Nicole Murphy’s Dating History: A Timeline of High-Profile Romance and Scandal
Nicole Murphy, known for her stunning looks and public profile, has had her fair share of headline-grabbing relationships. From marriages to rumored flings, her dating history reads like a Hollywood script full of love, drama, and plenty of gossip. Let’s take a stroll through the love life of Nicole Murphy and spill all the tea along the way.
Eddie Murphy (1988–2006)
Nicole’s most well-known relationship was with none other than comedy legend Eddie Murphy. They started dating in 1988, got married in 1993, and stayed together for 13 years. The couple had five children—Bria, Myles, Shayne, Zola, and Bella—before their divorce in 2006.
The split was amicable on the surface, but people speculated that Eddie’s wandering eye may have played a part. Let’s not forget that infamous incident in 1997 when Eddie was stopped by police with a transgender sex worker in his car. Eddie claimed he was just giving her a ride, but the public had a field day with that one. Whether this contributed to the divorce or not, we’ll never know for sure, but it certainly added fuel to the gossip fire.
Michael Misick (2006–2008)
Here’s where things get messy. Nicole was accused of having an affair with Michael Misick, the former Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands. This wouldn’t have been as scandalous if he wasn’t married to actress LisaRaye McCoy at the time.
LisaRaye has been vocal about this, claiming Nicole was one of the women involved with her then-husband during their rocky marriage. Nicole, however, has repeatedly denied the allegations, saying there’s no truth to LisaRaye’s claims. But let’s be real—LisaRaye hasn’t let this go, which keeps the drama alive years later.
Michael Jordan (2007)
Not long after her divorce from Eddie, rumors swirled that Nicole had a brief fling with basketball icon Michael Jordan. While there’s little concrete evidence of this relationship, the whispers were loud enough to make headlines. Whether it was a casual connection or just gossip, it’s one of the many associations that added to Nicole’s reputation as someone who often finds herself linked to powerful men.
Michael Strahan (2007–2014)
If there’s one relationship that kept Nicole in the spotlight, it was her romance with former NFL star and TV host Michael Strahan. The two started dating in 2007 and got engaged in 2009. For a while, they looked like a match made in heaven—blending families and hitting red carpets together.
But after a five-year engagement, they called it quits in 2014. The official reason was their bi-coastal relationship, with Michael in New York and Nicole in Los Angeles. However, rumors of cheating cast a shadow over their breakup. Nicole reportedly suspected Michael of being unfaithful, and it didn’t help when stories surfaced about Michael allegedly installing tracking devices on her car. Yikes. If trust was the issue, it definitely wasn’t a strong foundation for marriage.
Nick Cannon (2015)
In 2015, Nicole was linked to Nick Cannon, who had just separated from Mariah Carey. The two were spotted dining together multiple times and even went furniture shopping, which raised eyebrows. People speculated that they were an item, but both Nicole and Nick denied any romantic involvement.
Nicole brushed off the rumors, saying they were just friends grabbing meals together. But let’s be honest, when two high-profile celebs are seen out and about like that, the rumor mill doesn’t stop spinning. Whether there was more to the story or not, it definitely added to Nicole’s tabloid resume.
Drake (2018)
Yes, you read that right—Nicole was rumored to have dated Drake in 2018. The age gap between them had everyone talking, as Drake was in his early 30s while Nicole was pushing 50 (and looking fabulous, might I add).
The two were spotted dining together in Los Angeles, which sparked immediate dating rumors. Neither party confirmed the relationship, but the internet had a lot to say about the pairing. Whether it was a casual dinner or something more, Nicole’s ability to keep people guessing was on full display.
Antoine Fuqua (2019)
This one was a PR nightmare for Nicole. In 2019, she was photographed kissing married director Antoine Fuqua in Italy. Antoine’s wife, actress Lela Rochon, had been married to him since 1999, so the pictures caused an uproar.
Nicole initially claimed it was just a friendly kiss, but as the backlash grew, she issued a public apology, calling the incident a “mistake.” The damage, however, was done. Many people criticized Nicole for her involvement with a married man, and it reignited conversations about her dating history and public image.
Jimmy Jackson (Date Unknown)
Somewhere along the way, Nicole was rumored to have dated former NBA player Jimmy Jackson. While there aren’t many details about their connection, his name frequently comes up in discussions about her dating history. It seems like another instance where Nicole’s name was linked to a high-profile figure, keeping her in the public eye.
Warren Braithwaite (2023–2024)
Nicole’s most recent relationship was with Warren Braithwaite, a businessman. The two began dating in 2023, and they seemed genuinely happy together. Tragically, Warren passed away in March 2024 after battling cancer.
Nicole shared her grief publicly, posting heartfelt tributes to Warren on social media. She called him the “love of her life” and expressed how much she missed him. This relationship was a softer, more emotional chapter in Nicole’s dating history, showing a different side to her typically high-profile romances.