Niecy Nash Talks to Ellen About Falling in Love With Her 'Hersband'

The actress also discussed her views on coming out and labels.

Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.

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Neal Broverman

March 10 2021 10:36 AM EST

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Claws star Niecy Nash spoke to Ellen DeGeneres about her blossoming career, her grown-up children, and her marriage to "hersband" Jessica Betts.

Nash was on DeGeneres's eponymous talk show Wednesday to promote her hosting duties on reality juggernaut The Masked Singer (she's temporary filling in for Nick Cannon, who caught COVID-19).

After discussing an eye-opening Mexico trip with her adult kids, Nash spoke to DeGeneres about falling in love with Betts. When DeGeneres's referred to Betts as Nash's wife, she responded, "You called her my wife, but I lovingly referred to her as my 'hersband.'"

"Are you her hersband too?" DeGeneres asked. "No, I'm her wife," Nash said with a smile.

Nash, previously married to men, told DeGeneres that she never felt the term "coming out" applied to her. "I wasn't anywhere to come out of. I wasn't living a sexually repressed life when I was married to men. I just loved them when I loved them and now I love her."

DeGeneres said she understood what Nash described and spoke of the Kinsey scale and how sexuality can evolve over time. Nash said her daughter urged her to identify or label herself, but Nash didn't feel the need.

The actress explained how she fell in love with Betts, who she was friends with for over four years before their relationship turned romantic. She described going out to eat crabs with Betts when something changed.