Sherri Shepherd, renowned American actress and comedian, made headlines recently following a public disagreement with a celebrity during the opening night of *Othello* at New York City’s Barrymore Theatre on March 23, 2025. Although the name of the celebrity has not been confirmed, sources suggest it may be Nia Long.
On her talk show aired March 24, Shepherd recounted her experience at the event, revealing that she greeted the celebrity, who reportedly did not reciprocate her warm demeanor. During the exchange, the unnamed celebrity accused Shepherd of “shading”her. Confused by the accusation, Shepherd explained:
“I said to her, ‘No, I haven’t.’ Because I was really confused. And she goes, ‘Yes, you have.’ And then she just walked off.”
While Nia Long’s representative has yet to provide any comment, Shepherd has openly invited the celebrity to confront her on the show for a candid discussion about their differences. Shepherd later emphasized:
“I would say to unnamed celebrity, because you think I shaded you – which means you watch my show – I don’t know who you think I am. I think you get me confused with somebody, one of the bloggers or the influencers, because I know I didn’t shade you.”
Social media users reacted vigorously to this unfolding drama, especially on an Instagram post by Hollywood Unlocked. One user commented that the incident was out of character for Nia Long, though another replied, suggesting it aligns well with her typical persona:
“Everyone saying this sounds out of Nia’s character.. no baby this sounds very on brand actually.”
Although some commentators dismissed the idea of Nia’s involvement, others speculated that the claims could indeed reflect her personality, with one suggesting she has been known to be confrontational.
Sherri Shepherd Keeps the Celebrity’s Name Under Wraps
During a recent episode of her show, Shepherd shared more insight into the drama. While speaking with actor Devale Ellis and his wife, Khadeen Ellis, she described a moment during the *Othello* opening where she was unexpectedly grabbed by someone and turned around.
Despite the growing speculation, Shepherd chose not to reveal the celebrity’s identity but clarified her stance regarding the shading accusations, stating:
“Now, let me tell you something. First of all, I know who I shade because I don’t shade many people. It might be one person I shade. And I never have shaded this unnamed celebrity.”
For a detailed recap, you can watch the full segment here.
Reflecting on the encounter, Shepherd expressed that her mood remained upbeat until the celebrity confronted her and then abruptly walked away. She mentioned taking time to gather her thoughts in the bathroom during the intermission, hoping for an opportunity to resolve the tension, but the celebrity did not appear. Shepherd commented on the interaction:
“You wanna tell me I shaded you? No, no. You don’t get to pull me and turn me around like we in a dang gone cartoon, and then you walk away.”
As the situation develops, Nia Long has not yet responded to Sherri Shepherd’s allegations, leaving fans and the public to speculate about what might unfold next.