Joy Bryant's Personal Life Including Child-Free Thoughts and Her Supportive Husband Dave Pope

Actress and businesswoman Joy Bryant, who’s been nominated for NAACP Image Awards, has been open about her child-free thoughts. Her husband supports her.

Bryant is famous for many things. When she was a model, she landed deals with Tommy Hilfiger, Victoria’s Secret, and a few other important brands.

As an actress, her breakthrough came in 2002’s “Antwone Fisher,” but her roles in “Bobby,” “Parenthood,” and “Ballers” are nothing short of impressive. As a businesswoman, she launched her clothing line, Basic Terrain, in 2014.

MOTHER’S SEXUAL ASSAULT

Joy Bryant is also famous for voicing her thoughts. In November 2017, when the MeToo movement was gaining notoriety, the actress revealed she was the product of a sexual assault.

When her mother was only 15 years old, an older man she knew abused her and got her pregnant. For six months, Bryant’s mother hid her pregnancy from Lorraine, Bryant’s grandmother.

The actress explained that the incident ruined her mother’s life “just as it was blossoming.” As a result of the trauma, she couldn’t be the parent Bryant needed, and Lorraine ended up raising her.

Bryant is grateful Lorraine didn’t give her up for adoption, especially considering that she came from a low-income family from the Bronx with scarce resources.

The actress explained Lorraine raised her on food stamps, government cheese, and love. She instilled in the young Bryant the importance of education, which led her to an Ivy League school and her successful career.

That is the reason why her friend Emil Wilbekin – and not her father – walked her down the aisle when stuntman Dave Pope and Joy Bryant tied the knot on June 28, 2008.

While Pope would like to have children, he “respects [Bryant] enough” to accept her decision.

JOY BRYANT’S ON CHILDREN

In today’s society, having kids seems like the obvious next step after getting married. It’s been almost 13 years since Pope and Bryant said “I Do,” and they have not welcomed their first child.

After hearing many times that she should have children, Bryant ran out of patience and wrote “Stop Telling Me I Should Have Kids,” an article posted on Lenny Letter.

The former model acknowledged that some people didn’t mean any harm when they ask about it but also pointed out that what she decides to do with her womb should only concern her husband.

While Pope would like to have children, he “respects [Bryant] enough” to accept her decision. The actress added that she neither wants to be a mother nor needs to breed.

It is not the only time Joy Bryant praised her husband. In 2018, she confessed Pope lifts her by not being abusive but supportive, loving, and looking at her with respect and as an equal.

Speaking of their relationship, Bryant said they spend a lot of time apart from each other working on different projects. She added that some couples spend every day together and ended up divorcing, so “a little bit of time away” is not harmful.

POPE’S CAREER

While Bryant is the star of the family, Pope is not too far behind. His foray into the entertainment industry dates back to 2004 when he was a stuntman in “New York Minute.”

From that point on, he’s had steady work in Hollywood, landing gigs in TV shows like “Dream Corp LLC” and “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” and films like “The Bourne Ultimatum” and “The Next Three Days.”

At the moment, he’s focused on his career in Hollywood and his and Joy Bryant’s clothing line Basic Terrain. The couple started the company after Pope proved he could create pretty much everything with a sewing machine and fabric. What a great family!