Samuel L Jackson leaves theater gala in NY mid-event after alleged fight with wife LaTanya Richardson
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Samuel L Jackson and his wife LaTanya Richardson allegedly got into a "fight" and the 'Marvel' star "left early" despite being honored. The couple reportedly fought in the press room on Monday night, January 9, at the Theatre Communications Group gala held in New York City.
Jackson, 74, is believed to have left immediately after their "spat," although an event planner insisted that the celebrity was not expected to stay for the full event. An insider at the event told Page Six, "They apparently were in a fight when they arrived. They posed for pictures together and then the fight [went on]." According to a different witness, Jackson was annoyed, and the two were arguing in the Edison Ballroom's press area.
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It was also interesting to note that "LaTanya accepted solo" given that the power couple was both being honored at the event by Vanessa Williams. Richardson reportedly told the audience that her spouse had left the event because of COVID-19 concerns.
Richardson is currently directing Jackson in the most awaited revival of August Wilson’s 'The Piano Lesson' on Broadway. A rep for the gala said, "As the top-billed star of 'The Piano Lesson,' Mr. Jackson is extraordinarily cautious about the risk putting the production in jeopardy by exposing himself to COVID-19. Ms. Jackson accepted on behalf of both she and her husband simply to minimize his risk of exposure. Mr. Jackson had only ever planned on doing photos and then leaving, as everyone involved with planning the event knew in advance." He added, "It was a magical evening, and they helped raise a record haul of more than $300,000 to support TCG’s mission of creating a more just and equitable theater ecology."
The pair have been together for 42 years. They got married in 1980 and share one daughter, Zoe. Richardson told People, their commitment to remain together rather than merely their love for one another kept them going. "In the beginning, we always said the most revolutionary thing that Black people could do was stay together, raise their children with the nucleus of having a father and a mother, since everybody likes to pretend that that's not the dynamic of the African American family. That it's just children out here being raised by women, which we know is false," said Richardson. "In order to change that narrative, we made a decision to say, 'We are going to stay together no matter what. We'll figure it out.'"