Michael Jordan’s ex-wife and what was left out of Netflix hit series Last Dance
Neflix's The Last Dance unearthed plenty of insights into the fascinating world of Michael Jordan and his historic NBA career.
The 10-part series about the Chicago Bulls legend pulled in basketball lovers and non-basketball lovers alike, and was one of the biggest hits of 2020.
However, there are certain more private storylines of Jordan’s life that seem to be missing.
In particular, there was nothing really about the six-time NBA champion’s 17-year marriage, and eventual divorce, with Juanita Vanoy.
The couple met back in 1985 at a Bennigans restaurant in the local area after a Bulls game.
Four years later Jordan and Juanita made their vows at the Little White Chapel in Las Vegas, and had three children – Jeffrey Jordan, Marcus Jordan and daughter Jasmine Jordan.
There did not appear to be any issues in their marriage, but Vanoy filed for divorce in 2002 after a private investigator Ernie Rizzo claimed to have seen Jordan with half a dozen women between 1992-2002 to the Chicago Tribune.
Jordan responded to the allegations by saying: “When you have personal issues, sometimes work is a great avenue to deal with it and move on. Things will work out in the long run.”
Meanwhile, his agent issued a statement for the couple which read: “It is our hope that the media and the public will understand and respect our family’s desire and need for privacy during this difficult period in our lives.”
The couple attempted to reconcile though, and Vanoy withdrew her petition for divorce a month later.
In December 2006, the pair announced that they had officially split with a joint statement.
"Michael and Juanita Jordan mutually and amicably decided to end their 17-year marriage," the couple's lawyers said in a statement, according to People.
"A judgment for dissolution of their marriage was entered today. There will be no further statements."
Vanoy reportedly received $168m in the divorce settlement, while Jordan also shelled out more than $2m in legal fees.
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Jordan is now happily married to American model Yvette Prieto after they tied the knot in 2013, but he is still on good terms with Vanoy, she says.
"Mostly, our conversations are about the children," Juanita told Chicago Business in 2013.
"Divorce was certainly new to me. I had to learn that you have to communicate. That it's not about you or your ex-partner. It's about making sure the children are all right."
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