Exclusive | Mike Epps Ex-Wife says his Mistress was the last straw! He was a Habitual CHEATER!

What was one of the darkest, like, moments for you? Like, when you look back on everything that you went through privately and publicly, you know, being married to him and then seeing this girl being put up while you're going through an active divorce and he's still fucking you and fucking her and, and confusing you and your husband, and, you know, you finding out online. Is it true you found out online that he filed for divorce?

Yes. I was like, I'm gonna have everything set up for you. All you got to do is show up and you just gonna direct it, and that's gonna be a good look for you as a comedian to be a director, because no comedian's directing, right? Who's going to elevate you in Hollywood? So that whole thing that they made her look like she's this and that— no, she's the same chick. She's just another chick trying to get on, and she did it.

Miss Michelle McCain. Okay, now you have since changed your last name. You have wiped Epps off of your existence. Okay, um, you are the ex-wife, uh, to, uh, one of the legendary comedians, Mike Epps. Uh, you went through a very public, um, and just kind of brutal divorce between, um, a few years ago. Um, I, I was just mentioning the manosphere. The manosphere is kind of like this red pill, blue pill I don't know if you heard about Kevin Samuels. I don't know if you're familiar with who he is. So Kevin Samuels kind of jump-started a lot of what the manosphere was doing, men versus women. And I know when you— when it became public, I don't know if it's true, I just know that we read like court docs, uh, when you asked for the $118,000 a month, there was a lot of men, and I think a lot of them were broke men, that didn't understand why you should have gotten that kind of money as a spouse, but you've been married to him um, long before, like, you know, everything got really big. So you were there, you know, with Mike Epps. And so, um, it pissed a lot of people off. I understood, you know, why you asked for that, because, like, as we were just talking about before the interview, people don't realize how much comedians make. Yes, you know, show to show, city to city, you know. Uh, and when I'm talking about show to show, I'm talking about sometimes 3 shows a night. And they got a full weekend, 3 shows a night, all sold out, and they're making $20,000, $40,000, $50,000 a room, you know, not including tickets, you know what I'm saying, tours and all that. And so a lot of people were upset about that, but I, I understood it. You were accustomed to a certain lifestyle. You helped sacrifice, raise his children, you know, y'all children. Your children were accustomed to a certain type of lifestyle. In order for you to be comfortable, this is what your living expenses are, and he should pay that.

And then, so here's the thing. First and foremost, most people are not lawyers, so they don't understand how the law, the court system works in divorces. No one ever gets what they want. So when you ask for $118,000, you're not going to get that. The judge is going to say, well, what is he saying he wants to pay? What is he— what are the calculations of what he should pay? And then they meet somewhere in the middle. So you ask for more and you get less. It's kind of like, like we're not together anymore. So it's like a business is separating. I'm not about to go like, now I'm supposed to just go like, oh, don't give me any money. You know what? I'll just go figure it out. No, I put my life on hold for 15 years supporting you. You got to where you were because I had a lot to do with that, you know, supporting you, cooking meals, making sure the house is clean, making sure you have a home to come to that is, you know, safe. And like I said, clean and just set up properly for you to be successful, I mean, that, that does warrant something. You can't just say, oh, just give her crumbs and get her out of here. No, it doesn't work like that.

And people don't— I think people, like, they dismiss the importance of a stable home and a woman that's holding a home down and raising children while a father is absent on the road most of the time. And I know that's what your dynamic was.

Yes, like I was mom and dad. Like right now, with not being married anymore, I'm like, I wish I had somebody that could come and keep this house clean and cook meals for me, and I'll go out and work. It's easier to me to do that because when you're at home, it's so many things that arise during the day, or even with the kids. Like they have to be picked up early, they're sick, they don't feel good. So now you have to stop whatever you were doing or what you want to do for the day and you have to attend to sick kids, and normally you get sick from them being sick. Oh my God. And it's in the whole house. And now it's like your whole— you just can't do anything. Even now with my children, they need me and they need me to be there. So I would love to have this career like he does, you know what I mean? Or similar, because I did move out here to be an actress to LA, but I could never do that because everyone else in the family, in the household needed me. And I think that's more important because today my daughters are like, Mommy, you're our best friend. I'm so glad you're here. They're not fast, they're not pregnant, they're 18 and 16, and they are— they have their head straight on. Like, I feel good as a mother, like I did a good job, and they tell me all the time. So it's like, I'm sacrificing my whole life, which is worth it, but then you have the money to pay for that. And if you want to move on, it's okay, but you still have to pay for that. You can't just, you know, cut someone off and then expect them to just go figure it out. Because just like, you know, with comedians, it takes time to build, to get to that level, to make millions of dollars a year. It just doesn't happen in any career. It takes time to build. So if you're starting from the bottom and building up and expect someone— go get a job, you could just go get a job— what am I supposed to do, work at McDonald's? You know, like Macy's? Like, no, come on. Like, that just doesn't even make sense.

