Larsa Pippen Opens Up About the Unexpected Trauma Caused by Michael Jordan's Comments About Her Relationship with His Son Marcus

During the latest episode of the "Separation Anxiety" podcast, Larsa Pippen, 48, expressed her embarrassment regarding Michael Jordan's recent remarks about her relationship with his son, Marcus Jordan.

Michael, a 60-year-old man, gained attention on July 2nd for sharing his opinion on his 32-year-old son dating a 49-year-old star from the Real Housewives of Miami. When asked if he approved of the relationship, Michael responded with a laugh and a blunt "No."

Pippen, who had been romantically linked to Marcus since September 2022, expressed her surprise and distress when Michael publicly voiced his disapproval. She confessed to feeling traumatized and worried that people might think she had been dishonest about both families supporting their romance. In panic, she exclaimed, "Oh, my God. What are we going to do?"

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Meanwhile, Marcus dismissed it as a joke, attributing it to his father's personality. "When I read the headline, I found it absolutely hilarious. I know my dad," Marcus shared with listeners. "It's in our DNA to engage in playful banter. He's just having a good laugh. He may have had a few drinks, but I didn't take it too seriously."

Pippen, on the other hand, did not share the same sentiment. She stated, "I did not find it amusing. There is absolutely nothing humorous about it."

Marcus empathized with his girlfriend's perspective but noted that Michael had reached out to clarify that his comments were not intended seriously. Marcus maintained that his father supported their relationship, although he admitted that the initial reaction from the Jordan and Pippen families was less than enthusiastic.

“His objective has perpetually been to avoid involvement in our relationship. It seems that my father had no intention of commenting on that,” Marcus said, acknowledging that Michael’s previous conflict with Pippen’s ex-husband, Scottie Pippen, simply intensified the situation. “There is always this narrative that I am dating you to seek retribution [from Scottie]. I believe [dad] dismissed it in a light-hearted manner. I found it amusing right from the start.”

Michael and Scottie, both aged 57, played together as teammates for the Chicago Bulls during the 80s and 90s. However, when Michael's documentary, The Last Dance, premiered in 2020, Scottie's significant contributions to the team's triumphs were conspicuously omitted. Expressing his disappointment, Scottie later revealed his feelings towards the film in his memoir, Unguarded, which was published in 2021.

"They excessively praised Michael Jordan while neglecting to give sufficient recognition to me and my esteemed teammates," expressed Scottie. "Michael should bear a significant portion of the responsibility. The producers granted him complete control over the final product. Without his involvement, the documentary would not have been released. He was both the star and the director."

Regarding Larsa, she concurred on Monday that the complicated history between Scottie and Michael might have made both men cautious about her dating Marcus. (Larsa and Scottie — who have three sons, Scottie Jr., 22, Preston, 21, Justin, 18, and a daughter, Sophia, 14 — briefly separated in 2018 after being married for two decades. They filed for divorce a second time in November 2018 and finalized the proceedings in December 2021.)

"I acknowledge that our relationship may not feel awkward to us, but it likely creates an uncomfortable situation for my ex and your dad due to their own connection," she shared on the podcast. "I don't have any animosity towards them. I comprehend."

Although the couple recognized that Michael's lighthearted comment about their relationship was poorly timed, Larsa reassured listeners on Monday that she currently feels positive after having a conversation with Marcus to address the issue, and Michael clarified his intentions through text messages and calls with his son.

“My dad kind of did say, ‘Maybe I should have stayed quiet,’” Marcus concluded, explaining that his father did show “his support privately.”