I’m Assuming He Didn’t Want John Edwards To Be The Only One

Model/philanthropist MacDella Cooper and Chairman Richard Parsons.He’s the chairman of Citigroup and he’s married (with kids) and knocked up a former fashion model. You know? Just because.

From New York Daily News:

It’s no secret that Citigroup board Chairman Richard Parsons has been working for months to repair the financial giant.

But, until now, even his closest associates didn’t know he also was wrestling with a personal crisis – how to tell his wife and three children he has fathered a child with another woman.

Parsons and model-philanthropist MacDella Cooper are the parents of a baby girl named Ella.

The 61-year-old former Time Warner chairman said only: “This is a private matter, and I prefer not to talk about it at this time.”

Cooper, 32, also declined to discuss the circumstances of her daughter’s birth.

“My private life is private,” the striking beauty said. “I’m sure you can draw your own conclusions.”

Cooper gave birth last August, according to a source, who said Parsons will support the child and has set up a trust fund for her education.

Update after jump.

daniellebelton

39 responses to “I’m Assuming He Didn’t Want John Edwards To Be The Only One”

  1. Adeshola Blue Avatar
    Adeshola Blue

    It must be hard to keep one’s pants up.

    Reply
  2. rikyrah Avatar
    rikyrah

    If you don’t want to be married, don’t be married.

    Reply
  3. Danielle Belton Avatar
    Danielle Belton

    @ rikyrahConsidering the fact that he’s been married since 1968 I’m going to gather that he wanted to be married, he just wanted some booty on the side and the booty on the side got ALL KINDS OF PREGNANT.Idiot. A 61-year-old idiot. In other news: For anyone who cares, Parsons’ wife is not Denzel Washington’s wife Pauletta Pearsons, who Daylife has erroneously labeled on their site.It’s this woman. Poor, little, tiny white woman. You marry a black man in 1968 when that shit wasn’t cool AT ALL only for him to knock up some other chick more than 40 years later.PS. Trying to think of another case where a rich black man cheated on his white wife with a black woman. Can anyone name another case? Does this count as some extreme counter stereotype irony? Is this a new trend?

    Reply
  4. d Avatar
    d

    I love the "model/ philanthropist" caption. Like adding "philanthropist" will make her appear more business-y and thus more credible. sheesh. Sweetie, at the end of the day, you’re still a model. I can’t get too mad at her. At least she got knocked up by a married dude with PLENTY of money to go around. *sardonic laugh*I hope his wife takes him for everything he’s worth. I can’t begin to imagine her embarrassment since this story went public.@ Danielle: you are too funny. Nope, can’t think of anything off the top of my head. I’m sure THIS particular situation happens often but it’s not as well publicized.

    Reply
  5. rikyrah Avatar
    rikyrah

    You know, I feel about him the same way I feel about Jesse Jackson.Grown assed man.If you want to fucking cheat..GET A DAMN VASECTOMY. If you have children, and at least one of each, what the hell do you need to go around with the possibility of getting a woman pregnant?The male ego is unreal.

    Reply
  6. Danielle Belton Avatar
    Danielle Belton

    @ dI know there’s a high number of black man-white woman-black woman love triangles in "Regular Broke Folks Land." Because, hell, we’s broke. I just know in popular culture we’re so used to the young white woman (usually blonde if were following the usual stereotypes) usurping the marriage of the black woman (see Angela Bassett screaming "Git yo’ shit" in "Waiting to Exhale") that it almost seems alien to look at the opposite happening in "Rich Folks Land."Like I know he can’t be the only one, but this is like watching a zebra eat a lion for me in someways. I want to know MORE. Who IS the MacDella person? What on earth did she "model" as she doesn’t look very tall? Why is up now down? Why is left now right? Someone! EXPLAIN!