Yeah, like, you, you were an intricate part in, in helping him to build. His career. Like, you got to look at it like this— it's a business. And, and, and sometimes I wish, like, um, women that are in your position— and I'm glad that you are writing a book, um, I can't wait for you to debut the book. You are writing a self-help book because you went through a very public and brutal divorce, and, you know, you were contacted by thousands of women that, that sought support from you. And so people don't understand, it's like, I wish sometimes that women— and maybe, maybe it's, maybe it's called for me, or maybe it's called for you to do it, and I hope maybe you can add this into a chapter of your self-help book that we're going to be, you know what I'm saying, seeing over the next couple of months or so. Like, you know, whenever you're with a man and he's at the bottom, okay, if he's a rapper, if he's a comedian, if he's an actor, and you're sacrificing at home, that trademark, like his trademark of his name, that should have been off that 50% yours. You see what I'm saying? Like, as the business, because a lot of them do start businesses and their names are becoming the businesses. And so as you're at home, you know, raising kids, getting up with babies in the middle of the night, he's in comedy clubs all types of night, you know what I'm saying? You don't know when he's coming home, you don't know what's going on at the comedy clubs, you know what I'm saying? You just know that you're doing your part, he's doing his part. And I just, I just feel that especially with women like you who have gone through the absolute worst to claim what is rightfully theirs, that in the beginning it should be a mutual agreement between the both. Like, okay, if I'm, if I'm playing mom and dad at home and I'm sacrificing for you to get on, you know what I'm saying, and then I'm gonna come next once the kids get self-sufficient enough, this is a 50% partnership. And so that way when you do end up in divorce court, unfortunately there's no question as to what's rightfully yours, right?

It's like you have to get stuff in writing because it's funny because when, when men are with you, they love you to death, but as soon as they're done with you, it's— the next woman is the most important woman in the world and she's just so amazing. And you, when you think about it, you're like, they did me the same way, you know what I mean? Like, it's a cycle that they all have, you know? It's like once they're done with you for whatever reason, you know then when they go to the next woman, it just starts all over, you know what I'm saying?

And I was very shocked at him starting over with someone that looks exactly like you.

I don't know, I guess he was trying to recreate Michelle, because you don't leave Michelle and just be like— you don't like— you just— you let— like, that was— I'm sorry, but you left for what? Like, even people are like— I had a friend ask me, like, Michelle, what did you do? Like, tell me, tell me. And I'm like, nothing.

I didn't do anything. I— look, I'm gonna go ahead and get my thoughts on what I— what I see, you know what I'm saying? What I saw, okay? And this is not you— like, me and you, this is our first time talking, but you know, I follow a lot of the tabloids, the interviews and things like that. What I think happened was he got out here in Hollywood, okay? You were at home, and in Hollywood there are some very beautiful, smart driven women. And when they see money, especially being in positions that they're in, they, they, they approach, and they approach from a motivational standpoint. They motivate them on a different wavelength. Not father, great husband, someone that he can truly come home and unwind to and not be Mike Epps, okay? He can be Mike. I don't know what you called him at home, you know what I'm saying? But he can truly be himself and be be accepted whether or not the world loves him or not, because he's very different at home. He's not who we see on the televisions or in the comedy clubs. And I'm not discounting his talent, he is incredibly talented, right? But when they get into these rooms and these circles, these women— and, and I guarantee you, you, you— she reminds him of you, right? But She came from a different angle. She motivates him differently to help push him. She's working for one of the biggest, biggest, uh, uh, uh, networks out there, OWN. Okay, OWN.

Okay, so I have a quick question.

Go ahead.

So have you ever seen her name on any show?

No.

Have you ever heard of her being a producer?

I, I just heard from her, her bio that she was a producer for OWN. Now, I don't know at what level she produced. I haven't seen no TV shows. I haven't seen no credits. But I just know that she was in the right room at the right time. She probably got a nice voice piece. That's why she's able to probably get away with saying that she's a producer without people actually doing the research.

Because she's— so, so, okay, so let's rewind. I feel like that was a publicity stunt. Let's start with that.

Okay. All right, let's, let's, let's—

I have a friend who has a lot of friends who work at OWN, so I said, go, go see if she works there. No, no one has ever heard of her. She ain't no producer at that. That's, that was a thing to make her look good. They met at the airport or backstage, something like that. She don't produce anything. That's why I'm like, and if anything, if anything, If anybody was motivated, I was helping writing jokes. I'm like, I'm telling, I would speak to, like, you know, they have big agencies out there, CAA. I'm speaking to them and all the different managers and all this and that. And I'm telling him, look, this is how you need to do this and that. Because I come from an entrepreneurial family on both sides, my mom and my dad. So I know how to speak to people. I went to school with— I don't come from the hood. I don't come from the ghetto. I don't do food. I never did food stamps. Welfare, none of that. I come from a good, you know, a good family. My mom went to FAMU, my dad went to college out here for accounting, so in LA for accounting. So I come from a family that's very smart and intelligent, and we make things happen. So I came out here to be an actress. Like, I produced my own short films, movies. I've had things set up. Like, I had someone write a short film, and we— I co-wrote it with the person, and I told them, this is what we're gonna do. I told Mike, I was like, You direct it, I'ma star in it. And I was like, I'm gonna have everything set up for you, all you got to do is show up and you just gonna direct it. And that's gonna be a good look for you as a comedian to be a director, because no comedian directing, right, who's going to elevate you in Hollywood. So that whole thing that they made her look like she's this and that— no, she's the same chick. She's just another chick trying to get on, and she did it. That's it. All this producer and all that I don't see— because I had to ask.

