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Rebecca Crews, wife of actor and former NFL player Terry Crews, is known for her multifaceted life: a marriage that has stood the test of time, a personal battle with breast cancer, the sexual assault on her husband and the complexities of being a Black woman who appears white.
Recently, she opened up with Radio/TV personality Jazmyn Summers for Radio One about the journey of keeping her 35-year marriage strong, managing her roles as a mother, entrepreneur, and artist, and embracing her unique identity.
Crews is proving to be a powerhouse in both the business and fashion world. With the grand opening of her flagship store in Pasadena, she is bringing her distinct style to life. “The vision behind the store is a little Ralph Lauren, a little Chanel, and a lot of Rebecca,” she explains with a smile. “I’m a classic stylist. I like to wear very classic looks: suit wear, tailored shirts and blouses, leather outerwear. Just very distinguished.”
Rebecca’s fashion is refined and sophisticated yet designed to suit a wide range of women. Opening a physical store has been her dream for years “We opened the store primarily because our items are so unique and they’re not inexpensive,” she shares. “We felt it was imperative for the public to be able to come and try things on because we’re selling online, but some of the nicer things, you want to try it…you gotta touch it.” The store is the culmination of her hard work and dedication, a venture years in the making. “I’ve wanted a store for the last five years, but we just weren’t able to do it. And this is just a tremendous blessing.”
One of her most iconic pieces, a white tuxedo, was inspired by her 30th wedding anniversary with her husband, actor Terry Crews. She recalls, “We’re doing the big 30 years, and I did not want to wear a tight dress and high heels. I didn’t want to look like a makeshift bride. I just wanted to be comfortable because it was summer. Yet, finding the right look was a challenge. We went all over LA, couldn’t find a white tux,” she shares. “We had to take three pieces from three designers, match them together, and make the outfit. It was lovely, but it wasn’t what I wanted.”
In true entrepreneurial spirit, Rebecca took matters into her own hands, enlisting a designer friend. “I literally begged our designer friend Nana Bote…who outfits my husband. I said, ‘Let me design it, and you make it for me.’ He finally gave in to me, and we made six outfits.” The result was a hit. Rebecca wore these pieces to the Grammys, Oscars, and other high-profile events, leaving a mark wherever she went.
Rebecca’s life isn’t just about style—it’s about enduring relationships and resilience. She and Terry have been married for over three decades.” She explained how she keeps it spicy, “after 35 years, we’re both tired. We go to bed early so we just have date nights. We make sure we schedule time to hang out and schedule everything. It’s like, OK, it’s your night, boo. Come on.”
Source: Rodin Eckenroth / Getty
Meeting and Falling in Love
Rebecca and Terry’s love story began in college at Western Michigan University. She recalls, “We were college sweethearts… I was serving in the church there, and he was invited by a friend.” Although initially hesitant, they quickly bonded. “I swore I would never marry an athlete… I said, hey, I’m the star,” she laughed, but Terry won her over with his kindness and dedication. “He was just the sweetest, kindest… so great with my dog,” she said, capturing how they just “knew it was us.”
Their journey took them through the NFL and eventually Hollywood, with Rebecca noting that they embraced the adventure together: “We came like the Beverly Hillbillies… Midwestern hillbillies.” As Terry’s career blossomed, Rebecca forged her own path, pursuing music under the name Regina Madre.
Surviving Infidelity and Addiction
Fourteen years ago, Terry admitted to infidelity and a struggle with porn addiction, which tested their bond to its limits. Reflecting on this painful chapter, Rebecca emphasized how faith played a central role in their recovery: “First and foremost, I always have to give all praise and glory to God… forgiveness is not easy,” she shared, adding that “repentance” and “a real commitment to the work to change behavior” were essential.
The couple went through therapy together and rebuilt trust, though not without difficulty. “It was hard… a lot of tears, a lot of fighting. We threw things, we broke things, but we knew we wanted this family to make it,” Rebecca recalled. Their determination to fight for their marriage has inspired others, with Rebecca affirming, “We fought for it… both of us fought for it with equal commitment.”
