GENERAL PRESS 24
Some people got their first introduction to Stevie J via Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta, where he was a leading cast member. From the VH1 reality show, fans got an open door into the hitmaking producer and songwriter’s life and romantic relationships with Mimi Faust and Joseline Hernandez. But unbeknownst to some, Stevie J has a long list of notable partners he’s dated.
Here’s an interesting fact about Stevie J. The Grammy Award-winning producer was once on track to be the son-in-law of Academy Award-winning actress Whoopi Goldberg. That’s right, Stevie J once dated and almost married Goldberg’s daughter, actress Alex Martin. The relationship between the two began around 2001, during a period when Martin was divorced from her husband, Bernard Dean, for the second time. Alex Martin, like her mother, is an actress and a film producer. She started on the big screen alongside Whoopi Goldberg in Sister Act II: Back in the Habit. Following, she would appear in projects like 1999’s American Intellectuals and the TNT television movie Call Me Claus, starring her mother.
Stevie J spilled the tea on his relationship with Alex Martin to The Jasmine Brand in a 2012 interview. According to the reality star, the pair met while he attended a party where she “reached her hand across [her face]” to greet Vivica A. Fox. The action prompted him to “check” her, which he says began their relationship. Stevie J and Alex Martin’s friendship grew extremely close to the point where they were best friends. But once it reached that level, he claims it veered into uncontrollable territory.
“When you throw the ‘L’ word around, then emotions start getting crazy,” said Stevie J of their relationship. According to a past report from Black Voices, Alex Martin accepted a marriage proposal and diamond engagement ring from the hitmaker in 2007. Stevie J credited her partly for helping him to “become the man he was” and even praised her cooking skills. He even reportedly got two tattoos of the actress. In turn, Martin celebrated feeling “blessed” and praised him for “treating her like a queen.” But their relationship, unfortunately, didn’t make it to the aisle. Speaking with The Jasmine Brand, Stevie J advised that if there is someone that you “cherish […] as a friend, then, don’t try to make it a relationship.” And as for Alex Martin, she remarried her husband, Bernard Dean, for the third time in 2011.
Another situation that many pre-Love & Hip Hop: ATL fans were probably unaware of was the one he had with the legendary singer. Let Stevie tell it, “Me and Mariah go back like babies in pacifiers.” The pair worked together on her worldwide Diamond-certified selling fifth studio album, Butterfly. Stevie J produced the smash lead single, “Honey,” the Krayzie Bone, and Wish Bone-assisted single “Breakdown,” and the song “Babydoll.”Stevie J reflected on Mariah Carey during a confessional for his VH1 reality show Leave It To Stevie. “That’s my baby,” he said. He recalled her comedic ways and the “Always Be My Baby” singer’s nickname for him, “fat muffin man.”
In the Thank You notes in Mariah Carey’s Butterfly album, you will see that she definitely referred to Stevie J as “fat muffin man.” According to the producer, this is because the “beefcake game is crazy.” Stevie J is, of course, alleging that the two engaged in intimate acts. That wasn’t the first time that he claimed things got intimate with Mariah Carey. During an episode of Wild’ N Out, he alleged to have been intimate with the singer twice and that he’s “the one she writes her songs about.” This confession allegedly made Nick Cannon extremely upset with Stevie J. Mariah Carey has never confirmed this information.
Perhaps one of his most known relationships was with rapper Eve. After meeting at a video shoot, the pair met and began dating in 1997. At the time, he was already seeing someone else. But according to Stevie J, the couple started to date once that relationship ended. Stevie J told The Jasmine Brand that not only did he love Eve, but he also enjoyed that they were both creatives and that he could witness her growth. There was a time when the rapper loved her some Stevie J as well. One listen to her hit song “Got A Man,” and you can tell she was head over heels. The then-couple worked on the worldwide smash “Let Me Blow Ya Mind,” which Stevie J co-wrote, along with producing “You Had Me, You Lost Me” off the album Scorpion. But little did they know that the title to the last song would describe their relationship.
Eve recalled their relationship as a “toxic” one on BET’s Ruff Ryder Chronicles. She remembers thinking he was the “love of her life” but recalled being extremely “unsupportive.” In addition, the relationship brought on depression and caused her to exceed her alcohol intake. There was also an NSFW tape that leaked involving the couple. Eventually, the couple called it quits. However, Stevie J shared that there’s nothing “negative” he could say about Eve. “It was always good. It would have been good if I would [have] kept it good,” he said.
During a 2016 conversation with Bossip, Stevie J revealed that he “took down” a member of a famous family. Although at first seemingly reluctant to name who, the musician eluded to it being Khloe Kardashian. “Khloe’s a great friend of mine,” he said slyly. He detailed that their encounter happened when she served as his assistant and before they were famous.
Upon joining the cast of the famous reality show, fans were quickly alerted of the complicated scenario between Stevie J and one of his child’s mothers, Mimi Faust. At the time, he’d been in a relationship with Joseline Hernandez but claimed she was only his artist. For many years and multiple seasons of the show, the relationship between the three remained contentious. Stevie J and Joseline Hernandez also share a daughter, Bonnie Bella. Following their split, he married R&B singer Faith Evans, which surprised many. However, they had years of history together that made their transition to lovers much easier.
But in 2021, it was announced that Stevie J filed for divorce from Faith Evans. The marriage also was filled with allegations of cheating and abuse. However, this past Mother’s Day seemed to bring a change of heart for Stevie J. With an Instagram post, he offered an apology to the R&B singer along with many promises of changes.