So you think that his, his PR team came up so she wouldn't be labeled as a home wrecker or as a mistress?

Exactly.

Well, I'll be damned. Yes, they did a good job too, because I work in PR.

And when you, you know, I mean, you get to a certain level, you can have, you can have whatever you want set up, you know what I mean? We know. That's why I'm like, I'm— even though I was home taking care of the kids, I still was outside. You know what I mean? I, I still was in the Hollywood circles. Like, me and Tori know each other very well. Our daughters are best friends. I know Kevin. I know everybody. Like, I, I just— I know everybody in the industry. So this girl who just popped up all of a sudden, she hasn't been producing. She hasn't been around doing anything. This is something that maybe she decided she wanted to be a producer because she couldn't be an actress, so she, you know, went the producing route or tried to do that. But If you're a producer, after you have children, when you go back producing—

yeah, absolutely. I, I would, I would just get a nanny and keep doing it.

I'm just saying. So the truth, one thing is when you put— like, they— I guess he wanted to put her on a pedestal. It falls down because it's more to it than just she ain't this, you know. And I'm not trying to down another woman, like, that's not my goal.

But here's the thing, here's the thing. I, I don't, I don't even want people to take it like that. She was fucking your husband.

Husband. Yes, but he also was not too much of my husband. He was fucking her back.

True, but he was still your husband, right?

He was, but they both— like, to me, if you— we're family, because loyalty is a big thing for me. And totally, he was disloyal because you shouldn't let no woman come and infiltrate your family whatsoever. There's no kind of way you supposed to let anybody come. I don't care if you knocking off a side chick or whatever you doing. You still don't let anybody— and that means something about you as a man, that you're that weak that you can let a woman come in and because she is new, is fresh, or she telling you what you want to hear, I don't know, that you just fall, you know what I mean? Like, no, to me that says a lot about you as a person.

Did he ever give you any closure?

No, I still haven't got an apology, nothing.

And y'all still co-parent?

Yeah, but the kids—

like, our daughter's 18 and 16, so they just gonna see their daddy when they ready. You don't have to deal with them?

Okay. No.

Okay. Do you, do you hate him now? Like, does it— like, when you look at him, do you question, like, how could I? Nope.

Because you know what, one thing that I realized, first of all, it was a path that I had to take because now I'm even stronger. Like, I feel like Hercules, or you know what I mean? I don't know a female version of Hercules because I do feel like I was in a bubble, you know what I mean? When I came to LA, I met him a couple of weeks after coming. It's been padded for me, you know what I mean? And it's like now I had to become a woman. Like, I'm, I'm grown as, as, you know, like, certain thing I'm not dealing with.

You can cuss here. I know in Hollywood, you know, but you can say you grown as fuck.

Yes, I didn't do it. So Now I just feel like I have my head on more straight. I know what it is in the real world. I was in a bubble, you know, I was, I was in a bubble and I didn't realize about what was really going on in life, you know. And I just think that who I became now, even for my daughters to see, they see how strong I am. I'm able to accomplish the things that I've been trying to do as a family where I was telling him, let's do this, let's do that, or even giving him guidance like, you should do this, you should do that. It's funny, soon as he left, everything I told him to do, he went and tried to do it, or did it. Like, he didn't have a high school diploma, and I was like, don't get a GED now, you could just get a high school diploma online. Don't— you know, this— he did it. You know, it's like, you leave me and then you go do everything I told you. Like, I, I think that's a personal thing he has. It ain't— it don't have nothing to do with me or anything I did wrong. It's a personal thing that he— you know what I mean? That— and I can't answer that because I'm not him. But everything is not what it looks like, you know. A lot of people assume things and they think like how they thought this girl was all this and that. That is so far from—

I promise you, listen, I was reading, I was like, oh, she worked for— oh, okay, um, she's a producer. I didn't see no producer credits. I didn't.

But if you produce it, I produce more stuff of my own stuff. That's why I'm like, no, she didn't offer him none of that. She didn't offer him—

well, she offered him some pussy, he took it, right?

So I mean, no business, business, you know, like that encouraging. I was the one doing that, you know what I mean? Speaking the white folks for him, it was guiding him. Like, look, even with money, finances, I'm really good with money. I'm like, hey, let's do this, let's do that.

