Jaden Ivey says his family life has been deeply affected after the Chicago Bulls cut him following controversial comments he made during an Instagram Live.
On March 31, the former Bulls guard claimed his wife, Caitlyn Newton, had stopped speaking to him in the wake of the backlash.
“That’s why my wife in here, and she not even texting me,” Ivey said during another livestream. “Those who are around me, those who are my family members betraying me because of what I spoke. The truth.”
Ivey, 24, and Newton married in 2022 and share three children together.
Jaden Ivey on IG live: “That’s why my wife in here she she’s not even texting me.”
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) March 31, 2026
*in the background* “Jaden, don’t talk about that.” pic.twitter.com/LUAwzItg98
The comments came one day after Ivey criticized the NBA’s support of Pride Month during a separate livestream.
“The world can proclaim LGBTQ, right?” he said. “They proclaim Pride Month. And the NBA, they proclaim it.”
Soon after, the Bulls announced they had waived Ivey, citing “conduct detrimental to the team.”
Head coach Billy Donovan addressed the decision before Monday night’s game.
“We have people from all different walks of life,” Donovan said. “We’ve got to all be professional.”
Jaden Ivey revealed that he recently was seconds away from committing suicide by overdosing with oxycodone pills on multiple occasions.
— Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) April 1, 2026
Ivey’s wife saying “don’t do it” & God saving him in the moment is why he didn’t do it.
Stay strong, Jaden! pic.twitter.com/llIcTFHVZz
Ivey also spoke openly this week about his mental health struggles, saying on the Pinpoint Podcast that he had previously considered suicide while recovering from injuries.
“I’ve almost committed suicide multiple times,” he said.