“Why Matt? 8 different women in January,” Anansa Sims wrote in her now deleted post. The personal life of former NBA player and “All The Smoke” co-host Matt Barnes has suddenly become a very public conversation. Just days after his fiancée, model Anansa Sims, made startling allegations of infidelity on social media the usually outspoken Barnes has taken a different approach. Instead of directly addressing the accusations, Barnes opened up on his podcast about a more personal struggle: his long-standing difficulty in expressing emotions, a revelation that seems to hint at the complexities underlying the current situation with Sims.

The former Los Angeles Lakers player began dating Sims in 2018. Their relationship wasn’t without struggles, as Sims reportedly filed a restraining order against Barnes in 2020. The two later reconciled. Both share two sons, Ashton (born in 2018) and Austin (born in 2024). Barnes also has twin sons with Gloria Govan. However, after the recent video, it remains a mystery whether the two are still in a relationship. 

Sims’ post also included the names of the eight women with whom Barnes allegedly cheated on her. “Y’all can have him,” she wrote. It is unknown whether the couple has reconciled or broken up. However, in the latest episode of the All The Smoke podcast, Barnes spoke about his past relationship and struggles to express emotions as a man. 

Speaking to guest author and martial arts coach Jason Wilson, Barnes opened up about how his struggles with emotional expression cost him his family. 

“Through my actions, I literally just lost my family…I was the strong provider. I wasn’t there emotionally. I wasn’t empathetic. I wasn’t willing to share those emotions. That was stuff that my ex told me. ‘You’re a wall.’ And then, again, trying to dig back and understand and starting counseling that, little Matt from back then is still hurt and still trying to find his way although grown Matt feels it seems like he has it all, little Matt is there more than I realized,” he said.

Barnes’ candid discussion about being emotionally unavailable and struggling with empathy raises questions about how these long-standing issues might have contributed to the circumstances Sims described. While he doesn’t directly address the allegations, his vulnerability on the podcast offers a potential lens through which to understand the complexities of their relationship.

Was he talking about Sims? While Barnes didn’t mention any names, Sims responded with a cryptic message, which she has now deleted. In the comments section of the post featuring the clip from All The Smoke, several netizens sympathized with Barnes. “I don’t want to say I don’t know how to cry because I’ve cried before, but I haven’t cried in probably 30 years,” Barnes added. The former NBA player also commented on the post and wrote, “Don’t apologise for me…I meant every word.”

While many online expressed empathy for Barnes’ emotional revelations, acknowledging the societal pressures on men to suppress their feelings, others remained critical given the serious nature of Sims’ accusations. The comments section reflected a complex mix of support for Barnes’ vulnerability and concern for Sims’ well-being, highlighting the delicate nature of public reactions to such personal matters.

Well, this isn’t the first time Barnes has spoken about the importance of mental health.

Matt Barnes emphasised the impression of mental health

Celebrities today are well aware of how important it is to talk openly about mental health and taking care of themselves. It does make a lot of impact empowering others. Barnes is one of them. He has often spoken about it. 

During Kings Pregame Live, he spoke about how watched the mental health conversation in the league change with time. Speaking of the athletes including the NBA players, he explained that while the public assume that they always live a happy and peaceful life, it isn’t always the truth. 

“We deal with a lot of stuff and because we are paid so much, they expect us to be superhuman at times. Everybody needs an outlet, and I’m glad that there’s a lot of resources now, not just for NBA people, but people in general because mental health is a serious issue in our country,” Barnes said.

It’s impressive how athletes and celebrities are now open about their struggles, which also influences others.