrate vulnerability. Real men. Real stories. Real talk.
Want more real talk from xoMAN? Catch the full audio episodes every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don’t miss the full video drops every Wednesday on YouTube. Hit follow, subscribe, and stay tapped in.
Featured image by YouTube/xoNecole