    Reply
  7. isonprize Avatar
    isonprize

    The "old azz, married men should get a vasectomy" crowd: THIS guy, Jesse Jackson, John Edwards, Bill Cosby, Julius ‘Dr. J’ Erving, the list goes on and on…

    Reply
  8. isonprize Avatar
    isonprize

    The MacDella Cooper Foundation – Sharing the Light Uh, she was sharing much, MUCH more than the light…

    Reply
  9. d Avatar
    d

    @ Danielle: she has done very well for herself. She’s from Liberia and attended college in NY where she was discovered by a modeling agent. She went on to become a fashion coordinator for Ralph Lauren. Hmmm, I guess I better retract my statement about the "philanthropy" bit. I don’t want "Liberia’s Angel" coming after me. Seriously, I mean it- http://www.tcnj.edu/~faust2/IMM370/Final/And remember, this is a post-racial society now that Obama is in office. Up IS down and left IS right…lmao. I guess this shows that men are men are men (women too) no matter the color. Also, think about how many black men in his peer group have this type of high profile position. Then, consider how many of them would have married white women back in the 60’s and 70’s. I know soldiers married often women from other countries (see: my great-uncle and Tiger Woods’ father) but it was not normally "done." Perhaps they wanted to do it back then but had to wait until it was more socially acceptable. That’s probably why you see the "black wife/white other woman" scenario more often than the reverse. Now that IR marriages are becoming socially acceptable (I use that term loosely), you may start seeing these situations among the rich more often. Just a guess…

    Reply
  10. We Shall Overcome...In Couture! Avatar
    We Shall Overcome…In Couture!

    Holy "A Brotha Done Came Back Home" Batman!

    Reply
  11. dukedraven Avatar
    dukedraven

    He was eating Wonderbread every morning for 40 years, and then he decided to have some wheat toast for a change. The sugar daddy said, "If loving you is wrong, I don’t want to ever do right."

    Reply
  12. We Shall Overcome...In Couture! Avatar
    We Shall Overcome…In Couture!

    Like I know he can’t be the only one, but this is like watching a zebra eat a lion for me in someways. I want to know MORE. Who IS the MacDella person? What on earth did she "model" as she doesn’t look very tall? Why is up now down? Why is left now right? Someone! EXPLAIN!You and me both, Danielle! Can you imagine the egos of white women right now? First "biracial" Barack Obama marries unmistakably black Michelle Obama and she becomes First Lady and a fashion icon. And now this brotha cheats on his white wife for a sista from the continent. Damn. I keed! I keed! 🙂

    Reply
  13. Adeshola Blue Avatar
    Adeshola Blue

    You gotta love it. Lord the black man done walked out on old school becky for African Barbie. Hot damn!

    Reply
  14. Court Avatar
    Court

    Nah ya’ll, were not in the Twilight Zone yet. First he’d have to leave his wife to MARRY Ms.Model/Philantrophist. To me this is just another brotha cheating on his wife. Just chose a sista this time.

    Reply
  15. Monica Avatar
    Monica

    Was MacDella Cooper featured on the Style network about 5 years ago?

    Reply
  16. rikyrah Avatar
    rikyrah

    You all are cracking me up!

    Reply
  17. Kofi Bofah Avatar
    Kofi Bofah

    Where is Carl Icahn on this?I remember when Parsons was running Time Warner, how Icahn would always call into CNBC and throw a fit.

    Reply
  18. blackgirlinmaine Avatar
    blackgirlinmaine

    I’m in the if you don’t want to be married, then get a divorce camp. At 61 this man should have known better and yeah, his wife is tiny but that’s a another story,

    Reply
  19. tallulahbankhead Avatar
    tallulahbankhead

    Better to have an out of wedlock baby for a rich man than Levi Johnston, I say.

    Reply
  20. Robert M Avatar
    Robert M

    HEH,HEh,Heh,heh! ROTFLMBAOVasectomy HEH,HEh,Heh,heh

    Reply
  21. Robert M Avatar
    Robert M

    I stopped laughing and realized Parsons gave a interview a while ago and stated he and his wife had already given away their assets because they wanted their children to be independent. Whose money is he giving away? I can’t bellieve Mrs Parsons is happy about giving away hers. In a divorce this should be one for the record books.Next thought w/ Citigroup collecting government cheese does this make MacDella Cooper a welfare mother?Which one yells Mac daddy?

    Reply
  22. starrie Avatar
    starrie

    so…how does the condom industry make any money when none of these folks actually uses them…

    Reply
  23. stella Avatar
    stella

    Four years ago my sister and I attended a dinner party thrown by our boss for Mr Parsons and his wife. The dinner included other distinguished guests including Terry McMillan. Mr. Parsons(He was CEO of AOL Time Warner at the time) was the only person to deign to speak to my sister and I. He was very personable and asked about our home country (Trinidad) and he didn’t just appear to do it for show.

