
Draya Michele rose to fame as a cast member on the VH1 reality TV show Basketball Wives LA. Despite not being married to a basketball player, Michele was cast for her personality and history of dating basketball stars. She joined the show in 2011 and left at the end of season four in 2015. Michele has since spoken about the toll that being on the show took on her mental health, and how she needed therapy after leaving. She has also been the centre of various controversies, including a child abandonment case, and has been criticised for making insensitive comments about other celebrities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Draya Michele |
| Full Name | Andraya Michele Howard |
| Date of Birth | January 23, 1985 |
| Place of Birth | Reading, Pennsylvania |
| Occupation | Social media personality, actress, entrepreneur |
| Relationship Status | Currently dating NBA player Jalen Green |
| Children | 3, including a son named Jru with ex-fiancé Orlando Scandrick |
| Reason for Joining "Basketball Wives" | History of dating basketball stars, personality |
| Experience on "Basketball Wives" | Targeted by other cast members, received therapy after leaving |
| Duration on "Basketball Wives" | 2011-2015 (4 seasons) |
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What You'll Learn
- Draya Michele's mental health suffered while on Basketball Wives LA
- She was cast despite not being married to a basketball player
- She was involved in a child abandonment case
- She was the target of fellow cast member Imani Showalter's insults
- She was criticised for her comments on the situation between Megan Thee Stallion and Tory Lanez

Draya Michele's mental health suffered while on Basketball Wives LA
Draya Michele's time on Basketball Wives LA was challenging for her mental health. She joined the cast in 2011 and remained until 2015, but her time on the show took a toll on her well-being. In an interview, Michele revealed that she struggled with the constant arguing and conflict with the other women on the show. She was a target for the other cast members, who criticised her parenting and the men she was linked to.
Michele described her experience on the show as "dark and scary", and shared that she cried every day. She felt that she was misunderstood and targeted by the other women, and the sound of the show is now traumatic for her. She explained:
> "I had to go to therapy for that. Really grateful for the experience and I learned a lot and I’m so, so, so eternally thankful for the platform that it’s given me, but just like the way that I felt every day showing up to do that was so dark and so scary for me every day."
Michele's time on Basketball Wives LA was not easy, and she faced a lot of criticism and conflict. Despite being a fan favourite, she struggled with the constant arguing and negative attention, which took a toll on her mental health. She has since moved on to pursue acting and her fashion lines, as well as finding success as an entrepreneur.
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She was cast despite not being married to a basketball player
Andraya Michele Howard, better known as Draya Michele, was cast on Basketball Wives LA despite not being married to a basketball player. Draya joined the freshman cast of the VH1 series in 2011, and her involvement in the show marked the beginning of her rise to fame.
Draya's casting on Basketball Wives LA was likely influenced by her history of dating basketball stars and her overall personality. In an interview, Gloria Govan, who chose Draya for the show, explained that she wanted to give viewers a different dynamic and showcase various points of view that wives deal with. Draya's involvement in the show can be compared to Royce, an NBA cheerleader who had a relationship and a child with a basketball player.
Draya's time on Basketball Wives LA was not without controversy. She became a target for the other girls on the show, who had a lot to say about her parenting, the men she was linked to, and more. In an interview, Draya shared that her experience on the show took a toll on her mental health, and she sought therapy to cope with the aftermath.
Despite the challenges, Draya's time on Basketball Wives LA propelled her into the spotlight and provided a platform for her to pursue other endeavours. She has since transitioned from a reality TV star to an online personality and a successful entrepreneur, showcasing her versatility and business acumen.
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She was involved in a child abandonment case
Andraya Michele Howard, also known as Draya Michele, joined the cast of the VH1 reality TV series "Basketball Wives LA" in 2011. Despite not being married to a basketball player at the time, Michele was cast for her personality and history of dating basketball stars.
Michele's time on "Basketball Wives LA" was not without controversy. In 2015, one of her castmates, Imani Showalter, made headlines for calling her worthless. This comment came amidst discussions among the cast about a child abandonment case against Michele.
In an interview, Showalter addressed the situation, explaining that her comment was made in the context of the ongoing Casey Anthony case and that she did not believe it reflected who Michele was as a person. She also stated that she and Michele had a great relationship and that she had been trying to support and help her navigate the situation and mingle with the other girls.
