Kerry Washington (kinda, sorta) addresses split rumors, reveals whom she sends baby pics to
Actress Kerry Washington speaks during South by Southwest at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas, on March 13, 2016.
When Kerry Washington sits down for a chat about social media, the topic of her personal life will inevitably come up -- and perhaps the utter lack of it in her posts, specifically anything to do with her husband, former football player Nnamdi Asomugha, and their daughter, Isabelle.
The ultra-private “Scandal” star has been the subject of tabloid gossip for months about rumors insisting her nearly three-year marriage is on the rocks or is already over. Washington addressed those rumors on Sunday, but in typical Olivia Pope fashion, found a way to talk around them rather than give a straightforward answer.
See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour >>
“If I don’t talk about my personal life, it means I don’t talk about my personal life,” the actress asserted during the “New Rules of Social Stardom” panel (via Us Weekly). “That means not only did I not tell you when I was getting married, it also means if somebody has rumors about what’s going on in my marriage, I don’t refute them, because I don’t talk about my personal life.”
The actress noted that social media interest in celebrities is “a double-edged sword” because while it’s been great for celebrities who embrace it -- specifically those who will confirm or refute gossip stories on social and “maintain their voice” -- that approach doesn’t really work for her. Incidentally, the avid live-tweeter has more than 3 million followers on Twitter, and readily interacts with “Scandal” fans, but she only follows 480 accounts. She also posts quite a bit on her Instagram (878 posts as of press time) and has more than 2.4 million followers, but she doesn’t follow anyone on the photo-sharing app.
Washington, 39, and the former NFL star, 34, became the subject of split rumors over the holidays and the rumors surfaced again in January following the listing and sale of their Hollywood Hills West home. Washington hasn’t talked about a split or separation, and we don’t expect her to -- even if divorce papers show up in court.
She and Asomugha secretly tied the knot in June 2013, but news of their marriage didn’t really make it into the mainstream until two months later when the “Django Unchained” star showed up with a massive sparkler on her ring finger at a Television Critics Assn. event.
And if it weren’t for her baby bump and an “SNL” hosting stint during the 2013-2014 awards season, few might have even known she was pregnant. Then those fabulously frocked walks down the Golden Globes, SAG and Oscars red carpets came, and Washington embraced her baby bump for all to see. She and Asomugha welcomed daughter Isaballe in April 2014 but made no public announcement or confirmation about her arrival.
Until now she has rarely spoken about her family in public, let alone posted about them, but it’s not because she doesn’t have the desire to.
“It’s like I have these itchy fingers where I want to just show my daughter because she’s so cute and instead I like send it to my shrink or send it to my mother,” Washington said of posting about Isabelle. “I’m like, ‘Look at this picture! Look how cute, look at this picture!’ Get it out of my phone into the world, but not on social. So I get the desire to do that, but I want her to make her own decisions in her time and I feel like she already has a lot to navigate in life being the daughter of an actor and a former football player.”
The actress added that she wants Isabelle to make the decision to enter the world of social media “when it feels right for her” and not hijack the decision for her.
In the meantime, fans can keep up with Kerry and her various promotional appearances on her Twitter and Instagram. There’s no lack of fashionable confections, accessory eye candy or “Scandal” tidbits there, that’s for sure.
Follow me on Twitter @NardineSaad.
MORE
Shonda Rhimes and ABC Thursday night stars stump for Hillary Clinton in new ad
Reclusive Richard Simmons says he’s ‘fine,’ not being held hostage in his own home
Dwayne Johnson makes emotional visit to a children’s hospital during ‘Baywatch’ filming
The biggest entertainment stories
Get our big stories about Hollywood, film, television, music, arts, culture and more right in your inbox as soon as they publish.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