    Reply
  24. khrish Avatar
    khrish

    hey, why would he not marry Laura. She is a New York Socialite and I am sure that didn’t hurt him. They had three children and she certainly was not your barbie doll. So maybe they have an understanding.I read where his son has had a second marriage in 2006 to a woman Dr. Amanda S. Heron who has both her MD and MBA and they are both Management Consultants at a company known as McKinsey and Company. So the son has done alright for himself.

    Reply
  25. travelgirl Avatar
    travelgirl

    Thank You Danielle for bringing us this kind of story. This is very odd to me and I cannot think of another situation similar. possibly a trend will begin and other black men will follow. I now wonder if more of this is going on than publicized. possibly Tiger woods several years down the line will knock up a young black or asian womanor Tiki Barber will have a child with a black woman later!!!!!!!!!Really Interesting it leads me to think the white woman was just for "status" in the first place especially in 1968…

    Reply
  26. Danielle Belton Avatar
    Danielle Belton

    @ khrishYeah, I would argue that since they got married during a time period where you could still get yourself killed in certain parts of the US for it and stayed together for 40 years there must have been something substantial there. Which is why it’s messed up to cheat on your wife of 40 years no matter who she is. I mean, what the hell? My parents have been married since ’72 and if either of them stepped out I would be crushed, throwing up arms up in the air pulling a Darth Vader at the end of third Star Wars Prequel, a la "this."I mean, why? And … ew.

    Reply
  27. katenyc Avatar
    katenyc

    @ We Shall Overcome wrote:Can you imagine the egos of white women right now? First "biracial" Barack Obama marries unmistakably black Michelle Obama and she becomes First Lady and a fashion icon. And now this brotha cheats on his white wife for a sista from the continent. Damn.—————————————White women’s egos? Huh? You’re off mark here. White women rallied and campaigned for President Obama. Remember the 90% white Iowa vote?! I volunteered throughout the campaign in New York City – nothing but white women showing up. So I don’t see why their egos are taking a hit…As for Richard Parsons, I’m sure 3/4 of WW don’t know who the hell he is, much less want to sleep with his ugly ass. Criticize white women and their egos for other things, but not this. I love me some Michelle Obama, but I’m not loving that she’s referred to as a "style icon." She didn’t attend Princeton and Harvard to be known for her clothes. And I’m not an anti-clothes frump, just sayin…

    Reply
  28. Lady M Avatar
    Lady M

    Well damn. You’d think a grown-ass man would be able to keep his pants zipped up. And we don’t know if he’s been cheating for a while. Maybe this is just the first time he got a woman pregnant, therefore getting caught. All this cheating and infidelity nonsense worries me. If a man cheats after 30 years, like John Edwards, or after 40 like this punk here, then how the hell is a marriage supposed to go on??? I mean, damn I want to get married some day, but it just seems like the institution of marriage is eroding away and weakening. Some men might be looking at this and thinking its okay and all. In Edwards’ case, what the hell happened to "in sickness and in health, to love and cherish, till death do us part"? I feel for Parsons’ wife, whether she’s white, orange, or green. But um… 61 and 32??!!! That is just nasty.

    Reply
  29. Domino49 Avatar
    Domino49

    * Woman (poor?) soldiers killed in combat: CHECK* Abortion on demand: CHECK* Latch-Key Kids: CHECK* 32 year old black model seducing a rich 61 year old married black man: Hmmmmm?Which one of these is not a part of the liberation you were promised by those (white women) who profited the most from Affirmative Action and "White Women’s" Liberation?If you don’t know your history, you will forever be a footnote in someone else’s……… !!!I think Obama should pick a REAL African-American (man or woman) for the Supreme Court vacancy. Clarence Tom-ness doesn’t count. But, Nancy, Caroline and "Dr." Jill would vote for Sarah Palin if he didn’t pick a white woman. Isn’t it strange how no one Black is even being mentioned by the MSM or the "White" Woman’s Liberation/PC crowd. Oh yeah, we got our turn…now it’s Miss Daisy’s turn…AGAIN…!!!Just out of curiosity…is it me.. or, shouldn’t Rep. Holms-Norton at least get a mention if not a HIGH PROFILE interview from a BLACK(?) President of the UNITED STATES? Who exactly could represent "fairness" better, or because of service and intellect do a better job?? And, just to be non-PC…who said illegal aliens get a turn?Oh yeah, that’s right…Obama left a message on her answering machine, and she didn’t call him back? RIGHT????If you don’t know your history, you will forever be a footnote in someone else’s…!!!Oh Well, sorry for breaking up the gossip with a moment of clarity.Jus Sayin’Domino49PS.I find it rather off-putting that in all these stories about Jessie, Parsons, et al, no one ever claimed they RAPED these tramps that are the baby-moma’s of their bastard chillin’s. No one ever blames the LOW MORALS of the women. Least we forget basic biology…and fairness….it takes two persons of LOW CHARACTER…to commit adultry. This is just more SLAVE THINKING…!!!!