Have you met her? No, never been in the same room with her. If you were to see her, what would it be like? Have you, have you played that in your head? Like, no, I don't want to meet her, you know, for what? Okay, I'm just asking. So real quick, what was like— because I mean, like, you went through, like I said, it was very public, it was very nasty. Like, I saw people coming left and right. Women are like, you damn right she deserved that. And men are like, see what I'm talking about? That's why you shouldn't get married. Like But he got it. See, you, you speaking— men are speaking from places where they don't have it, right? When you have it, you, you can give it, you know what I'm saying? So like, Trump took care of all his ex-wives. They still live the same lifestyle. But in our community, they don't understand what it's like to make that money. And that money you was asking for was nothing. What was one of the darkest like moments for you? Like when you look back on everything that you went through privately and publicly You know, being married to him and then seeing this girl being put up while you're going through an active divorce, and he's still fucking you and fucking her and, and confusing you, and that's your husband. And, you know, you finding out online— is it true you found out online that he filed for divorce?

Yes.

Okay, like, what was the darkest moment?

Um, I think— I'm trying to think the darkest moment. Um, I think when he felt comfortable— because, you know, before on the blogs they were seen out before. One time he was in New York and she was like following behind him, and she's the same girl. So we were very married, whether she was a producer or not. What you doing following behind my husband for out in the streets? I'm not there. Okay, so seeing all of this, right? And so then once he filed the divorce when he thought it was okay to like publicly show her, you know what I mean? And, and, and, and like, like, we ain't like— we the shit. We, you know, it was because it was— I felt like he really tried to demean me and who I was as a woman, as a person. You don't do that to your wife, you know what I mean?

Yeah.

A lot of times people in, in the industry, or just even in life, that's something sacred. That's your first wife, the woman you had, who had your children. Like, for you to do me like that, I'm like, girl, you don't think he'll do you like that?

The way he is?

I love Michelle. I'm— everybody know he was in love with me, and then all of a sudden you just switch it, and now you're just, oh, you know, nope, I don't want to be with her no more, now I'm with this girl. Like, that, that, that was kind of weird to me. That— no, that— not kind of, that was very weird. It was very confusing.

That—

I think that part was kind of like What? That's why when we were divorced, I was like, oh no, I cut him off. I was like, I'm not having sex with you no more. I don't care how long it's been, I'm not doing that. Because still, at the end of the day, I have pride and I love myself, you know. You know, we might go through things where we question, or I question, like, oh, am I good enough, or this and that. But still, one thing, you're not gonna dog me out. I'm not gonna let anybody dog me out and treat me like shit.

Did— is this the first time he's ever stepped out on you? Was this the first time that you knew of?

Yes, well, yes, this was the first time, or kind of, because I've heard other stuff though. It has been other stuff because, um, when The Shade Room— this is like a crazy story— The Shade Room first came out, right? Remember The Shade Room?

Yeah, I remember them.

Yeah, I was the first story. The very first story was about me and how he was cheating. Mm, yes.

And so like, was it just like groupies on the road or something? It wasn't anybody—

it wasn't like that. It wasn't because, you know, very descriptive, but it was because I was in China. I was with a friend doing a documentary, and they were basically— they showed the picture of me and my friend in China, and they're like, basically like, while she's out in China, he's in America messing around. They didn't give any particulars or any, you know, uh, exact people or persons or anything like that. And I'm like— and then I had a friend who knew her and, and the per— you know, the lady who owns it, and told her, Angie. Yeah. And said, hey, can you please take that down? Don't, don't do her like that. Like, can't take that down.

So did she remove it? Because she's really good about removing.

Yeah, she did. She removed it. Okay.

Okay, so what did he say to you when you, like, you know, when you asked him about that? Because I'm sure you asked him about that particular story. Like, what was his excuse?

It was, it was more so like, oh, you know, people, they just trying to be messy, they just trying to start something. But from what I, what I'm realizing is, or what I realized is, he was doing a lot of stuff dirt and people weren't saying anything, and a lot of people knew. So he been— he had like— but now on the right, he's been cheating the whole time, you know. I think that's just who he is. Um, yeah, so, you know, it's like, wow, wow, because I don't want— I'm not bitter and I don't want to be bitter, you know what I mean? I've moved on. That's why it's like, yeah, that girl may have been— he was my husband then, but he's not anymore, so I don't have any, um, feelings or emotions towards it. Yeah, it's like, damn, that's effed up. But shit happens in life, you know what I mean? And there's nothing you could do. I can't change it. I can't, you know, go back in time. I can't make him be how I think he should be. He's being who he wants to be, and everybody's entitled to be who they want to be in life.

What did you love about him?

Um, we were like really good friends. We made each other laugh, um, and not just like from a comedic standpoint, but we made each other laugh, you know, like Before, he used to support me when I said I want to do something. Like, he helped me get my SAG card when I first came out. When I would try to get on projects of people who he was friends with, he would call for me. So he was— it's like, at first he had my back. He was down with me. So that was the thing that, you know, we were like— and both of our families are from the Midwest. Like, my family's from Gary, Indiana. He's from Indianapolis. So, you know, being in LA, I understood a lot of Midwest things. And so, you know, it's like that, you know, you from my hometown or you know what it's like.

Yeah.

So we just basically just connected on just being in LA, knowing how it is back home, having fun together and just being cool because I'm a really cool, you know, person.