Michele herself struggled with the toll that being on the show took on her mental health. In an interview, she shared that she had to go to therapy after her time on "Basketball Wives LA," as the experience was traumatic for her. She felt that she was a target for the other girls on the show, who had a lot to say about her parenting, the men she was linked to, and more.
Michele left "Basketball Wives LA" at the end of its fourth season in 2015. She has since pursued acting and launched successful fashion lines, including her swimwear line "Mint Swim" and her lifestyle clothing line "Fine Ass Girls."
Draya Michele was involved in a child abandonment case, which sparked controversy and discussions among her castmates on "Basketball Wives LA". While the specifics of the case are unclear, it is known that Michele faced scrutiny and criticism from her castmates, contributing to the challenging environment she experienced on the show.
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She was the target of fellow cast member Imani Showalter's insults
Draya Michele rose to fame as a cast member on VH1's "Basketball Wives LA". Despite being a fan favourite, she was the target of fellow cast member Imani Showalter's insults. During a women's life coaching session on the show, Imani called Draya “worthless". This comment sparked backlash from viewers, with many interpreting it as a diss towards Draya's character.
Imani, however, defended her choice of words, explaining that she was not hating on Draya's career choices. She took to Twitter to clarify her stance, stating that having an opinion and judging are two separate things. She also mentioned that her words were not related to Draya's stripping past or any man issues but were instead related to a deeper issue that would unfold later.
Imani's comments were made during a period when Draya was already facing scrutiny and criticism from her fellow cast members on the show. Draya's involvement in the show took a toll on her mental health, and she shared that she had to go to therapy after her time on "Basketball Wives LA". She described the experience as traumatic and dark, and she struggled with the constant arguing and negative attention from the other women on the show.
Despite the backlash, Imani and Draya eventually reconciled. Imani tweeted that they had communicated and were in a good place, indicating that they had moved past the incident.
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She was criticised for her comments on the situation between Megan Thee Stallion and Tory Lanez
Draya Michele, a former cast member of the reality TV show 'Basketball Wives LA', faced backlash for her comments on the situation between Megan Thee Stallion and Tory Lanez. In July 2020, during an episode of the Weed and Wine podcast, Michele shared her opinions on the altercation between the two artists, which had reportedly led to Lanez shooting Megan in the foot.
Michele's comments, which many perceived as insensitive and glorifying domestic violence, implied that getting shot by your lover was romantic. She compared their relationship to that of Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown, stating: "I predict that they had some sort of Bobby and Whitney love that, you know, drove them down this snapped-esque type of road. And I'm here for it. I like that. I want you to like me so much that you shoot me in the foot too."
Megan Thee Stallion, who had previously expressed how painful and traumatic the situation had been for her, was not pleased with Michele's careless speculation. She took to Twitter to call out Michele for joking about gun violence and responded: "Dumb bitch that shit ain't funny. Who the fuck jokes about getting shot by a nigga." Fans of the hip-hop star also criticised Michele on Twitter for her insensitive remarks.
Michele issued an apology on Twitter, stating: "I truly don't glorify domestic violence... I was trying to be funny, but I offended many, including Meg. And I'm sorry."
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Frequently asked questions
Draya Michele was cast on Basketball Wives LA in 2011 despite not being married to a basketball player. She was chosen for her personality and history of dating basketball stars.
Imani Showalter called Draya worthless on the show. Imani later explained that this was due to a child abandonment case against Draya, and that she and Draya have a great relationship.
Draya left Basketball Wives at the end of season four in 2015. She has said that she "didn't love her time" on the show and that it took a toll on her mental health.
After leaving Basketball Wives, Draya pursued her acting career and launched a swimsuit line called Mint Swim. She has also launched two other clothing lines: Fine Ass Girls and Beige & Coco.
Draya Michele first came to public attention as the girlfriend of singer Chris Brown. She has also been linked to Wiz Khalifa, DeShawn Stevenson, and Orlando Scandrick, with whom she shares a son. She is currently dating NBA player Jalen Green.




















