Angela Simmons & Cam Newton Clear the Air on That “Date” and Tell the Real Story | Funky Friday

Angela Simmons recalls a first 'date' with Cam Newton in 2011 where she found him 'corny,' laughing at his own jokes and patting himself on the back. She was ready to leave until he became 'nicer' later. Newton, however, claims no memory of this, attributing any unusual behavior to being in an 'out-of-body experience' the night before the NFL draft, a period of immense stress and uncertainty.

Angela Simmons: 'You were making jokes that I thought were just not funny. And you were doing this, patting yourself on the back and laughing.' (0:5:34) Cam Newton: 'That was the night before I got drafted. So, you can kind of imagine like me having so like I didn't know where I was going.' (0:6:25)

Angela Simmons has released new spoken-word music, 'Run To,' featuring Jadakiss and Riza. She emphasizes that this venture was not a strategic career move or a response to family pressure, but a natural progression born from her personal passion for music as therapy and a means of creative expression. The song is uplifting, motivational, and family-friendly.

Angela Simmons: 'I'm in love with music and I went into the studio and I started creating. This was one of my babies that I created.' (0:8:50) 'I didn't want to go down the music route because of the greatness I come from... I do things because I like passion.' (0:16:24)

Simmons discusses the unique experience of growing up as part of the hip-hop royalty Simmons family, with her life documented on reality TV ('Run's House'). She highlights that her parents never pressured her or her siblings into careers or TV, allowing them to pursue passions naturally. The biggest misconception about her is that people expect her to conform to a certain image, rather than embracing her layered, evolving identity as a grown woman.

Angela Simmons: 'My parents never made us feel pressure, do anything. We did not have to be on the show.' (0:18:57) 'The biggest misconception is always people want Angela Simmons to be a certain way because of where she comes from or they don't know all of the layers of me.' (0:16:50)

As a single mother whose son's father passed away when he was two, Simmons emphasizes the importance of a strong 'village' of family and friends. She advises parents to be present, patient, and communicative with their children, especially as they grow and ask more questions about their absent parent. She acknowledges the unique grief of celebrating a child's milestones without their other parent, a void that never fully fills.

Angela Simmons: 'Any children that experience parents divorcing need a little bit more coaching and help when it comes to that.' (0:20:48) 'It's not easy dealing first of all managing your own emotions and then the child's emotions and what they want.' (0:26:32) 'Family has been my anchor when it comes to raising him.' (0:27:20)

Cam Newton reflects on the difficulty men, particularly professional athletes, face in verbalizing their pressures and anxieties to their partners. The need to 'protect and provide' often leads to compartmentalization, where men may alienate their personal side to sharpen their professional side. He stresses the importance of timely and clear communication to prevent misunderstandings and build trust, advising men to check in and express their needs.

Cam Newton: 'A lot of men don't know how to verbalize that.' (1:00:08) 'You never want the people who depend on you the most to see that you're worried.' (1:01:51) 'It's about communicating how you actually film people actually seeing you.' (1:54:36)