Now I can tell you real down to earth. You're real open to— it's just like it is what it is. Like what you see is what you get.

I'm kidding because I, I live my life in truth.

Yeah. So while everything is, is playing out publicly, like, like he would literally like come, come back, like while he's, he's got her over here being spotted out, there's divorce on the table, and he's still trying to sleep with you. Like what type of things would he be telling you? Like, like what I just, I don't get that. Like, what would he say?

Um, I don't remember, but it just like, I know a lot of married men who try to talk to me and I'm like, you're married. So that's nothing new, you know what I mean? They say whatever, you know, uh, compliment you, try to be extra nice, you know what I mean? Yeah, just like, I don't, I don't want to deal with, I don't want to deal with that, or nah, that's okay.

How did your kids take everything playing out publicly?

Uh, it was a lot because their, their friends would hear about stuff. So, you know, it was a lot. It was heavy for them. I think that that was the hardest part for me because, like, me, you know, I could just not look online. I could not listen anything, or, you know, tell people don't, don't mention anything to me. They can't. And then they have to go back and forth between us two, and then they have to tell me, oh, well, he said this, or he's doing that, and, you know, and it's just like, oh my God. Messy. It just gets complicated. Um, yeah, it becomes— it's a lot.

Now I have noticed, and this is no shade to him, like I said, I think he's, he's, he's considered like he's moving into that legendary status. I mean, there's nobody that don't know him. Um, but I noticed his career hasn't been as, as on— it's kind of been on like autopilot where it's like you don't see the growth. It's kind of like, I don't know, I feel like he's getting a little lazy or too comfortable in the comedic world. I mean, have you noticed that? Like, maybe he's not as on his grind as he was before with you.

I thought you said he had the producer encouraging him.

Well, yeah, that was just my— that was my opinion from the outside looking in because I was just like Well, maybe she, you know, done sold him a dream saying she gonna help get him on and put him more in circles and shit, you know what I'm saying? That's what I thought. Like, when you read the tabloids, it's like you just a stay-at-home mom, you at home begging for money, and she's out here and doing this producer, and she's more credible, you know what I'm saying? I'm like, what is this, a business move for him? Like, did he marry— it's kind of like how some Black men are married white men. For, for access and shit. I'm like, what did you do, marry her for access? Because y'all look the same. So like, what could it be? Like, I don't get it. Like, what could it be? It's like he moved from one, and people will say— I'll see it in the comments— he sure does have a type.

He does.

Y'all look the same. So I'm like, what was it? Maybe because she was free and didn't have kids at the time and she could fuck more conveniently. Than a wife at home who's got appointments, doctor's appointments, kids' appointments. You trying to manage yourself. That's the only thing that I could think of, because I tell women that all the time. Like, men, men love the convenience of not having children wake them up in the morning to take them to school or get breakfast. It's kind of like they get jealous a little bit of the time that they're, you know what I'm saying, that they got split, you know what I'm saying? Like, they're truly some— in some aspects, like, immature when it comes to that. Like, they don't understand. Like, I got these kids, I'm tired, I've been up all day, you've been gone, are you coming in and you want some ass? Versus somebody who doesn't have any children and she's just free to fuck and do whatever around the clock. And so they don't bond it off of just inconvenience of sex, and now there's babies in the play, and now she's— you at home And so guess what? While she up with the babies and having babies and he's making it seem like it's good, you know, there's somebody else that's— that don't got no children that's willing to give him pussy right after the club. Because she ain't carrying that baby to no goddamn comedy clubs.

Yeah. And, and then you have to think about it too, anything that's new, it's always going to be fresh. You haven't done anything to that person. You all haven't went through anything. So it's gonna be, you know what I'm saying, it's gonna be amazing and fun and all that kind of stuff. Yeah. And I do think that, I think that a lot of men, they go mess with women who, because it's more free, they don't have children. But you know, when you don't, when you're a woman, just think about how you were before you had children. Oh man, you just be like, let's go, I'm down, man.

Listen, we could, we could do it all day. What you want now that the baby is— we got 30 minutes, okay, for this baby wake up.

Yeah.

Or I gotta get the kids to school, you know what I'm saying? So it's like, I get it, and, and it probably feeds more into his creativity too, because, you know, sex is kind of like a man's deep— like how they're able to decompress from the world. And so she's more available. You're, you're— you got a whole life that you're managing for him, and he just don't understand that. It's like he's, he's being selfish. And so, yeah, but I don't see— like I said, I don't see the career. Like, I mean, he's out here doing comedy shows with Just Hilarious. I was like, when did Mike—

Kevin Hart would never I, I don't know. I'm not doing any— I'm not doing any consulting. Uh, you can't leave me and then still get consulted.

