Donald Sterling, the former owner of the LA Clippers, is well-known for his controversial comments and actions during his time in the NBA. One person who was often by his side was V. Stiviano, his ex-girlfriend and former employee.
Stiviano, whose real name is María Vanessa Perez, was frequently seen at Clippers games with Sterling, despite his long-standing marriage to Rochelle Stein. In 2014, a shocking audio recording was released by TMZ in which Sterling made racist comments towards Stiviano, urging her not to associate with Black people.
In the recording, Sterling can be heard expressing his discomfort with Stiviano’s friendships and public appearances with Black individuals. Despite admitting that the conversation took place, Stiviano denied any involvement in the release of the recording.
Following the controversy, Sterling received a lifetime ban from the NBA and was deemed mentally incapacitated. His wife, Rochelle Stein, took over as the sole trustee of the Sterling Family Trust and eventually sold the LA Clippers to Steve Ballmer for a staggering $2 billion.
In a legal battle with Stiviano, Stein alleged that Stiviano had received millions of dollars in gifts from Sterling without her knowledge. A judge ruled in 2015 that Stiviano had to pay back $2.6 million to the family trust.
The tumultuous relationship between Sterling and Stiviano has been portrayed in the FX limited series, “Clipped: The Scandalous Story of L.A.’s Other Basketball Team,” where Sterling is played by actor Ed O’Neill. The series is currently available for streaming on Hulu.
Despite the controversy and legal battles, the saga of Donald Sterling and V. Stiviano continues to captivate audiences and shed light on the complexities of power, race, and relationships in the world of professional sports.
