Montel Williams, the former boyfriend of Kamala Harris and a well-known talk show host made headlines with his “somewhat unclear endorsement” of the vice president during the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election. Williams, who dated Harris in the early 2000s, expressed his support in a manner that left some ambiguity regarding his full backing, sparking conversations and media attention around their past relationship and his views on her political career.
Table of Contents
Who is Montel Williams
Montel Brian Anthony Williams, born on July 3, 1956, is an American television host and actor. He gained widespread recognition for hosting the daytime tabloid talk show “The Montel Williams Show,” which aired in syndication from 1991 to 2008.
Education Background and Early Life
Montel Brian Anthony Williams was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He attended Andover High School in Linthicum, Maryland, where he excelled as a student, athlete, and musician, and served as class president during both his junior and senior years. He was actively involved in countywide student government issues in Annapolis.
Williams was raised as a Roman Catholic and served as an altar server in the Catholic Church. His father, Herman Williams Jr., became Baltimore’s first African American Fire Chief in 1992. Montel’s mother is biracial.
Montel’s Williams Acting Career
Williams has guest-starred in various TV shows and films, including “JAG” and “All My Children,” and starred in “Matt Waters.” He produced and starred in “The Peacekeeper” and appeared in “The Resident” in 2019. He also produced the documentary “4CHOSEN: The Documentary.”
Military Service
Montel Williams enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1974. He completed the Naval Academy Preparatory School course and in 1975, became the first black Marine accepted into the U.S. Naval Academy’s four-year officer training program. Graduating in 1980 with a degree in general engineering and a minor in international security affairs, he trained as a Naval Cryptologic Officer and served 18 months in Guam. Later, he worked with the Naval Security Fleet Support Division at Fort Meade, Maryland, and the NSA, participating in Operation Urgent Fury in 1983. Williams retired in 1996 as a lieutenant commander after 22 years of service, earning numerous awards.
The Montel Williams Show
Montel Williams launched “The Montel Williams Show” in 1991, which ran until 2008. He won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Host in 1996, and the show peaked in popularity during the 1996–97 season. The show was canceled in 2008, reportedly after Williams criticized mainstream media. He later appeared on Oprah Winfrey’s show with other former talk show hosts.
Spokesman and Controversies
Williams has been a spokesman for the Partnership for Prescription Assistance and the Poker Training Network. In 2007, he faced backlash for a hostile response to a reporter’s question. He was also involved in a controversy as a spokesperson for MoneyMutual, a payday lending service, which resulted in a $2.1 million fine for the parent company.
Advocacy
Williams is an advocate for U.S. military veterans and has lobbied for government action to resolve issues within the Veterans Affairs system.
- RELATED: Who Is Elena Zhukova? All About Rupert Murdoch’s Fifth Wife
- RELATED: Who is Bijou Phillips dating after Danny Masterson divorce?
- RELATED: Who is Jamal Bryant married to now?
Montel’s Relationship with Kamala Harris Explained
Montel and Kamala Harris dated briefly around the early 2000s, making a public appearance together at the Eighth Annual Race to Erase Multiple Sclerosis in 2001. Their relationship was short-lived, as evidenced by the lack of photos together. Harris married Doug Emhoff in 2014, and Williams married Tara Fowler in 2007.
During Harris’s 2020 presidential campaign, Williams tweeted, “Kamala Harris and I briefly dated about 20 years ago when we were both single. So what? I have great respect for Sen. Harris,” questioning if similar stories would emerge if she were male.
In 2024, Williams did not endorse Harris, instead expressing support for Wes Moore, the Governor of Maryland, on July 22, 2024, indicating his preference for Moore leading the ticket.
Personal Life
Montel Williams has two daughters, Ashley (b. 1984) and Maressa (b. 1988), from his first marriage to Rochelle See. He later married Grace Morley, an exotic dancer, on June 6, 1992. They had two children together: a son, Montel Brian Hank Williams (b. 1993), and a daughter, Wyntergrace (b. 1994). The couple divorced in 2000.
In Conclusion
Montel, a Baltimore native and former Marine, is best known for hosting “The Montel Williams Show” from 1991 to 2008, earning a Daytime Emmy. He has four children from two marriages and briefly dated Kamala Harris in the early 2000s. An advocate for veterans, Williams remains active in entertainment and public service.
FAQs about Montel Williams
- What is Montel Williams best known for? Montel Williams is best known for hosting “The Montel Williams Show,” a daytime tabloid talk show that aired from 1991 to 2008.
- What military service did Montel perform? Montel Williams served in the United States Marine Corps and later in the Navy, where he became a Naval Cryptologic Officer. He retired as a lieutenant commander after 22 years of service.
- How many children does Montel Williams have? Montel Williams has four children: two daughters, Ashley and Maressa, from his first marriage to Rochele See, and a son, Montel Brian Hank, and a daughter, Wyntergrace, from his second marriage to Grace Morley.
- Did Montel Williams date Kamala Harris? Yes, Montel Williams briefly dated Kamala Harris in the early 2000s.
- What advocacy work is Montel Williams known for? Montel Williams is an outspoken advocate for U.S. military veterans and has lobbied for improvements in the Veterans Affairs system. He has also been involved in various public service roles and campaigns.
