Dwyane Wade Says He Screamed at This Actress in a Starstruck Moment


NEED TO KNOW

  • Dwyane Wade says he was left starstruck after encountering this TV actress in 2013
  • The retired NBA star caught himself screaming the actress’ character’s name at the Hollywood event
  • He ended up snapping a photo with the actress and his wife, Gabrielle Union

Even NBA stars like Dwyane Wade get starstruck! 

The 43-year-old retired athlete detailed a funny 2013 run-in with a celebrity that caused him to act out of character. 

“I get starstruck, but it’s normally people that you would not understand why unless you understand me,” Wade, who is married to actress Gabrielle Union, told Jenna Bush Hager on Today with Jenna & Friends on Tuesday, July 8. “So my wife wouldn’t even understand.” 

Wade shared that the moment happened when he was out at an event in Los Angeles and more than ready to head home. 

Jenna Bush Hager and Dwyane Wade on ‘Today with Jenna & Friends.’.

NBC News

“I had put on the wrong shoes. I was trying to look good on the carpet and my feet was killing me,” he recalled. “I was ready to go. I was probably getting on her nerves. But then across the room I saw a character I loved from Scandal, the character was Millie Grant. AKA Bellamy Young. I saw Millie Grant. I yelled, ‘Millie!’ “

Wade was a devoted Scandal fan at the time and Young’s character, Mellie Grant, the tough-as-nails wife of Tony Goldwyn’s Fitzgerald Grant, was a fan favorite. 

Bellamy Young as Mellie Grant and Tony Goldwyn as Fitzgerald Grant on ‘Scandal.’.

Eric McCandless/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

“I just screamed it. I didn’t even know that was in me,” Wade admitted, laughing. “She turned around and looked and waved and came over. And we started chatting it up, and my wife was like, ‘You ready to go?’ I’m like, ‘No!’ ”

Noting that he’s more of a “character guy” that a celebrity fan, he said, “When you watch shows, when you’re making sure you’re sitting in front of the TV at a certain hour, you fall in love with the characters, so Millie Grant was mine.” 

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Union confirmed the story back in 2013, posting the photo with her husband and Young to Instagram, writing, “We were about to leave when suddenly @dwyanewade literally screams “MILLIE!!!!” #gladiatorsstandup so awesome meeting @BellamyYoung.” 

For his part, Wade wasn’t pleased that Union found her way into the photo, jokingly noting, “That was my moment!” 

Bellamy Young, Gabrielle Union, and Dwyane Wade meet in 2013.

Gabrielle Union/Instagram

Union has previously revealed that she auditioned for Kerry Washington’s iconic role as Olivia Pope in Scandal.

“I didn’t get Scandal, but I got something better — which is my own show,” Union told The Associated Press of her show Being Mary Jane.

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