    Reply
  30. CandyCane Girl Avatar
    CandyCane Girl

    @ Domino49"I find it rather off-putting that in all these stories about Jessie, Parsons, et al, no one ever claimed they RAPED these tramps that are the baby-moma’s of their bastard chillin’s. No one ever blames the LOW MORALS of the women. Least we forget basic biology…and fairness….it takes two persons of LOW CHARACTER…to commit adultry. This is just more SLAVE THINKING…!!!!"Nobody blames them because there’s nothing to blame. They aren’t married. They didn’t promise someone in front of the law and God to spend the rest of their lives in a committed relationship. If you’re single, you can sleep with whomever you like. If you’re married, it’s your responsibility to uphold your vows, not somebody else’s.

    Reply
  31. Domino49 Avatar
    Domino49

    "If you’re single, you can sleep with whomever you like. If you’re married, it’s your responsibility to uphold your vows, not somebody else’s."@ Candy Cane Girl, I guess I must live in a utopian world where "VALUES" and MORALITY still exist. I doubt if any of the aforementioned men were mistaken for regular Joes. There seems to be a certain predatory mentality that says "it’s OK to have children out of wedlock, if the baby-daddy (married man?) is rich enough to afford it". Man, that’s retrogressive SLAVE THINKING…!!!With all due disrespect, your response would seem to suggest that morality is flexible, to you, depending upon the money involved. That, in my humble opinion, is also SLAVE THINKING…!!!I read a review about a new movie wherein the director cast a real porn star to portray a high-class(?) call girl who specialized in pretending that she was the real-life girlfriend of her Johns. I’m saddened on two fronts. 1) This example encourages "some" young women to think that the road to celebrity and an acting career really can go through the porn trade. 2) Based on a lot of the blog responses I’ve seen concerning dating morality among SOME black women, art is indeed immitating life…….I am reminded of the huge increase in the out-of-wedlock births in the black community during the so-called white womens liberation movement during the 60’s and 70’s. On demand birth contril pills and abortions didn’t seem to be the solution to family / financial stability in the black community because they failed to address the real problem, "adopted" low morality (drugs and so-called free-love) and high unemployment. The problem, IMHO, was the low morality that came along with the so-called "white" sexual / cultural revolution. Who’s community did it hurt the most? Who was immitating whom with regard to the abandonment of sexual / family morality?The whole point of being a "Black Snob" is to recognize LOW-DOWN VALUES when you encounter them and not automatically embrace the values of someone else based only on their color or gender or celebrity or wealth. That too is SLAVE THINKING…!!! Jus Sayin’Domino49

    Reply
  32. We Shall Overcome...In Couture! Avatar
    We Shall Overcome…In Couture!

