Jayson Tatum opened up about his long-standing relationship with British R&B singer Ella Mai, revealing for the first time that the couple had been living together for years before their quiet, private wedding earlier this year.

**Jayson Tatum Opens Up About Living with Wife Ella Mai for Years Before Marriage: “She’s Been My Peace Through Every Storm”**

*By Staff Writer | July 19, 2025*

In a rare and heartfelt interview that aired Thursday night on ESPN’s *The Conversation*, Boston Celtics superstar **Jayson Tatum** opened up about his long-standing relationship with British R\&B singer **Ella Mai**, revealing for the first time that the couple had been **living together for years** before their quiet, private wedding earlier this year.

Their relationship, often speculated upon by fans but fiercely protected by both parties, has now come into clearer view as Tatum pulled back the curtain on a life built together in love, trust, and mutual growth — long before the cameras and public acknowledgments.

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### **“We Were a Family Long Before the World Knew”**

“People think we just got married and suddenly we became a couple,” Tatum said during the hour-long sit-down. “But the truth is, we were living together for years. We were building a life. Raising my son together. Creating a space where we both felt at peace. She’s been my wife in spirit long before we ever signed anything.”

The 27-year-old NBA champion spoke softly, yet firmly, his voice marked by emotion as he described what life has been like behind closed doors.

“I travel a lot, I deal with pressure on a level that can break most people. And in the middle of all that chaos, Ella is my peace,” he said. “She keeps me grounded. She holds the house down, holds me down, and most importantly, she loves \[my son] Deuce like he’s her own. That means everything.”

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### **How It Started: A Relationship Rooted in Patience**

Tatum and Ella Mai first crossed paths backstage at a music awards afterparty in Los Angeles in **2019**. “I was already a fan,” Tatum admitted. “Her music was real — soulful, honest. I knew from the start she wasn’t about the clout or the noise. That drew me in.”

What followed was a long-distance friendship that blossomed into a relationship by late 2020, just months after the NBA’s COVID bubble season ended. But the two kept things quiet. “We weren’t trying to perform for anyone else,” Ella Mai said in a previously recorded clip. “We were just getting to know each other — no filters, no pressure.”

By mid-2021, Ella had moved into Tatum’s Boston home during the offseason. “It wasn’t a big conversation,” Tatum recalled. “We just realized one day — she was always there. We were already living like a married couple. We did everything together, from grocery runs to helping Deuce with homework.”

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### **Fatherhood, Fame, and Finding Balance**

For Tatum, the presence of Ella Mai in his life represented more than love — it was a stabilizing force during one of the most demanding periods of his career. “There was a point after that 2022 Finals loss to the Warriors where I was mentally drained,” he admitted. “I was questioning everything — my leadership, my role on this team. But Ella saw me, not the player, not the brand — just me. And she never flinched.”

According to him, her calm demeanor and fierce loyalty became pillars for him emotionally.

“She didn’t try to fix me,” Tatum said. “She just stayed close. Made space for me to grow. That kind of love is rare. It’s not flashy, but it’s powerful.”

He also credited her with helping him evolve as a father. “Co-parenting is hard. Being an NBA star doesn’t make it easier. But having Ella in the house created consistency for Deuce. He knew what to expect. There was love in the room every night.”

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### **A Secret Wedding, and a Promise Years in the Making**

The couple’s decision to marry came as no surprise to those closest to them — in fact, many believed it had already happened. But the actual ceremony, which took place in March 2025 at a private estate in Martha’s Vineyard, was **intimate and intentionally low-profile**.

“There were maybe 40 people there,” Tatum said, smiling. “Family, close friends, no media. Just people who love us.”

He recalled writing his vows with Deuce sitting next to him. “He asked me, ‘Are you nervous?’ And I said, ‘No. I’m ready.’ I’d been ready for a long time.”

Ella Mai reportedly wore a custom off-white gown designed by British-Nigerian designer **Tolu Coker**, while Tatum opted for a classic Tom Ford tuxedo. The guest list included **Jaylen Brown**, **Al Horford**, and a few of Ella’s closest collaborators from her music career.

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### **Privacy in the Public Eye**

Despite their immense popularity — Tatum as an NBA Finals MVP and global Nike ambassador, Ella Mai as a Grammy-winning artist — the couple has been **deliberately private**.

“I’m not hiding her. I just don’t need the world in our business,” Tatum said, addressing the frequent criticism from fans who accused him of being too lowkey. “We’re not performative. Our love isn’t content. It’s real. It’s ours.”

He credited Ella’s similar approach to fame for helping the relationship thrive. “She doesn’t post much. She’s not thirsty for attention. That’s why it works.”

Still, their rare joint appearance courtside at the 2025 NBA Finals Game 2 went viral — particularly the tender moment when Ella leaned over to wipe sweat from Tatum’s brow. “That wasn’t a moment for the cameras,” he laughed. “That’s just who she is.”

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### **What the Future Holds**

As for the future, Tatum said their shared goals are simple: “More peace. More growth. Maybe a bigger family — we’ll see.”

He also hinted at new creative collaborations with Ella, including a possible **documentary** about balancing superstardom, fatherhood, and Black love in modern America.

“She’s got a story. I’ve got a story. Together we’ve built something beautiful, something worth telling,” he said. “But only on our terms.”

For now, the couple is focusing on the offseason, with Tatum recovering from a physically grueling championship run and Ella back in the studio working on her next album, rumored to release later this fall.

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### **Final Thoughts: “She’s Been My Home”**

As the interview closed, Tatum became emotional reflecting on how far they’ve come.

“People see the rings, the endorsements, the highlights,” he said. “But when I go home, none of that matters. It’s the quiet moments — cooking dinner together, laughing on the couch, watching Deuce play 2K — that’s what I live for.”

Asked if he had one word to describe Ella Mai, Tatum paused and smiled before replying:

“**Home. She’s been my home all along.**”