I'm being messy. I'm just like, I ain't seen Kevin Hart with Jess Hilarious yet, and he out on the internet throwing balls for the girl. And then people— I'm hearing people walking out of her comedy shows. I'm like, girl, oh yeah, I, I heard this reporting what's being wrote. And said by other comedians. So like, you know, he's online defending her, and I'm like, she just infiltrated comedy. She didn't do the grassroots like how you did, club to club. Like, she's an internet comedian where she can cut, edit, paste, make it funny, you know what I'm saying? But to go in here and just be funny like that, that's a skill, that's an art, you know what I'm saying? And I just feel like she just—

yeah, I used to do the comedy clubs with him. Like, we would go around and go to like 3 comedy clubs a night. And do this almost every day, I would be like, wow. So I know the comedy world inside and out. That's why I do— I know Tori because we, we would see each other, you know what I mean? And it's like, you know the struggle, you know what it's like when you're trying to get on, you know?

Yeah.

So that's why I'm like— that's why, like, being disloyal for me, I'm just like, wow.

He should have— he, he still should have at least showed you loyalty and respect throughout the process.

Exactly.

Like, they quickly forget, like, you know, you up, but you could really be down. You see what I'm saying? And when you down, you know, not to say that his current wife is not going to be there, but she's not used to that. You see what I'm saying? Like, and is she really built off of that? Because you showed her a very different side of you. Like, would she be there? You see what I'm saying?

And so, like, handle it, because, you know, I'm down. I'm like I, I like, I'm very, um, I just know how to— we gonna make it work either way. If we down, we gonna get it back up. We're gonna get it back. Yeah, like, let's do this, let's do that. I'm very creative. I have ideas, you know what I mean?

I'm not—

that's why, like, it's funny to me how I know how I am, but how other people just assume like I was this housewife who was trying to do that, you know, this and that. Like, earlier when you were asking me about Comedy Wives, um, reality show, and I was like, I've been trying to get that over 10 years. You know, I was trying to get that on. You know, I've had deals where I'm almost like holding deals where I'm all— I'm like, okay, it's about to happen. But I don't know what happened or why, but you know how this industry is. But you know, I produce movies, um, it's been short films and, you know, my own independent projects, but still I've done it. I haven't waited, or like, I have IMDb credits, you know what I mean?

You say you got the credits set?

Yeah, when you look me up You look me up and I swear, because you know now Wikipedia pages are important. I know I had a Wikipedia page, but once the divorce happened, for some reason it disappeared. And I'm like, that's weird. I had a Wikipedia page and it's gone. It's gone, just disappeared.

Now that I know— I know, oh, you know, they ain't trying to erase your existence and prop somebody else up there.

I got erased.

Well, you know, you could build that back.

Yes, and I am. But like I said, my children came first because I had to make— nurture them, especially through, you know, everything that went on, um, and do what I was supposed to do. And I'm just following my journey and my path, you know. It— we, we always have a plan of like, okay, I'm gonna do this, this, and this, but it only happens the way it's supposed to happen.

So have you been dating?

Um, not recently. Okay, let me, let me tell you though, when I was, I was dating, okay, I thought I had all this money and I was about to be a sugar mama.

I would listen. I was telling my girlfriend that the other day. I was in the mall and it was a bunch of young boys. I think they knew who I was because I was with my sister and she young and real pretty, right? And I know I'm pretty, but I was like, but they her age, why are they trying to talk to me? They be on some, they be tricking.

Mm-hmm. I'm like, I'm not taking care of nobody.

They ain't feeling Keisha Cole, me, around here. Pregnant in my, in my 40s by a 22-year-old. Yeah, I am living it up to him. I'm the baby daddy. They gonna be doing interviews on me, right?

Yeah, I know.

So they're young and they, they think you— they instantly, when they find out who you are, they think it's a lick.

Yes, they do. Because I have my own home, you know, I'm a homeowner. I have a nice car. Like, especially in LA, because these girls, these girls be broke. They don't have nothing. I'm like, they Instagram famous, they got— they have fame, but that's it. And some looks. So, and then dating is different now. It's so different.

I wouldn't want to date in LA. Everybody out there chasing something, and it ain't never— it ain't never truth. You understand? Like, and it constantly evolves into more and more bullshit, and it's like, what won't you do to get on, you know? And so I, I think honestly you just gonna have, you know, it's, it's like Houston, Dallas, or something like that, you know, to find, you know, truly somebody. So I understand your frustration. I was like, I would not want to be out here in these streets right now, you know what I'm saying? And, and it's nothing but young men because I was just like, why Keisha Cole keep messing with these young boys? But I see, I see why. Like, it's— what do you have to choose from, right?

And they like, they like older women too.

Yeah, because it's a secret society. They know that younger women are more established. They can lay up, they ain't got to worry. You'll help them follow their dreams. I'm not that one.

Yeah, me neither. I'm not helping you do nothing. Let me tell you something, the next man who comes, I'm not— you better have it all together. I'm not, I'm not having no babies. I'm not helping you get to anywhere. You better figure that shit out yourself.

Yeah, we come together at the end of the day like, how was your day? Perfect. Okay, you just keep going. You got it, you got it, you got it. Oh, you want me to? Uh-uh, I got it. No, no, now if you do, we gonna have to put something in writing.

You have to hire me. You have to do that now.

Yeah, you do.

