Controversial and retired NFL star Tiki barber has married his one-time mistress and girlfriend Traci Lynn Johnson in a civil ceremony in New York City.
The 37-year-old former New York Giants running back wed 23-year-old Johnson at the Manhattan Marriage Bureau, eight days after the divorce to his ex-wife became final.
‘It’s a great day,’ said Tiki on the way into the office, ‘We’re finally getting married.’
A polarizing figure, Barber left his wife of 11 years, Ginny, in 2010, even though she was eight months pregnant with twin girls, after beginning an affair with Johnson in 2010.
At the time, Barber was working for NBC’s ‘Today’ show with ambitions to be a serious journalist, but lost his job soon afterwards due to indifferent responses to his reporting skills.
The affair with former NBC intern and Maxim pinup girl Johnson did not help his cause either, as public opinion turned massively against Barber, who appeared in the XXXV Superbowl in 2000.
Taking to Twitter to confirm the news, Barber said, ‘Many thanks to the NYC Clerk’s office, especially James Mitchell who married me to my love @TraciLJohnson! Excited for the next chapters.’
Johnson and Barber had planned to get married on May 12 in the Hamptons, however, his divorce to his wife of 13-years had not been finalised and the ceremony was postponed.
After the ceremony, Jonson tweeted ‘We’re married @barber_tiki !!!!!!’ and posted a variety of pictures from their happy day, including one of both bride and groom wearing their wedding rings.
Barber has hit the headlines repeatedly over the course of his playing career and in retirement.
During his final playing days at the New York Giants he became critical of the coach Tom Coughlin’s playing style.
And in 2007, Barber questioned the leadership skills of the Giant’s star quarterback, Eli Manning, who has since gone onto to deliver two Superbowl titles to the Giants, both without Barber.
Also, Giants fans angrily booed Barber when he was inducted into the Giants’ Ring of Honor in October 2010.
Before his clandestine affair with Johnson became public, Barber was thought of as a committed family man, already the father of two sons and the expectant father of twin daughters.
He met his wife, Ginny Cha at the University of Virginia when they were both students.
Barber incurred the wrath of New York’s Jewish community last year when he described his secret affair with Johnson conducted in his friends attic apartment as being like the tragic story of Anne Frank.
Meeting his bride-to-be at his lawyer, Mark Lepselter’s apartment, to hide the tryst from his wife, Baxter made ill advised comments.
‘Lep’s Jewish,’ said Barber to Sports Illustrated’s Jon Wertheim reported the New York Post.
‘And it was like a reverse Anne Frank thing.’
Barber told the New York Post last year that Johnson helped him get through last year, in the aftermath of his firing from ‘Today’.
‘I have a wonderful girlfriend who lives me and got me through those bad times,’ said Barber.
In attendance yesterday were only close friends of the couple, including Barber’s twin brother, Ronde, who still plays in the NFL for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Elite.
