John Boyega says he married secretly two years ago and is becoming a father
In a Guardian interview, actor John Boyega said he has been married for two years and has a child on the way. Outlets differ on whether the baby has already been born.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Star Wars actor John Boyega told The Guardian that he has been married for two years, after a small, private ceremony. Evening StandardN “John Boyega has revealed that he has been married for the past two years and is expecting his first child.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Daily MailR “John revealed he and Tae tied the knot in a 'small ceremony'” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Mixed · 2He explained the low-key wedding by saying, "We both like the idea of celebrating something established, rather than celebrating the entry", and said the couple would "love" a traditional Nigerian ceremony in future. Evening StandardN ““We both like the idea of celebrating something established,” he said as he explained the small and private wedding, “rather than celebrating the entry.”” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Daily MailR “'And by then, we'll have to shut Nigeria down!'” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Mixed · 2The Evening Standard reports that he told The Guardian he and his wife were expecting their first son and that he has a "baby cooking". He said his life feels "completely, completely fulfilled in terms of family" and that he wants to be "present, consistent and full of love". Evening StandardN “Alongside the marriage, he also shared that he has got a “baby cooking”.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Daily MailR “I just want to make sure I'm present, I'm consistent and full of love.” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Mixed · 2On Wednesday 14 October, Boyega posted on Instagram a photo from his wife's baby shower, writing that "Our bundle of joy has been with us for some time now but thank you for all the well wishes". Evening StandardN ““Our bundle of joy has been with us for some time now but thank you for all the well wishes. Also my sister is about to pop! Wish her well too!”” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Daily MailR “John shared photos from Tae's baby shower” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Mixed · 2The Daily Mail says the post shows he is cradling his newborn son, and reports that his wife has given birth. The Evening Standard describes the post as showing a heavily pregnant wife and calls the child his future son, so the two outlets differ on whether the baby has been born. Daily MailR “as he cradled his newborn son” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Evening StandardN “Sharing a photo of himself and a heavily pregnant Heckard” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Mixed · 2Boyega did not name his wife in the interview. The Standard and the Mail identify her as Lashontae "Tae" Heckard, a 48-year-old actor and model. The Standard says this was confirmed by his Instagram post and her comment "Love and blessings to my Blessing!!!!", and that fans had earlier speculated because they follow only each other and she changed her handle to Tae Boyega. Evening StandardN “a new Instagram post has confirmed his wife and mother to his future son is model Lashontae Heckard, also known as Tae Heckard.”“Heckard has changed her name on the platform to Tae Boyega.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Daily MailR “the actress, 48, looked incredible in a plunging blue dress” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Mixed · 2The Standard adds that Heckard is known for the BET series The Game and was previously engaged to basketball player Brandon Jennings, with whom she has a child born in 2015. The Mail says Boyega also has a young stepson. Evening StandardN “Heckard, who was born in Seoul, South Korea, was previously engaged to basketball player Brandon Jennings, with whom she shares a child who was born in 2015.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Daily MailR “he also has a young stepson” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Right · 1The Mail also reports that Boyega bought two wedding rings, one of them at a Walmart in Canoga Park. It adds background on his friendship with the murdered boy Damilola Taylor and his past criticism of Disney over his Star Wars character Finn. Daily MailR “'It was a lovely trip to Walmart. Shout out, Walmart Canoga Park!'”“openly criticising Disney over how it handled his Star Wars character, Finn.” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Two short Evening Standard pieces. One reports the Guardian interview on the secret marriage and expected baby, and the other profiles the wife once the Instagram post identified her.
- Emphasis
- Identification of the wife, Instagram clues that fed fan speculation, and Heckard's career and earlier engagement.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not say the baby has been born, and omits the Walmart rings and the stepson.
- Charged language
- “'secret' wife”
- For example
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“Rumours are rife that his bride is model Lashontae Heckard, also known as Tae Heckard.” — Evening Standard
“Who is Tae Heckard? John Boyega's 'secret' wife” — Evening Standard
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Daily Mail leads with the birth of the couple's first child alongside the confirmation of the secret marriage, in a celebrity-news style.
- Emphasis
- The newborn, the baby shower photos, the Walmart ring anecdote, and a long digression on Boyega's past remarks about Damilola Taylor and Disney.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention Heckard's earlier engagement or her earlier child, and does not say the Guardian interview described the baby as still expected.
- Charged language
- “joyful baby news”“looked incredible”
- For example
-
“The actor, 34, announced their joyful baby news in a sweet Instagram post on Wednesday as he cradled his newborn son.” — Daily Mail
“openly criticising Disney over how it handled his Star Wars character, Finn.” — Daily Mail
What every side reports
- Boyega told The Guardian he has been married for two years after a small private ceremony.
- He and his wife would like a traditional Nigerian wedding in future.
- His wife is identified as Tae (Lashontae) Heckard, 48.
- He posted on Instagram on 14 October thanking people for well wishes.
Where accounts differ
-
Whether the couple's baby has already been born
- Centre
- The Evening Standard says the couple are expecting their first son and describes a heavily pregnant Heckard in the post.
- Right
- The Daily Mail says Heckard has given birth and that Boyega cradled his newborn son in the post.
John Boyega person
Boyega presents his life as fulfilled in terms of family, says he wants to be present and loving as a parent, and says he has tried to put his career second at times. On Instagram he thanked well-wishers.
““I’ve tried to, as much as possible – especially following periods when I’ve worked a lot – to de-centre my career,” he said.” — Evening Standard
“'So, you know, my life is completely, completely fulfilled in terms of family.” — Daily Mail
Left1 article
Centre2 articles
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John Boyega reveals he has been secretly married for two years and will soon be a father
Neutral Reports the interview's marriage and baby news, and notes that rumours point to Heckard as his wife.
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Who is Tae Heckard? John Boyega's 'secret' wife
Neutral Explainer on Heckard's background and the Instagram clues, framed as a 'secret' wife now confirmed.
Right1 article
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Celebratory Leads with the birth and praises the couple, then adds extended background on Boyega's past comments.
- 14 Oct 08:19 First Evening StandardN John Boyega reveals he has been secretly married for two years and will soon be a father
- 14 Oct 10:14 +1h 54m Daily MailR John Boyega reveals his wife Tae has given birth to their first child together as he confirms the couple secretly got married two years ago
- 14 Oct 10:19 +2h Evening StandardN Who is Tae Heckard? John Boyega's 'secret' wife
- 14 Oct 11:09 +2h 50m The IndependentLC John Boyega announces birth of first child after quietly marrying two years ago
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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