Michael Kovac/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images
Sheryl Lee Ralph is addressing recent reports about her and her husband, Philadelphia Senator Vincent Hughes, and their living arrangements.
The 66-year-old actor appeared at the Elle Women in Hollywood event on Tuesday, December 5. On the red carpet, Ralph spoke exclusively with Entertainment Tonight and addressed recent reports alleging she and her husband were moving in together after almost two decades of marriage.
“Vincent and I have been married going on 19 years,” Ralph explained. “We’ve been together 21 years. Abbott [Elementary] is shot in Los Angeles. My husband as a senator is always in his Capitol, so I don’t know what magic people think we’re gonna do.”
The actor went on to elaborate on their actual visiting arrangements while shutting down anyone who “questions” their marriage.
“We see each other on the average of every two weeks,” the 66-year-old continued. “And everybody who questions that I say, guess what? We’re still married!”
Additionally, Ralph added a few more sentiments.
“It works for us, [and] we’re happy,” she explained.
After the false reports spread on Sunday, December 3, alleging Ralph was moving to Philadelphia, social media users took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their reactions. Many didn’t seem opposed to the idea of living separately from their spouse.
Check out some reactions below.
According to PEOPLE, Ralph and Hughes married in 2005. At the time, the actor lived in Los Angeles, California, while Hughes resides in Philadelphia, Pennysylvania.
Earlier this year, Ralph shared on how her and her husband handled their bi-coastal marriage with the Philadelphia Inquirier. The actor revealed that she frequents Philadelphia more often than Hughes is able to come to Los Angeles.
“First of all, 20 years, keeping this marriage together, you have to be together some time,” she explained. “Vincent is not able to leave the state the way I can leave the state. In fact, in 20 years of our being together, I’m going to say my husband has maybe been in California, maybe, 25 times. That means I’m in Philadelphia every two weeks.”
In July, while speaking exclusively with AARP The Magazine, Ralph elaborated on her and her husband’s trust for one another, per The Shade Room.
“You have to have an incredible amount of trust in that other person. We spend a lot of time talking to each other,” Ralph said. “…At the beginning, some people said, ‘Well, that’ll never last. These two, they’re nothing alike.’ Almost 20 years later, guess what? Those people are not together. Us? We’ve got no problems. If you can get through the first 20 years, you will probably be OK.”
PEOPLE reports that Ralph has two children, Etienne and Ivy Coco, from a prior marriage to Eric Maurice while Hughes fathers two children named Alek and Ariell.
