We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, most of our favorite icons aren’t perfect, they’re simply perfectly flawed human beings, just like the rest of us. Diahann Carroll and Sidney Poitier are examples of that, although we still give them nothing but the utmost respect for all that they’ve done to contribute to the film and the TV industry throughout their decades in entertainment.
With that said, let’s dig into this 9-YEAR love affair between Poitier and Carroll, that the late iconic actress publicly spoke about in her 2019 autobiographical book, “The Legs Are The Last To Go.” Apparently, there were plenty of mistakes and painful moments from both parties during the time they were seeing one another without the knowledge of their spouses…
According Diahann Carroll, Sidney Poitier convinced her to divorce her then-husband, Monte Kay, and led her to believe he would soon leave his then-wife, Juanita Hardy, for her. Carroll apparently held up her end of their reported agreement by divorcing her husband. However, she says Poitier reneged on his alleged promise, choosing to instead remain married to his wife. As a result, Carroll refused to sit around waiting on Poitier to move forward with his divorce, so she began dating another man at that time…and that pissed Poitier all the way of, according to Carroll. Here’s what she said happened next:
Via Entertainment Rundown: “Sidney called me at my hotel . . . ‘You b*tch, whore, tramp,’ he yelled. ‘I know he just left your bed. I won’t have you running around with other men. You belong to me!’” the New York Post quoted her as writing in the book.
She wrote that Poitier later told her he’d finally left his wife, Juanita Hardy. He even bought Carroll a ring and made her decorate a 10-room Riverside Drive apartment he’d bought.
“I was only home a few days when he called to say his wife was having second thoughts. Our wedding plans would have to be postponed,” wrote Carroll.
She added: “When the apartment was ready and I was about to move my daughter in with me, Sidney told me he didn’t want her there . . . He changed the locks so I couldn’t get in. Then he made me write him a check to offset his purchase and decorating costs. I did as I was told, submissive and desperate.”
Despite her decision to detail their affair, Carroll says Poitier, who did not comment on the book, continues to be her friend.
“Sidney and I are now friends. That’s a lovely thing that comes as you age – forgiveness and perhaps a relaxing of standards,” wrote Carroll.
Poitier went on to marry actress Joanna Shimkus, while Carroll married three more times, her last husband was singer Vic Damone.
Diahann Carroll and Sidney Poitier were treading in dangerous waters back in the day, but every now n’ then, we all have to fall into ditches and figure out how to climb out on our own. Sometimes people stay married for convenience, financial reasons, their children, etc., but end up having affairs to fulfill their desires. So the question is this, ILOSM family: Which do you think the best is choice – To stay in a marriage for reasons other than one’s personal desires; or walk away to instead follow your heart?
