Jennifer Hudson Recalls Being Hit By Ball During NY Knicks Game

Jennifer Hudson and her boyfriend, Commonmade headlines in early March 2025 after a mishap they had during a New York Knicks basketball game went viral.

For those who may be unfamiliar with the situation, Jennifer Hudson, who rose to fame after starring in an earlier season of “American Idol” and the 2006 movie “Dreamgirls,” was accidentally hit with a rogue basketball during an NBA game. The interaction sent the internet into a spiral, causing the singer to address the moment on her talk show before revealing Miles McBride offered a heartfelt apology.

During the Knicks’ game against Steph Curry and the Golden State WarriorsMcBride accidentally came crashing into Hudson after trying to make a play on the ball.

In the clip, viewers saw Hudson’s stunned reaction after being popped with the rogue basketball moments before McBride collided with her.

“I’m like, ‘What the h-ll done popped me? Someone must’ve hit me. Of all the people to hit, you hit Jennifer Hudson. Really?’” she continued.

Following the surprising hit at the Knicks game, Hudson revealed that the people around her offered support; however, she needed a moment to collect her thoughts. She even said her partner, Commonasked if she wanted to leave the game, which occurred at Madison Square Garden, but she refused to exit in order to keep the attention off of her.

“… I’m like, ‘I’m good, just let me sit here and gather myself. ‘Cause the last thing you wanna do is get up and go running somewhere.’ No, you need a moment,” she said.

Elsewhere, during the segment on her show, Hudson revealed that although the moment caught her by surprise, being a “boy mom” helped prepare her for the blow.

“What that means is, I have been on the basketball court many a days playing with these children, so they trained momma well to be able to take the game,” she explained. “I was ready.”

Hudson’s son, David, whom she had with WWE superstar David Otunga, celebrated his 15th birthday in August 2024.

The actress and singer has kept him mostly out of the spotlight; however, during a previous interview, she revealed that he may have picked up her talent for music.

“He seems like he’s very interested in music already. The other night he was having a fit screaming, and someone turns on the music and he just stops and calmed down. And I was exactly the same way as a baby,” she said.

Even though the “Spotlight” performer said she was OK, McBride, who joined the New York Knicks in 2021 after playing several seasons of college ball at West Virginia, offered Hudson a sweet apology after the game.

During her show, Hudson played a video of McBride explaining what went wrong during his matchup against the Warriors on March 4 before giving the mother a thoughtful gift.

“Just wanted to say I’m sorry for running into you at our game last week,” McBride said in the video. “I was in the zone trying to make a play, trying to bring some energy, and unfortunately, you were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Just saying I’m sorry, got you a little something—hope we can be cool after this.”

Later, a producer entered the frame to give Hudson a bouquet of pink flowers.

After two years of dealing with speculation about their relationship, Common and Hudson confirmed that they were an official couple during an episode of her talk show.

After introducing him to the audience, Common appeared on stage with flowers before telling Hudson’s viewers that he was “in a relationship … with one of the most beautiful people I ever met in (my) life.”

“And she’s smart, she loves God, she has something real down-to-earth about her, she’s talented,” Common continued before saying he only wanted to date a woman with an “EGOT,” which is a title reserved for performers who have secured an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award.

Months later, the Chicago-born rapper expressed his desire to tie the knot with Hudson on an episode of “The Breakfast Club.” During his conversation with DJ Envy and Charlamagne Tha God, Common said“If I’m going to get married, it’s to her.”