Two months after Nicole Murphy and Antoine Fuqua waded into scandal territory with a kiss seen around the world, the model has an explanation for it.
During a stop on “The Wendy Williams Show” Tuesday, Murphy admitted, “I wish it didn’t happen.”
“It’s a frozen-in-time pic,” Murphy says before saying “it was a moment where I should have thought more through the situation. Make better judgments. It’s something I apologized for.”
The photo in question saw Murphy and Fuqua, a music video-turned-film director in a 19-year-marriage to “Waiting to Exhale” actress Lela Rochon, sharing what looked to be a steamy kiss at a hotel in Ischia, Italy, back in July.
Backlash ensued, and rumors even resurfaced that the “Training Day” director had fathered two children with two different women during his marriage to Rochon. Four days after the photo was snapped, a statement was issued appearing to backtrack on Murphy’s initial comment that she and Fuqua “exchanged a friendly hello and that was it.”
“Without going into the entire situation, I want to apologize to my family, and to Lela and the Fuqua family for what transpired,” she said in a statement issued to TMZ. “It was not my intention to be in this situation. I do not condone women kissing or interacting in any way inappropriately with a married man. I too was once married and I would never intentionally undermine another woman, despite what has been written.”
But on “Wendy” Tuesday, Eddie Murphy‘s ex-wife said the statement did not come from her.
“I did not put out that statement,” she said. “I did not release that statement, Wendy.”
The model further explained that she had been in Italy on business, meeting with designers. Adding “there was familiar faces out there,” Nicole said she was at the pool and “having a hard time staying awake” so she was “drinking an espresso — that was it.”
“It was a moment that should not have happened,” she continued. “I regret it. I apologized for it. I’m a human being, it was a mistake. Basically, women, it’s up to you, do your research.”
Nicole dismissed reports that she was close friends with Rochon, saying, “I don’t know her like that.” Meanwhile, she stuttered while saying she knew Fuqua by seeing him at various events.
Asked if Fuqua told her he was getting a divorce, Nicole said “at the moment, maybe I had a different impression of the situation,” she said
The model also apologized to Rochon by looking into the camera and saying, “Darling, it was a mistake. I apologize.”
But Murphy’s apology and explanation didn’t sway the viewers at home.
“B—h what ?!!💀💀😭😂 Yeah imma head tf out now.”
“She tried it💯💯”
“The Lies”
“Girl blame yourself. You did it. You KISSED a married man”