From you, and then they want to be out. No, you're not going to use me.

You do. So what part, besides your self-help book that we're gonna, you know, you're gonna be releasing here soon, like what other projects are you working on right now?

I have, um, I put a collection of different short films that I did, I put them together and it's called Michelle McCain Presents. Oh yes. So that's something that I'm waiting to release. I'm just waiting, um, you know, I'm gonna put on a streaming network, so I'm waiting for it to be picked up. Okay. So that, and then, um, I had a short film about human trafficking that I did, Footprints.

Oh wow.

Yes. So that was deep. It was very— once I think I was so excited about the script and getting it done. Once I got it done and I saw it, it was in film festivals. I'm like, I don't like her. I play the human trafficker.

Oh wow.

Yeah. I was like, I don't know. You know, it's just because where we are in the world, so many bad things are happening and that, you know, just so much stuff that we are finding out about what people do. You know, and how it's real. Like, we hear about it, we see movies, but it's, it's some real shit that people— kids are really getting trafficked. Women—

no, I believe it. Like, Atlanta, you know, living in Atlanta for many years— we're in South Florida now— I mean, it was heavy. I would know the viewers that would reach out to me, and they, they— schools, they live not far from me, and the schools are down the street, and girls are being trafficked. Especially when the Super Bowl came, it was so many high school girls that just got missing, and they were being trafficked. And it was just— it's, it's so bad now that it's almost like you gotta, you know, I put my daughter in self-defense classes, all types of stuff, just to make sure, like, you know, somebody don't run up on her behind her and snatch her and put her in a van, you know. So it's, it's bad, and it's great that you're bringing awareness to that too.

Yes, yes. It was scary to see myself play that because I'm like, oh, I believe me. So I went, um, into a movie. So that— yep, that's what— and I have a nonprofit Okay, what's your nonprofit about? Kids Love and Health. So it's teaching kids how to eat healthy.

Okay, that's right up my alley right there. And these children right here, they, they usually, they look like the parents, you know. Their parents big, they big, you know what I'm saying? And it's like, come on now, like, you, the kids having heart problems and sugar problems and cholesterol shit just because eating McDonald's?

No, right? So that's amazing, you know, the way the parents were raised, they don't know. So yeah, kids, the kids can go home and teach the parents.

Oh, that's amazing. Are you going into schools with this and stuff like that?

Well, we're building programs and we're trying to because, you know, it takes time. They don't just let anybody in. So I got different cooking demonstrations with chefs and it's teaching kids just from my inner city in— well, the inner city in LA, that's where I'm starting and building it up to then take it on. I want to do a whole thing like before the school year starts Whereas exercising, teaching kids about eat healthy eating and then healthy snacks, because it's just knowledge. That's what people just know about it. So the more knowledge they get and doing stuff as a family, then they'll, you know, can start incorporating it. Because, uh, I follow a lot of people on Instagram who talk about healthy eating, and a lot of people say that, um, you know, eating healthy, it doesn't taste good. And the lady said, well, the more you eat healthy and get that bad stuff out of your diet, it will taste good, and the bad stuff will taste bad, you know.

It's true. Like, if you go on like a juice fast or a water fast, it'll reset all your taste buds. So, you know, things that you thought were good, it's like all of a sudden they're too salty, like, oh my God, or too sweet, you know. And, you know, you know, you can have a piece of cake, but you only eat this much as opposed to eating the whole cake because your body can only take so much, you know. So, um, you know, eating bad turns off of those— turns off those brain you know, receptors that talk to the stomach. And so that's how we end up overeating and stuff. So, and so from the self-help book, like, what can we expect? Like, when the book— when you're ready to release, I hope that you include me in the press tour, uh, for the book, you know, because the winos love a good self-help book. Now I'm telling you, oh yeah, all my viewers, they like— they, they grown women, you know what I'm saying? Grown men, you know. So they love the elevation of it. Like, what can we expect?

Well, okay, I tell a little bit about my, uh, my relationship, and it's not about— because, you know, um, I know like a lot of people are thinking, oh, is she gonna do a tell-all? And it's like, no, this is not a tell-all because that's not what it's about. It's about telling some things that I went through and then how I got through it. Because as you know, the divorce was very public. It was very, like, I think, demeaning. So it was how I lifted myself up and how I got through it and the things that I did and the things that I learned that you know, women who are dating men in the industry, or even men who have a lot of money, how you can protect yourself and the things you need to think about. It's like, yeah, you're in love, but you got to think about when this love is over. It may not never be over, but just in case, you always have to protect yourself. And we're not raised, especially in the Black community, to look out for ourselves. Women are always taught just give, give, give, nourish a man, raise your children. And it's like, no, you need to think about yourself. It's about me. So I just want— I'm giving some pointers and just giving some things that I did to get me to where I am. So that's what—

amazing, amazing. So like I said, I cannot wait until you debut that book. I want you here on the show to talk about that book. We will link it so that they can buy it up, you know. And definitely, yeah, as you pour it into them, they're going to pour into you. But I do want to end with a messy question. Oh, just one, just one, you know. After he got married, did he come try to get some pussy?

