By Page Six | Created at 2025-04-05 18:29:32 | Updated at 2025-04-06 10:51:58
16 hours ago
Matt Barnes is the ultimate tough guy.
The former NBA star confessed on his podcast that he hasn’t been able to cry in 30 years.
Barnes, 45 shared on Thursday’s episode of the “All the Smoke” podcast that he recently talked to guest Jason Wilson about “growing up biracial, black dad, Italian mom, drugs, abuse, alcohol, violence” and losing his mom at age 27.
He then admitted, “And I haven’t cried. I’m starting to feel it now. I feel like I’m almost pouring from an empty cup.”
Barnes went on to share that he “literally just lost [his] family” because of “[his] actions,” noting that he wasn’t “there emotionally” or “empathetic.”
“So my question is: how do you cry? I don’t want to say I don’t know how to cry because I have cried before, but I haven’t cried in probably 30 years,” the former Los Angeles Lakers player said.
Wilson, who wrote “Cry Like a Man,” responded, “You have to change your perspective about what crying is. It really is a sign of you being human.”
The author further explained, “Until we get to a place where we can release it, that’s when you’ll always feel this rage, this anger. You’re never feeling settled.”
Barnes’ admission appeared to confirm how he contributed to his recent split from fiancée Anansa Sims.
The model, 46, reportedly accused the podcast host of cheating on her in January with 8 different women in a post shared on social media after Barnes’ podcast episode was released.
“If you’re going to talk publicly about our personal business, tell the whole story,” she wrote in a since-expired post via her Instagram Stories, per the Shade Room.
“Don’t post half-truths about me and our past relationship to gain sympathy from the masses. I’m in the trenches doing the hard work making sure all of our kids are ok.”
Sims continued, “You’ve made no effort to emotionally support all of our children through this traumatic transition you caused, but you’re willing to be ‘vulnerable’ for strangers on the gram for profit? Please keep my name out of your mouth.”
She concluded, “If you want to do some good, please don’t talk about me, go get consistent therapy and most important start building a relationship with God.”
It does not appear that Barnes has responded to her remarks.
The former couple shares two children. Barnes is also dad to twin teenage sons, Carter and Isaiah Barnes, whom he shares with ex-wife Gloria Govan.
Sims also shares three children with her ex-husband David Patterson. She first started dating Barnes in 2018 and they then got engaged in December 2022.
A rep for former basketball star did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