Standing Strong During Terry’s Sexual Assault Incident
Rebecca was by her husband’s side during another trial when Terry courageously went public about his experience of sexual assault. She vividly recalled the moment it happened, describing a crowded Hollywood party where Terry reacted to an inappropriate touch on an elevator: “I just saw my husband rare back and push this man… and I’m like, Oh my gosh.” Despite the tension, she admired Terry’s restraint: “He stopped short of knocking his teeth out… we’re the only Black people at the party… if I knocked this man out… who’s getting in the police car?”
Later, Terry chose to go public in solidarity with the #MeToo movement, after witnessing the treatment of other victims. Rebecca recounted her initial concerns about his decision: “I said to him, , you sure you want to do that? He’s like, I’m positive.” While they faced backlash, Rebecca remained his “ride or die,” noting that any attempts to intimidate them only strengthened their resolve.
Their public stand led to professional consequences, including the loss of a major film role and the dollars that went with it. Rebecca revealed, “It was so brazen and so out there the way they did it… they did not mince words.” Despite this, she remained steadfast in supporting Terry: “By the time it was said and done, we had double the money in our pocket… miracles follow all of those troubles,” she reflected.
Juggling it all Including 5 Children
Marriage has been one part of her journey; another part has been raising five children and navigating life as a mother. “What I did was I just separated those two paths. I remember something, I believe Michelle Obama said it…that you can have it all, but not all at once. I focused on my children for many years and worked sporadically. Once they were growing up, I just started going after my own dreams, doing the music, doing television, all that.” Now, she’s turning her full attention to her business and music career
Keeping Her Passion Alive
Music is a passion for her, “I did an EP last year but couldn’t release it. I was in a little dispute with the contract, with the producer,” she shares. “But I’ve got some music sitting in the can and some more, so hopefully this year I can put that stuff out.”
When she sings, it comes from a place of joy and gratitude, especially for her husband. “There’s a song I wrote for my husband called ‘Thank You for This Love.’” She breaks into the lyrics, singing softly, “Thank you for this love…So it’s a little Latin.”
Yes I’m Black
Being a Black woman has been a central part of her identity. Her approach to success is shaped by the strength and resilience of Black women, she says. As she builds her brand, she’s paving the way for more representation in spaces often lacking diversity. With a Black mother and white father, Crews grew up in Gary, Indiana, which she describes as a “chocolate city.” Her fair complexion led people to believe she was white, often resulting in her classmates calling her names like “Tina Marie” and “Taylor Dane” after popular white singers with soulful voices. Crews laughed off these misunderstandings, saying, “When I look in the mirror, as pale as I am with my highlights, I see a Black girl.” Her strong sense of identity is clear, even as her children humorously tease her for her “white” appearance. She described a moment with one of her daughters, when she said “my Black behind,” to which her daughter quipped back, questioning her right to call herself Black.
I Won’t Let Breast Cancer Defeat Me
Crews shared the surprising moment when she received her cancer diagnosis, a life-altering event that happened just as her son had landed his first role on Nickelodeon. She recalled, “Tuesday morning, I get the call from the breast center…they’re like, sorry that little knot is cancer.” The unexpected news was a shock, yet Crews describes an unusual feeling of calm: “I just had that peace…a calm just came over me.” With quiet determination, she went directly to her husband, Terry Crews, in the gym to share the news, recounting how he was overwhelmed by the revelation.
Crews expressed her strength and resolve during this challenging time, telling her husband, “We’re gonna fight this, and we’re going to win.” Despite his fears, intensified by losing his mother to cancer-related complications, Crews emphasized the importance of “faith.” Her unwavering attitude helped her continue through the storm of breast cancer and the ongoing pandemic, even accompanying her son to his studio shoot just a week after surgery. She believes in moving forward despite life’s hardest moments, saying, “You gotta go through the valley, not stop in the middle.”
Rebecca Crews’ humorous honesty about her journey, both through cancer and navigating racial identity, has inspired fans and followers alike. She also confessed her bad habit: a weakness for sweets, joking, “I’m in bed fighting the devil” after indulging in a late-night treat. Her warm, resilient spirit shines as she continues to face challenges with humor, strength, and an unwavering sense of self.
You can catch the full amazing conversation in the video above.
Source: Jazmyn Summers / Jazmyn Summers
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