No, but I gave him some for a gift. No, I'm joking.

So he didn't try to call for none?

No, I didn't. After you get married, you done. It's a wrap, wrap. I'm not talking to you. I don't— what is there for us to talk about?

I just thought maybe he would try to, you know, see if something was still there, because I, I do believe wholeheartedly he still love you.

You know, it's like serious, right?

Huh?

I'm a Sagittarius.

Oh, well, I said I don't follow a lot of the zodiac signs, but tell me about Sagittarius.

When we done, we done. So you know how some— I have some friends who are like, oh, I want to let him know X, Y, and Z. I would have cussed him out. I, in my mind, I feel like cutting you off is cutting— that, that's, that right there is just killing anything and anything I could say, do, or anything, you know.

So you never argued with him? You never checked him? You never really got, got yourself out of character behind this? Like, you just not cut him off?

Let me tell you something, I don't want— I'm not in the business of keeping no nigga who don't want to be kept. I just, I don't— if you don't want me, you— so If you go file for divorce, that's telling—

that's that Gary coming out of you.

You don't want me. So if you don't want me, how are you gonna treat me when you've already told me I don't want you? How are you gonna treat me? So now you're gonna really do all the things you want to do, and I'm not gonna say that because I'm begging to be with you? No. Bye, nigga. Bye. I'm just saying, like, that, that's just the reality of it. Yeah, that's the difference. If you all say let's work together and let's try to figure this out, but if you say You kind of like holding it over my head, like, you know, okay, I filed for divorce, what else can I do? You know what I mean?

Yeah.

And then I'm hearing you running around with this chick.

Nope, that's that Gary Indiana in you though.

I'm like, go be with her. I mean, that, you know, it's unfortunate, and the people be like, that's your husband. That was— he ain't mine no more because my, my mind don't leave.

Mm, that was deep. I want to end on that note right there. That was real deep because you said mine don't leave, so— oh, and I can't wait to see who he is one day. Oh, I'm telling you, I'm telling you, I know he go— it's gonna be like how Tina Knowles met her, like it was like, who is Matthew? Who is Matthew? You don't hear about him, you know what I'm saying? He was so prolific. Oh, he found Destiny's Child. But as soon as Tina Soon as Tina was done after that last baby, it was like, it was like, Matthew who? And now it's all about her new husband. He had all the family gatherings and shit. Don't even invite him. So no, but thank you so, so much, Michelle. You are such a vibe. That's that grown women shit right there where it's like, I ain't got nothing to hide, nothing.

I'm keeping it real. I'm like, I want people to know Michelle McCain. I dropped the last name because it's about me. Like, I can't wait till everybody stop wanting to know about Mike.

Like, yeah, like I said, I was here to talk about what you had going on, you know. But I know your self-help book is tying into a lot of what you went through, so it's kind of like another part of the journey. Like, because people do want to know, like, it's very humiliating to go through something, uh, you know, where every single tabloid is talking about you and, and they're, they're sharing their opinions and they weren't there and telling you what you're worth and you know what I'm saying. And they're praising him because he has the bigger platform because he's a celebrity. But when you come out to defend yourself after you've been publicly embarrassed and humiliated and lied to and he run around here filing for divorce and stuff, you had a right to speak up. And so yeah, I, I'm with that shit. I'm with all this shit. You got time, I got time too. That's how I am. So excuse me, but, um, so I'm, I'm with it all today. So like, um, I, you know, we went the way you wanted to go. And like I said, we, you know, I love how, you know, you're just, you're just, you know, you're at peace about all this. And you could tell, it's all over you. You're not even worried about that shit there. But you, you, the, the shade is there, like producer wear.

I'm just like, you want me to lie to you?

This man is still a father. He's supposed to be— you're supposed to be flying high. Now you out here making babies again. That's the gang.

50s with new two under two. Like, what? You both like—

can I tell you something?

What I, what I would have seen for him if I was his friend, I would have been messing with all at least like the all the fine Instagram girls or the models or something.

Yeah.

Like, go enjoy yourself, go live your life. Like, oh, I was married, now I want to do that no more, but you gonna do the same thing you did with me.

And I'm like, you a grandfather, you, to your kids. Like, what the— so you got two teenagers about to go off to college, you got to start over. Yeah, repeating the cycle, repeating the cycle. And it's only a matter of time for her, but she— because I guarantee she ain't as strong as you. So if, if it is going on, which I, I highly believe is still going on, that nigga ain't changed. You know what I'm saying? She just gonna sweep it under the rug because she don't— it's never gonna happen to her. I'm, I'm better, I'm special. So she don't ever want you to get that last laugh, but we're already laughing.

Yeah, so maybe she don't. Yes, but I know that reality has set in.

Oh, believe me, you got kids, that pussy is unavailable. So you got to go find some available. You're like, why did I find myself— of course she was going to want to have babies. That's, that's, that's the lick right there. You might have the fuck—

yeah, so you gotta know your worth.

No, but thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.