Tami Roman: TV Personality Focuses on the Bible After Miscarriage, Defends Out of Wedlock Relationship Against Critics (Interview)
Roman, the mother of 18 and 21-year-old daughters from a previous marriage to former NBA player Kenny Anderson, described herself and Youngblood as counterparts and helpmates to one another. Even though she's not focused on marrying Youngblood right now, the television personality said she and her boyfriend vowed to be together "as an eternal situation."
"I believe I am fulfilling the difference between a true covenant with God and an attempt to justify sexual immorality, because that's not what we stand for in my household and that's not what we're doing around here," Roman told CP.
"So as the Word says, God knows your heart. We know what's going on here, what we're trying to do, what we're trying to have and what we're trying to be as a unit."
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She went on to point out that couples like Boaz and Ruth in the Bible's book of Ruth were never married.
"I think a lot of Christians tend to look down on people that are living together and not actually legally married can forget that there was no legal marriage back with Boaz and Ruth. So as long as two people understand that concept and have that covenant with God, that's what God is looking at and that's what I'm living by," Roman continued.
"Really and truly, you look at me on TV and think I'm just running around haphazard and crazy and living my life in a flippant manner and I'm not. We are two trying to become one and I take that very seriously. I just want people to cut me some slack on that because I don't need a paper to know that I'm in love with someone, he's in love with me, and we're trying to build something for the long term."
While all Christians may not subscribe to Roman's lifestyle choices, she admits that she has made some very public mistakes and doesn't have all of the answers. Still, she actively seeks counsel from her pastors, Remus E. Wright and his wife, Mia K. Wright, from The Fountain of Praise church in Houston, Texas.
The church was instrumental in her decision to relocate to Houston after its leaders accepted Roman and her controversial television persona.
"When I went to ask for membership in the congregation, I said 'listen, this is my background. This is what people see. I'm not trying to embarrass the church, I'm trying to be true to me and still be able to pay the bills,'" Roman recalls telling her pastors. "My pastor sat me down and said, 'listen that is your job. That is not indicative of your character in its entirety. God understands that.'"
Outside of reality television, Roman is an actress who is currently gearing up to star in a scripted new series called "The Assist" that is being shopped around to various networks.
Aside from television, Roman is juggling hair, cosmetics and T-shirt lines while hosting her own radio show in Houston on KCOH radio. Beyond her career, she is most proud of being a mother of two young woman making their way through college.
After a two year hiatus, she is ready to return to the VH1 "Basketball Wives" franchise and believes that some good can come from people witnessing her public struggles. Roman has overcome homelessness, molestation, death and a miscarriage, and hopes to inspire others in an authentic way.
"I don't always do things the right way, make the right decisions (or) have the right reaction. But somebody out there is doing the same exact thing that I'm doing," Roman told CP. "As long as I continue to grow and show them growth as an individual and growth in the Word, those people will follow me. So that's how I wake up every day continuing to be true to Tami and approaching situations 100 percent real the way that I would, and hoping that I am an example for someone who is just like me."
Roman will appear on the season finale of "Marriage Bootcamp: Reality Stars" on We tv at 9 p.m. ET Aug. 21. She can be seen as a recurring guest on VH1's "Basketball Wives LA" at 9 p.m. ET on Sundays.
Roman can be found on Twitter here.