    @ katenycWhite women’s egos? Huh? You’re off mark here. White women rallied and campaigned for President Obama. Remember the 90% white Iowa vote?! I volunteered throughout the campaign in New York City – nothing but white women showing up. So I don’t see why their egos are taking a hit…I was joking…..kinda.Your comment demonstrates the ego of white women. You totally pushed aside the tremendous support Obama received from Black women, insinuating that white women are the sole reason why Obama is in office. According to this article, 68.8% of Black women voted for Obama, while this election had the LOWEST white turnout in history. Black women, and Black people, rallied and campaign for Obama in droves, including in NYC. So, no. White women were not the sole reason why Obama became POTUS. As for Richard Parsons, I’m sure 3/4 of WW don’t know who the hell he is, much less want to sleep with his ugly ass. Criticize white women and their egos for other things, but not this.Richard Parson’s looks are irrelevant. As you know, money and power makes men and women look more attractive.Besides, this isn’t about looks. My comment was in reference to the centuries long belief that white women are the epitome of beauty. Over the years, Black men have bought into this myth, and have chosen to take white women as wives and/or girlfriends once they have "made it" or to acquire a certain level of social status. Like Kanye West says, "And when he blows up, he’ll leave you ass for a white girl". As quiet as kept, white women have believed their own hype, thinking they have the upper hand when it comes to being the mate of a successful Black man. Which is why you have white woman, regardless of whether or not they voted/campaigned for Obama, throwing shade at Michelle Obama. They still can’t get over the fact that biracial Barack Obama, who was raised by white women, chose mahogany complexioned, unmistakeably black Michelle LaVaughn Robinson from the Southside of Chi-Town as his wife and his First Lady. That’s why white women like Bonnie Erbe are throwing shade. She, like a lot of white women, doesn’t think Michelle deserves the title of First Lady of the United States of America. They don’t think a descendant of enslaved people deserves to wallow in the lap of all that luxury. In the case of Richard Parsons, he’s turned the game upside down because usually the scenario is the Black man leaves his Black wife for a white girl. So, just like there are some of US who are surprised by this, there are some white women (particularly golddiggers) who are scratching their heads, too.And while I understand that there is way more to Mrs. Obama than her outfits, as a Black woman who has been bombarded with the Eurocentric view of beauty and style, I a’m thoroughly enjoying a Black woman being held up as the standard of beauty.

    Reply
  33. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    @ We Shall Overcome…Preach.

    Reply
  34. Lady M Avatar
    Lady M

    We Shall Overcome, you got it dead on.

    Reply
  35. willet784 Avatar
    willet784

    Does this count as some extreme counter stereotype irony? Yea, and verily. I know I’m wrong, but the first thing I noted was the irony of this situation…and yes, I indulged in a bit of schadenfreude for all the black women unfairly rejected and left for white women; but mad at Ms. Cooper at the same time for denigrating herself by going with a married man when she’s beautiful and educated. She didn’t need the money or the gifts this man offered, so why? Say what you will though, Mr. Parsons don’t like dumb women, no matter the color. I checked out Ms. Cooper’s and Mrs. Parson’s bona fides and both of them have their education together. I do hope Mrs. Parsons takes him to the cleaners if she so chooses because I know as a white girl in 1960s New York she risked her reputation and safety marrying someone she loved regardless of the extreme color/racial prejudice in society, only to be betrayed by that person…And although his life was at risk in the marriage as well, he obtained status b.c of her high status. He had the most to gain. It’s real sad. Then again, he seems like a nice enough man, and Mrs. Parsons seems like a nice woman– they might have had an understanding. But, I would love if Mrs. P went Angela Bassett a la "Waiting to Exhale" on him.

    Reply
  36. allheavens Avatar
    allheavens

    So Domino49, it is all the white feminist movement’s fault, that Black women and children are having babies out of wedlock because they have adopted those LOW-DOWN VALUES of said movement.After all, we know that Black folks lack critical thinking and will always blindly embrace the social and sexual mores of whites. **rolls eyes**NOW THAT’S SLAVE THINKING…!!!Sheesh, step back into the time wrap from which you tumbled. Obviously the fall has precipitated the head injury from which you are currently suffering.

    Reply
  37. Embeezie Avatar
    Embeezie

    Seems like as he was climbing the ladder, he obtained his obligatory White woman to help him on his way, but never lost his desire for the sistas… I’m sure this girl isnt the first taste of brown sugar he’s had since being married. What a moron…

    Reply
  38. funkystarkitty50 Avatar
    funkystarkitty50

    The man is a dog no matter the color of the woman he cheated with. If you are married, especially that long, it’s not so easy to just end it. Since they have been together 40 years, she could walk away with a huge chunk of what he has. The phrase "It’s cheaper to keep her" comes to mind. Some couples have an understanding where they do their own thing "privately" but are together for social reasons. Being married adn living as a single person is not unheard of, but it doesn’t make it right.

    Reply
  39. lincolnperry Avatar
    lincolnperry

    She is low rent for sleeping and having child with married man, it takes two to tango!

    Reply

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