‘That Ring Might Be Fake’: Gilbert Arenas Asks Question, Fans Warn New Fiancee About Fake Engagement Ring He Bragged He Gave to Laura Govan

Former three-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas made headlines again, but this time for a much happier occasion.

According to sources, while in Paris for the Olympics, Arenas proposed to his girlfriend, Melli Monaco, and shared the blissful news on Instagram.

On Monday, July 29, Arenas shared a photograph of the 2 together, writing within the caption, “This happened under the Eiffel Tower. She didn’t say anything. I guess I was so nervous I asked and said yes for her. So technically I’m engaged to myself at this point.”

The couple has been dating for some time now, and the YouTuber has joined the previous athlete’s podcast several times. His comment Section was immediately flooded with congratulations and praise for the couple’s love.

Some, nevertheless, couldn’t help but recall Arenas’ earlier statements about marriage following his split from ex-fiancée Laura Govan.

His friend Big Tigger commented, “I know you’re in love if YOU got back on that path. Congrats fam!!” Another fan asked, “Weren’t you the one who said it’s cheaper to just pay for a p—n than marry him???”

“Gil got him a real one,” a fan noted of his recent lady. But some were more concerned concerning the authenticity of the Monaco diamond, given Arenas’ history of giving out fake rings.

Comments included questions similar to, “Is this a real ring or a fake?” and “This ring is a replica.”

Someone said, “I hope it’s not a fake this time.”

A 3rd said: “Someone check, bro. And by the way, that ring might be fake. IYKYK”

Then one other person said, “I hope he won’t trade diamonds in the lab anymore.”

Arenas’ repute for ring knockoffs stems from his relationship with Govan, the mother of his 4 children. They were together from 2002 to 2014, but split when Govan’s alleged affair with Shaquille O’Neal became public after a series of text messages about their secret relationships were revealed.

Arenas later reconciled together with his ex, but not without a bit revenge at the back of his mind. During their 2011 split, the star had a $400,000 fake version of her engagement ring made. When they got back together, he snuck in and took the actual ring, then replaced it with a fake, which Govan only discovered throughout the custody battle.

Arenas later reconciled together with his ex and so they got engaged in 2008, but not without a bit little bit of revenge at the back of his mind. The former NBA player admitted in an interview that in their 2011 split, he made a fake version of her personalized engagement ring for $400,000.

When they got back together, he claimed he had tricked her into taking the actual ring and replacing it with a fake, something Govan only discovered about throughout the custody battle.

The “Basketball Wives” alum claimed she was entitled to the profits from the sale of the ring, however the case was dismissed in 2016 after she and her lawyer missed several court hearings.

She was furious, and the fake ring story that made headlines remains to be resurfacing, adding to the legal woes the Tampa native is already grappling with.

In January 2010, Arenas was suspended for your complete NBA season after finding an unloaded firearm within the Washington Wizards locker room, which resulted in two years of probation, 30 days in a halfway house, 400 hours of community service and a $5,000 positive. The incident also cost him a five-year contract with Adidas.

Despite these earlier controversies, things seemed to be looking up for Arenas…

Before he asked his girlfriend to marry him, the previous Washington Wizards player faced backlash for a racist and xenophobic tirade following Team USA’s narrow victory over South Sudan in an exhibition game before the Olympics. Arenas jokingly accused Joel Embiid of skipping a game for South Sudan because he’s an African, making derogatory comments concerning the team’s lack of resources.

His comments sparked a pointy response from Embiid and Luol Deng, president of the South Sudan Basketball Federation and a former Chicago Bulls player.

Deng stated, “Gilbert’s comments were more rude and cruel. Personally, I don’t care much. I would never trade places with anyone; being African is special. However, for young Africans and African Americans who admire and listen to Gilbert, these comments can make you think less of yourself and make the rest of the world think less of Africans.”

“People who are easily misled may make comments that are more likely to be a display of self-hatred than pride,” he said.

Adding: “There is nothing in our history that we should run away from. If we as a nation realized the greatness from which we come, we would be less likely to disrespect ourselves.”