NBA Hall of Famer Paul Pierce has ignited a controversy after advising Black men to seek romantic relationships overseas, pointing to rapper French Montana’s rumored relationship with Dubai Princess Sheikha Mahra as a model to emulate. Pierce’s remarks, made during a recent episode of the podcast The Truth After Dark With Paul & Azar, have drawn sharp criticism for perpetuating stereotypes and promoting a problematic view of international dating.
During the podcast, co-host Azar Farideh brought up French Montana’s alleged romance with Sheikha Mahra bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Princess of Dubai. Pierce seized the opportunity to argue that American women lack the traditional values he attributes to foreign women.
“The states women, they don’t have the same values as these women overseas,”
Pierce stated.
“They value their men, their priority is their man first, they’re not shaking a** on Instagram every day.”
He also expressed frustration with modern dating dynamics, adding,
“How can I maintain a relationship when I’m dating someone who receives constant attention online? Each time she’s upset with me, her social media is flooded with compliments.”
Pierce pointed to French Montana’s relationship as an ideal example. The Moroccan-American rapper and the Dubai royal were first linked in October 2024, following Mahra’s divorce from Sheikh Mana al Maktoum. They were recently spotted hand-in-hand at Paris Fashion Week in July 2025. Montana has embraced Emirati culture, often wearing traditional garments like the kandura and gutra. For Pierce, this high-profile pairing exemplifies the benefits of seeking love abroad with a partner who embodies traditional values.
His comments echo the sentiments of the “passport bro” movement, a growing trend where American men—particularly remote workers since the COVID-19 pandemic—pursue relationships in regions like Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America.
The backlash was immediate, especially on social media. On Reddit’s r/blackmen community, users criticized Pierce’s generalizations, with some questioning which cultures he meant and others suggesting he implied foreign women are “eager to please in exchange for an American passport.”
Pierce’s history of provocative statements amplifies the controversy. Earlier in 2025, he claimed marriage is “for old people and poor people” and suggested NBA players prefer white women because they “appreciate more and apologize more.” Pierce, who divorced Julie Landrum in 2023 after 13 years of marriage, has been vocal about his reluctance to commit, often citing marriage’s financial burdens. Though Farideh defended him, saying Pierce “dates Black women, period,” Pierce hinted at a shift, musing, “that could be like changing, maybe, I don’t know.”
Critics argue his views perpetuate stereotypes about American and foreign women alike, while his nod to French Montana highlights the allure of celebrity success stories in the overseas dating narrative. As the controversy unfolds, it underscores ongoing tensions around race, gender, and globalization in contemporary romance.
