'Clipped' Episode 3 talking point: Shelly Sterling's epic response to Donald's outburst signals the end

Tension mounts in Donald and Shelly Sterling's marriage after TMZ releases a controversial audio tape
PUBLISHED JUN 11, 2024
Shelly and Donald Sterling's rocky marriage face new turmoils in 'Clipped' Episode 3 (@hulu)
Shelly and Donald Sterling's rocky marriage face new turmoils in 'Clipped' Episode 3 (@hulu)

Contains spoilers for 'Clipped'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Hulu dropped Episode 3 of 'Clipped' on June 11, 2024, offering viewers further insight into Donald Sterling's (Ed O'Neill) controversy that shook the Basketball fraternity a decade ago.

The series, comprising of six episodes, showcases how Donald's private conversation with his assistant/mistress, V Stiviano (Cleopatra Coleman) was leaked to the media. His racist comments against African Americans led to his massive criticism and consequences that he didn't see coming.

The first two episodes showed 80-year-old Sterling's bizarre bond with his young assistant while being married to Shelly Sterling (Jacki Weaver) since 1955.

How does Shelly Sterling react to Donald Sterling's controversial audio clip in 'Clipped' Episode 3?

Jacki Weaver as Shelly Sterling in a still from 'Clipped' Episode 3 (@hulu)
Jacki Weaver as Shelly Sterling in a still from 'Clipped' Episode 3 (@hulu)

In 'Clipped' Episode 3, Donald's audio tape is released by TMZ which initiates an unforeseen turmoil in his life.

While Sterling seems unbothered by the recent unfolding of events and even refuses to apologize, Shelly sees things differently.

Even when Sterling suggests that she doesn't need to cooperate with the NBA, she goes ahead for the interrogation.

Shelly is clearly hurt and embarrassed by Sterling's actions lately. However, she makes attempts to save him from the consequences by mentioning to the NBA that he was under the influence of alcohol when he made those controversial remarks on tape.

Shelly even joins Sterling for his birthday dinner as he turns 80 years old. However, things go haywire as Shelly loses her calm and he angrily asks her to "shut up".

What's next for Shelly and Donald Sterling in Hulu's 'Clipped'?

Ed O'Neill and Jacki Weaver in a still from 'Clipped' (@hulu)
Ed O'Neill and Jacki Weaver in a still from 'Clipped' (@hulu)

As far as we have seen, Shelly and Donald Sterling don't have a picture-perfect marriage. Despite being married for over sixty years, Sterling has been unfaithful to her.

V Stiviano is one of the many casual, extra-marital affairs of Sterling. Not only is he inloyal to her, but he has also embarrassed her by broadcasting his affairs in public.

The leaked audio tape has only added to Shelly's embarrassment. Despite all this, she chooses to stand by her husband's side.

In 2014, when Shelly took advantage of Sterling's diagnosis of dementia to sell the LA Clippers for $2 billion to Steve Ballmer, he filed for a divorce. Both of them had every reason to part ways.

However, in 2016, the Los Angeles Times reported that the couple had resolved their differences and decided not to pursue the divorce. They continue to remain married till date.

We hope to gain in-depth insight into their relationship in the upcoming episodes of 'Clipped', available to stream on Hulu.

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