The YBF had the pleasure of interviewing the recently married Tamera Mowry-Housley to talk interracial dating and receiving hate, wedding tips for brides to be and remaining celibate until after saying her I do’s. Here’s some of what she had to say,
Tamera, let’s get right to it. You and [your husband] Adam got slammed with hateful comments and criticism about your interracial relationship. Especially as soon as your engagement photos hit the net. Why did you choose to release the photos? How did you all deal with the negativity?
It’s something I wanted to share with Adam, our fam and friends, and years down the line with our kids. There’s something, I think, special about that. I wanted them to see something more than just us in our wedding attire. I didn’t feel like we shouldn’t have put them out–I was just shocked that some people still feel that way. It’s 2011! They did a poll recently and 83% of Americans are OK with interracial relationships. I never expected that kind of negative response to us. That’s why I was OK with our wedding photographer (Jose Villa) putting those pics on his website. He was ok with them, and I was ok with them.
Did all the hate overshadow your happiness about the photos?
It didn’t ruin anything for me. If anything, it just shed light on the fact people feel that way…and that’s their opinion. The fact of the matter is–if you have 99.9% who see it with positivity, and you’re gonna have that .1% who don’t.
My husband had the best response to that on the show. He said ‘That’s not our issue. That’s their issue. So they can deal with that.’ From now on, I’m just focusing on the people who love us and suport us. Which are MANY people. And that’s also the case with life–there will always be naysayers.
You mentioned on your show that you and Adam decided not to shack up. Does that mean you went the Sherri Shepherd route and decided not to sex it up either?
I’ll be very very honest. (Laughs embarrassingly) We decided, it was both of our decision, not to live together for religious reasons. I’m being very honest. We actually didn’t wait before we got married to be intimate…but we did wait 3 years. (The two have been together for 6 years). I wanted to do what felt right for me. I became re-virginized. It’s something that just felt right for me. It was just a personal choice. And even after being intimate, we decided as a couple to be celibate until the wedding.
What was you all’s FIRST DANCE song at the reception?
It was Journey‘s “Faithfully.” My husband and I always travel up to Northern California–he had a place there–and we always listened to that song. It’s about a man who travels a lot. But always loves his significant other and comes right back.
Oh, and Adam is a HUGE LL Cool J fan. He was set on having LL in the wedding some way. So he wanted “Going Back To Cali” played, it’s his favorite song. So my brother choreographed a dance that we all did at the wedding. We had our slow dance, then we broke out into LL Cool J. It was hilarious. Oh my gosh.
How would a bride–like the girls on Bridezillas–deal with the drama and hate from within their own family or circle of friends when it comes to the wedding. You seemed to be very stressed during the whole process.
Well that’s a misconception. My family LOVES Adam. My mom…just thinks he’s the best thing ever. My brother Taj and Adam are so close. We even did this test (LAUGHS HARD). I used to be jealous because when the three of us are together, I don’t exist. I’m like “Helllllo I’m here. I’m your wife!” They connect on a different level. I even did this test to see who Taj would text first. I said Adam…let’s text Taj at the same time and see who he’ll text back first–he texted Adam first.
My brother Tavior–they hang out by themselves and my husband watches his scrimmage games at UC Davis.
I never had to deal with hate that way. My family and my extended family–they love this man. And I’ll tell you this: What’s so great is that my aunts and cousins when they first met him, said this is a man who does not see color. He’s comfortable around EVERYBODY. Adam speaks fluent Spanish, he loves culture and knows what’s going on in the world. My family welcomed him with open arms. The stresses that I had were the stresses I put on myself. If I could tell brides anything–it’s DON’T STRESS about the little things! People tried to tell me that, but….
For the full interview, head over to THE YBF (photo credit).
