Evelyn Lozada couldn’t help but shed some tears when discussing the end of Basketball Wives for the first time.
“My emotion doesn’t come from the show ending — that’s emotional too. It comes from how many people depended on this show,” Lozada, 50, said on the Wednesday, February 4, episode of her “Drop the Lo” podcast. “It was so many people that loved working on this show. We were family. I saw people have kids, get married, I became a grandma. I’m so grateful.”
In 2010, VH1 aired the very first episode of Basketball Wives. Season 1 was based out of Miami, Florida, and featured Lozada, Jennifer Williams, Mesha O’Neal, Royce Reed, Faith Rein and Shaunie O’Neal.
Over the years, the show expanded to Los Angeles and added additional cast members, including Tami Roman, Suzie Ketcham, Draya Michele, Jackie Christie and more.
“It was a double-edged sword for me,” Lozada said when describing her run on the show. “Although it was helping me accomplish so many beautiful things in my life, it was also tough because I was so open with my life, and it’s not easy.”
Shaunie — who also served as the creator and executive producer of the show — confirmed via social media on January 29 that Basketball Wives would not be returning.
“This isn’t an ending, it’s a transition,” she explained to her followers. “I’m stepping into a new season with exciting projects ahead that align with where I am personally and professionally. More to come.”
Lozada confirmed that she has been able to talk with Shaunie and other cast members — including Brandi Maxiell, Ty Young and Ming Lee — to process the news.
“I thought it was well said,” Lozada said when addressing Shaunie’s announcement. “We were kind of waiting to see what was going on and then I felt sadness. When something has been part of your life for such a long time, the end of an era or the end of something is tough. I didn’t sign on the show to ‘be famous.’ I did it because it was work and it was a job and I had a store at the time and it was going to help my store.”
While Lozada understands that some people will be upset at the news, she acknowledged that Basketball Wives couldn’t be on the air forever.
“It had to end at some point. It’s 16 years. I don’t think people realize that,” she told podcast cohost and daughter Shaniece Hairston. “We’ve never really gotten our flowers, but we were on 16 years. What else do we want? Do we want to be on for 25 years? We’re all getting older, times are changing, reality TV is changing.”
Lozada is confident that she will be able to maintain her friendships with some of the cast, including Shaunie.
She is also proud of herself for saying “yes” to a unique opportunity in 2010 that turned into a life-changing job.
“I just took a leap of faith,” she said. “I didn’t know what reality TV was, and it really changed my life.”
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