La La Anthony and Carmelo Anthony separated in 2021, but the TV host has chosen to retain her married name for a special reason related to her family.
At a panel during Fanatics Fest on Saturday, August 17, La La revealed that she continues to use the name Ms. Anthony because of her son, Kiyan.
The 17-year-old, who she shares with former New York Knick Carmelo, is an emerging basketball talent. La La wants to keep her married name so she can wear it on her back when Kiyan’s future professional jersey is released.
Page Six reports that moderator Taylor Rooks remarked to La La, “Being able to buy Kiyan’s NBA jersey will be crazy.”
“That’s why I haven’t changed my last name yet,” La La responded. “I’m gonna keep it around for a little while!”
La La, 42, originally from New York, acknowledged that while her ex-husband played for the Knicks for seven seasons, she is prepared to support whichever NBA team Kiyan may join.
“I’m sorry, I’m going where my kid goes!” she stated. “Wherever my kid is at, that’s who I’m rooting for.”
She noted that watching her son pursue an NBA career feels very different compared to supporting her husband during his professional journey.
“It’s different when it’s your kid,” she explained. “It’s just a whole different ball game. It feels like a brand new journey that I’m going on with him.”
Kiyan, who resembles his father in basketball skills and is currently ESPN’s top-ranked high school player in New York, does not share his parents’ enthusiasm for the spotlight, according to La La.
She described him as “humble” and praised his ability to remain grounded.
“It’s amazing how grounded he has been able to be through it all because I couldn’t imagine growing up with parents who were in the spotlight or people wearing [Carmelo’s] jersey and people going crazy everywhere he goes,” La La shared on Saturday.
La La and Carmelo became engaged in 2004 and welcomed their son in 2007 before marrying three years later. They initially separated in 2017 but reconciled the following year. However, La La filed for divorce in 2021.
Reflecting on the divorce, La La said in 2021 that it was particularly challenging for her.
During an appearance on The Angie Martinez Show, she admitted that the public nature of their split was difficult, “because there were other people involved.”
“It was bad because there were allegations,” she added. “It got bad.”
