Monica Opens Up About Divorce From Shannon Brown On "Friends & Family Hustle"

BY Erika Marie 59.4K Views
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Shannon Brown, Monica
The singer said she's been having a rough time.

It was believed that Monica wasn't going to speak about her split from former NBA star Shannon Brown on reality television, but the singer opened up on a recent episode of T.I. & Tiny: Friends & Family Hustle. Back in March, it was announced that the 38-year-old mother of three filed for divorce and as the premiere date of the VH1 show approached, there was much speculation regarding how much Monica would reveal about her break up.

The "So Gone" singer shed tears as she spoke about her recent transition without getting into detail about why her marriage fell apart. "I think a lot of my life changes have become so complex and difficult. I had two children. I stayed in that relationship a long time, and he was a loss on both levels," she said of her ex-fiancé Rodney 'Rocko' Hill. "Then I finally met my husband and then I had my daughter, and it was good that he was athletic like the boys, so they had their own bond...and then now that’s a loss. It’s been some rough weeks these last few weeks."

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"Things in my personal life have been changing a lot, and it has not been easy," Monica added. "I cannot lie. My personal relationship is taking a major toll on me. I’m feeling it every day. I’ve been keeping everything to myself and I feel overwhelmed...I’m everybody’s go-to, and I think it makes people think I’m pretending to be perfect when in actuality, I just don’t believe in pausing. 'Cause it’s like you pause and you get stuck."

The singer has been preparing for the release of her forthcoming album Chapter 38 by dropping two singles: "Commitment" and "Me + You."


About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.