Joumana Kidd

Joumana Kidd
Born
Joumana Marie Samaha

Foster City, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actress, journalist
Years active1994–2015
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1997; div. 2007)​
Children3

Joumana Marie Kidd (née Samaha) is a former actress and journalist, and former wife of former NBA basketball player and current (2024) NBA coach Jason Kidd.[1]

Early life and career

Born and raised in Foster City, California,[2][3] she attended school obtaining a BS Degree in Communications from San Francisco State University until marrying Jason Kidd shortly after graduation and moving initially to Phoenix, Arizona then to Saddle River, New Jersey.

She initially was a stay-at-home mother to their newborn son T.J. (Trey Jason) but after a break into hosting for NBA television, decided to pursue a career in TV hosting, working briefly for the entertainment television show Extra, and went on to cover the Grammys and Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame ceremonies. She was a cast member of the 2010 VH1 Reality Series Let's Talk About Pep, appeared as a guest commentator on three episodes (2013–2014) of Bethenny, and in 2013 made a pilot episode for own potential series called Women on Women (WOW). Her last work was a 2015 pilot episode for a potential talk show called The Journey with Joumanna Kidd.

Personal life

Jason and Joumana were married in 1997 and have three children Trey Jason (T.J.), and twins Miah and Jazelle.[4]

In January 2001, Jason Kidd was arrested and pleaded guilty to a domestic abuse charge for assaulting his wife Joumana in anger. As part of his plea, Kidd was ordered to attend anger management classes for six months. Kidd completed the mandatory counseling and continued to attend on his own and it was reported that Kidd has since given up alcohol. He and his wife were both active in their church and were thought to have completely reconciled. On January 9, 2007, Jason Kidd filed for divorce against his wife, citing "extreme cruelty" during their relationship. Kidd contended intense jealousy, paranoia, and the threat of "false domestic abuse claims" to the police as reasons for the divorce. On February 15, 2007, Joumana Kidd filed a counterclaim for divorce,[5] claiming that the NBA star—among countless instances of abuse—"broke her rib and damaged her hearing by smashing her head into the console of a car".

References

  1. ^ Geiger, Dorian (1 March 2023). "'Serial Con Artist' Tracii Hutsona Gets Four Years In Prison For Defrauding Jason Kidd's Ex-Wife Of $1M". Y! Entertainment. Archived from the original on 17 June 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  2. ^ Williams, Kam (7 February 2010). "Joumana Kidd of "Let's Talk About Pep" Jason's ex expounds on life and love post-divorce". Philadelphia Sun. Archived from the original on 24 June 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  3. ^ Robbins, Liz (20 April 2003). "Joumana Kidd, N.B.A. Wife, Carves a Career in Television". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  4. ^ "Kidd files for divorce from wife Joumana of 10 years". ESPN. Associated Press. 9 January 2007. Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  5. ^ "Wife: Jason Kidd A Serial Abuser, Adulterer". The Smoking Gun. 16 February 2007. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2024.