
Gloria Govan, who appeared on VH1's Basketball Wives and Basketball Wives LA, left the show to focus on acting, hosting, and content development. Sources also indicate that Govan, who was married to former NBA player Matt Barnes, was not allowing all of her reality to be filmed. Govan was arrested and charged with felony child endangerment in an altercation with her ex-husband, and she faced legal battles with her divorce attorney. Govan's sister, Laura, who also appeared on the show, allegedly had an affair with NBA player Shaq, which Govan defended her against.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Gloria Govan |
| Show | Basketball Wives |
| Reason for Departure | To focus on acting, hosting, and content development; alleged unpaid bills; not allowing "all of their reality to be filmed"; arrest and charge with felony child endangerment |
| Return | Allegedly returning for Season 11, Part 2, but not as a series regular |
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What You'll Learn
- Gloria Govan's departure was due to her not allowing all of her reality to be filmed
- Govan was allegedly misled by Shaunie O'Neal
- Govan was arrested and charged with felony child endangerment
- Govan wanted to focus on acting, hosting and content development
- Govan and her sister Laura's involvement in the show was due to them being in LA

Gloria Govan's departure was due to her not allowing all of her reality to be filmed
Gloria Govan's departure from the cast of VH1's "Basketball Wives" has been attributed to her reluctance to allow her entire reality to be filmed. Govan, the wife of former NBA player Matt Barnes, joined the show as an original cast member of the spin-off "Basketball Wives: LA". She spent two seasons defending her sister, Laura Govan, against allegations that she had an affair with NBA player Shaq.
Sources connected to the show revealed that the producers decided to remove Govan, along with other cast members Laura, Malaysia Pargo, and Brooke Bailey, because they were not allowing their entire lives to be documented. Govan's departure was also speculated to be due to her misleading experiences with Shaunie O'Neal, as well as her desire to focus on acting, hosting, and content development.
Govan's personal life, including her relationship with Barnes, was a significant part of the show. The couple shared two children and later divorced in 2016, with Govan marrying former Los Angeles Lakers player and current coach Derek Fisher in 2022. Govan's off-screen life continued to intersect with the show, as her tumultuous split from Barnes and new relationship made headlines.
While Govan's departure from "Basketball Wives" was initially assumed to be permanent, recent reports indicate that she may be returning for a guest appearance in Season 11, bringing a wave of nostalgia to long-time fans of the show.
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Govan was allegedly misled by Shaunie O'Neal
Gloria Govan, formerly of Basketball Wives, allegedly left the show because she felt misled by Shaunie O'Neal. Govan, the wife of former NBA player Matt Barnes, claimed that O'Neal, who is also the show's executive producer, had not been honest with her about the expectations and nature of the reality show. Govan, who was a cast member on "Basketball Wives: LA", the spin-off of the original "Basketball Wives", felt that she had been misled about the level of drama and scripting that would be involved. She believed that the show would portray the wives in a more positive light, focusing on their charity work and intellectual pursuits, rather than catfights and drama.
Govan's decision to leave the show may also have been influenced by her desire to focus on other pursuits, such as acting, hosting, and content development. In addition, there were reports that Govan and her sister Laura, who also appeared on the show, were not allowing "all of their reality to be filmed", which may have contributed to the decision to part ways with the show.
The relationship between Govan and Barnes was also a factor in her departure from the show. The couple had a tumultuous relationship, with Govan defending her sister Laura against allegations that she had an affair with Barnes. Govan and Barnes finalized their divorce in 2016, and Govan later married Los Angeles Sparks head coach Derek Fisher in 2022.
While Govan has not returned as a series regular, there are reports that she may be making an appearance in the second part of season 11 of "Basketball Wives", which could bring back memories of her time on the show and her decision to leave.
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Govan was arrested and charged with felony child endangerment
Gloria Govan, formerly of VH1's "Basketball Wives", was arrested and charged with felony child endangerment. Govan was involved in a "dangerous fight" with her ex-husband, retired NBA player Matt Barnes, with whom she shares two children, Carter Kelly Barnes and Isaiah Michael Barnes. According to reports, Govan picked up her twin boys from school and placed them in her car when it was her ex-husband's weekend with the children per their child custody agreement.
