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As we all know, a relationship that is built on someone else’s heartbreak normally won’t last, and even if it does, the relationship is typically far from healthy. This is a lesson that rapper and former professional basketball player LiAngelo “Gelo” Ball and reality television personality and influencer Rashida Nicole had to learn the hard way.
On February 8, 2025, Ball’s ex-girlfriend, socialite and reality television personality Nikki Mudarris, who goes by MissNikkiBaby, revealed that their three-year relationship had come to an end just two months after she gave birth to their second child, a daughter named LaNiyah Nicole Ball. According to Mudarris, the breakup was due to infidelity on Ball’s part, including fathering a child with another woman. The former couple also share a son, LaVelo Anthony Ball, born in July 2023.
Shortly after their split was announced, Ball confirmed that he was in a relationship with Nicole, with the pair secretly tying the knot at a Los Angeles courthouse shortly afterward. Four months later, in June, Nicole announced that they were expecting their first child together, Ball’s third child overall. Just under two weeks after Nicole shared her pregnancy announcement, news broke that Ball had filed for divorce.
Fast forward to early December 2025: after Nicole gave birth to their daughter, Lilo Legacy Ball, she made multiple posts calling out Ball for not being present during the final five months of her pregnancy. She shared that she went through everything on her own (from appointments to challenges) and claimed that he has yet to meet their daughter.
Nicole also apologized to Mudarris for their past feud, explaining that it stemmed from Ball allegedly being dishonest about his relationship status with Mudarris. She also thanked Mudarris and her family for being there for her throughout her pregnancy. “Thank you to her and her family for supporting me during this pregnancy; your grace means more than you know,” Nicole wrote in an Instagram post.
Ball also shared his regrets on a podcast episode of Ball in the Family regarding his split from Mudarris. “I don’t got no excuses for that s*** or nothing, but yeah, if I could re-do it, I wouldn’t do that s***,” Ball said.
This situation highlights why people should avoid creating relationships that are built on the heartbreak of another person. Relationships formed on such rocky foundations often crumble months, or even years, down the line. The person who threw their original relationship away usually ends up with regret, while the new partner often realizes they received the same version of that person as the one before them.
Mudarris handled the situation with grace by stepping up and being there for Nicole despite everything that had occurred. That kind of compassion is not something we hear about often, which is understandable, as building a relationship at the expense of another person can cut deeply.