Cardi B and Maduka Okoye are facing fresh scrutiny after the rapper and the Nigerian-German footballer were photographed enjoying an intimate dinner together in Venice, Italy — just hours before the mother of Okoye’s child unleashed a series of serious accusations against him on social media.
On July 19, 2026, images and videos surfaced of Cardi B and Okoye dining at Gio’s restaurant inside the St. Regis hotel. The pair were seen sitting closely side by side, overlooking the Venetian canals, sparking immediate dating speculation. The sighting comes weeks after Cardi B’s publicized split from NFL player Stefon Diggs and follows previous rumors that began when the two were spotted together at Paris Fashion Week earlier this month.
In response to the growing online chatter, Okoye addressed the rumors during an Instagram Live, describing Cardi B as a friend and noting that her role as a mother of three was a factor in their dynamic. “She’s just a friend,” he reportedly emphasized.
However, the photos triggered a rapid and fiery response from Jelicia Westhoff, a Dutch model and the mother of Okoye’s young son. Hours after the Venice images circulated, Westhoff posted a series of Instagram rants accusing the 26-year-old Udinese goalkeeper of physical abuse, repeated infidelity — including with both men and women — and failing to maintain a relationship with their approximately 3-year-old child.
Westhoff claimed Okoye had beaten her in the past, alleging she previously protected his reputation by withdrawing or altering statements. She further accused him of cheating “with everything” and explicitly labeled him as bisexual. Additional claims included Okoye being largely absent from their son’s life, seeing the child only sporadically in recent years, and allegedly locking her and the child out at one point. Westhoff also stated she supported Okoye early in his career before he rose to prominence with Serie A’s Udinese and the Nigerian national team, the Super Eagles.
The model clarified that her posts were not directly aimed at Cardi B but were prompted by the timing of the public outing. She claimed to have evidence supporting her allegations but has not publicly shared it.
As of July 21, Okoye has not publicly responded to Westhoff’s specific accusations of abuse, cheating or being an absentee father. The claims remain unverified by independent sources or authorities.
The situation has ignited heated discussions across social media platforms, with reactions ranging from support for Westhoff to skepticism about the timing and motivations behind her statements. Westhoff and Okoye have shared an on-and-off relationship over the years.
