Rashida Nicole and her husband, LiAngelo Ball (aka rapper GELO), became instant talking points when he shut down a reporter’s request for a kiss, and the internet ran with it.
The BET Awards 2025 red carpet always delivers drama, but nobody expected this kind of awkwardness. LiAngelo Ball, now known as rapper GELO, found himself in a viral moment that wasn’t about his music but rather a very public snub involving his wife, Rashida Nicole. When a reporter asked for a kiss, LiAngelo visibly refused, leaving Rashida to clear the air online.
The powerful night held on June 9th at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles was supposed to be a bold step into the limelight for LiAngelo Ball’s burgeoning music career. Performing under his stage name, GELO, he’d just dropped his debut single, “Tweaker,” which had already grabbed attention for its catchy energy. He even performed with his older brother, Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball, making it a memorable Ball family affair on the pre-show.
However, the buzz surrounding GELO’s rising star was quickly overshadowed by an awkward moment on the red carpet. As LiAngelo and Rashida Nicole posed for photos, a reporter unexpectedly asked Ball to kiss Nicole. Rather than play along, Ball walked away without reacting, leaving the moment hanging in the air. The Shade Room then posted the interaction on Instagram with the caption: “No kisses for bae?! 😟 #Gelo hit the carpet #BETAwards carpet with his boo #RashidaNicole and kept is reallll PG.”
That post, understandably, did not sit well with Nicole. She was quick to call out the platform for misrepresenting the moment and, crucially, downplaying the substance of their actual interview. “Y’all always be on petty ish! Did soo much other stuff in that interview and Halle ant to clip this… but that’s what I expect from the @shaderoom,” she wrote in the comments. And here’s where it gets interesting: “Yall asked us to kiss of all things on the red carpet, randomly! I know my man, he ain’t doing that ish! Save all the negativity & weird ish!” she added.
So, it wasn’t just a spontaneous refusal; it was a requested kiss that LiAngelo wasn’t about to perform on demand. While Nicole publicly laughed it off, fans on X quickly questioned the interaction, with many speculating about trouble in their relationship. This red carpet moment also comes hot on the heels of Ball’s messy breakup with Nikki Mudarris, the mother of his two children, adding even more fuel to the public’s fascination with his personal life.
Here’s the kicker: Sometime in May of this year, Rashida Nicole and LiAngelo Ball secretly tied the knot! Yes, you read that right. Nicole, a model and influential social media personality, confirmed their marital status casually in response to an Instagram follower who inquired about potential wedding plans. So, the “girlfriend” on the red carpet was his wife!
