New Details About Cuba Gooding Jr.'s New Girlfriend, Claudine De Niro— Including Her Connection To Robert De Niro
They're reportedly hooking up.
Instagram It looks like there's a new woman in Cuba Gooding Jr.'s life — and she has a pretty intimate connection to his former Men of Honor costar.
Page Six reported that Cuba is seeing Claudine De Niro, a.k.a Robert De Niro's son Raphael's estranged wife. While there have been rumors about the two being an item since October, they were recently spotted "canoodling" at a Miami hot spot.
Cuba and De Niro were spotted everywhere together during Art Basel Miami, a popular international art show in South Florida. That same weekend, they were seen at a party in the Versace Mansion and at a celebrity favorite cheering along a football game,
They had a waterfront table for two by candlelight,” one of multiple sources said. "They were watching the Cowboys game, sipping drinks and high-fiving each other.”
"She was on his arm,” said another. “They looked to be very much a couple.”
Cuba only filed for divorce from his wife Sara Kapfer just last year. They had been together for 20 years and have a 10-year-old daughter together. Sara initiated the divorce proceedings in 2015. She cited irreconcilable differences.
He's reportedly asking for joint legal and physical custody of their child and is offering spousal support, but wants all the money he made after 2014 — including profits from The People v. O.J. Simpson — to remain with him.
After the separation filing, Cuba went on The Steve Harvey Show and attempted to explain the situation.
"Officially I'm still married, it's just you know how some marriages go. Sometimes you take a break or two. All I'm saying is my life is what it is right now," he said. "I took her to see a movie the other day. We've got kids, man, we've got to keep this together."
As for Claudine, she and Raphael, a real estate broker, separated in 2015 and filed for divorce in 2016. Those court proceedings are still ongoing. According to his IMDb page, the couple married in 2008 and they have three children together.
Back in 2017, Claudine was sued for "harassment and racial discrimination" by a former housekeeper and nanny. Raphael is half-black and their children are partially black.
The nanny claimed that Claudine had said she "never had a black nanny" and that she created a work environment that was "permeated with intimidation, ridicule, and insult."
While neither Cuba nor Claudine has commented on their alleged relationship, sources were quick to label it for them.
“I wouldn’t say they are dating, but they are hooking up."
Emily Blackwood is a writer living in California. She covers all things news, pop culture and true crime.