Matt Barnes arrived at the school and informed the children that they needed to get out of Govan's car and into his. The children complied, and Govan allegedly became enraged, blocked her ex-husband's car, and tried to follow him, screaming and cursing. The police were called, and Govan was arrested for felony child endangerment and violating a court order. She was released the next day after posting $100,000 bail.
Govan's arrest was not her first public dispute with Matt Barnes. The former couple has had a tumultuous relationship, including a cheating scandal and a bitter divorce finalized in 2016. Govan's involvement in this incident and subsequent arrest likely contributed to her departure from "Basketball Wives".
It is worth noting that Govan's sister, Laura Govan, who was also a participant on "Basketball Wives", was removed from the show alongside Govan. Sources connected to the show stated that the sisters, especially Gloria, were not allowing "all of their reality to be filmed."
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Govan wanted to focus on acting, hosting and content development
Gloria Govan, formerly of VH1's "Basketball Wives" and "Basketball Wives LA", decided to leave the show to focus on acting, hosting, and content development. Govan was an original cast member of the spin-off series "Basketball Wives LA", where she appeared alongside her sister Laura Govan.
Govan joined the show while she was engaged to NBA player Matt Barnes, whom she later married in 2013. The couple's relationship was a source of drama on the show, and they shared two children, twin boys, who also appeared on "Basketball Wives". However, Govan and Barnes' marriage was short-lived, and they finalized their divorce in 2016.
Following her departure from "Basketball Wives", Govan pursued a career in entertainment. She hosted the Trump Awards red carpet, starred in a commercial with UFC champion Anderson Silva, and appeared in several movies and sitcoms, including "Family Time" with Omar Gooding. She also produced her first film, "Meet the Blacks", with Mike Epps.
In addition to her professional endeavours, Govan has also faced legal troubles. In 2022, she was arrested and charged with felony child endangerment following an altercation with her ex-husband, Matt Barnes. Despite her off-screen challenges, Govan is rumoured to be returning to "Basketball Wives" for a guest appearance in Part 2 of Season 11, which will air on VH1.
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Govan and her sister Laura's involvement in the show was due to them being in LA
Gloria Govan's involvement in the show "Basketball Wives" was due to her being in LA with her sister Laura. Govan, who was one of the first cast members of the spin-off series "Basketball Wives LA," joined the show when she moved to LA with her sister after the "BBW Miami" debacle. At the time, she was engaged to NBA player Matt Barnes, and the couple was featured on the show along with their two kids.
Govan and her sister Laura's participation in the show brought a lot of drama, with Govan spending two seasons defending her sister against allegations that she slept with Shaq. Govan herself faced controversy, including a very public and tumultuous divorce from Barnes, as well as legal troubles, including an arrest for felony child endangerment following an altercation with her ex-husband.
Govan's departure from "Basketball Wives" was reportedly due to her not allowing "all of her reality to be filmed." She left the show to focus her attention on acting, hosting, and content development. She has since pursued a career in entertainment, hosting the Trump Awards red carpet, starring in a commercial with UFC champion Anderson Silva, and appearing in several movies and sitcoms.
Govan's alleged return to "Basketball Wives" amid buzz generated by her sister Laura's return to the franchise has sparked interest. However, insiders reveal she is just making an appearance and not returning as a series regular.
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Frequently asked questions
Gloria Govan left Basketball Wives because she was arrested and charged with felony child endangerment after an altercation with her ex-husband, retired NBA player Matt Barnes. Govan was released on $100,000 bail.
Sources connected to the show told TMZ that the producers were getting rid of Gloria because she wasn't allowing "all of her reality to be filmed".
Gloria Govan allegedly returned to Basketball Wives in 2024, but only for a guest appearance.
Since leaving Basketball Wives, Gloria Govan has hosted the Trump Awards red carpet, starred in a commercial with UFC champion Anderson Silva, appeared in several movies and sitcoms, and produced her first film, Meet the Blacks.






































