Who is Carmelo Anthony’s rumored girlfriend Racquel Smith? All about 44-year-old NFL Widow

Carmelo Anthony’s rumored girlfriend Racquel Smith has drawn attention after appearing alongside the former NBA star during a trip to Saint-Tropez, France. The pair looked comfortable in photos shared by Smith, with Anthony placing his arm around her waist as they posed together in matching black outfits. A separate video also appeared to show the two together in an elevator. Neither Anthony nor Smith has publicly confirmed they are dating, but their recent appearances have sparked plenty of speculation.For Smith, the attention comes after years of living through a very different kind of public story. She was married to former New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith, who was killed in a 2016 road-rage shooting. Racquel was also injured in the attack. Since then, she has raised her family while keeping her late husband's memory alive. Now, her connection with Anthony has placed her back in the spotlight.Who is Racquel Smith?Racquel Smith is a fashion model and social media personality who was married to former NFL star Will Smith. The couple built a family together before tragedy changed her life in April 2016.Will was a defensive end who spent nine seasons with the New Orleans Saints after playing college football at Ohio State. He helped New Orleans win Super Bowl XLIV in 2010 and became a respected figure in the franchise's history.His life was cut short following a traffic crash in New Orleans. An argument followed, and Will was shot and killed. Racquel was also wounded in the incident.In the years since, Racquel has worked to preserve Will's legacy while raising their children. She accepted his executive MBA degree after his death and later represented him during his induction into the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame.Her social media presence has often included family moments, fashion and messages about enjoying life. One of her recent posts carried the line, “We are not here long enough to be living unhappy.”The post took on added meaning after Anthony appeared in several of the photos.Is Carmelo Anthony dating Racquel Smith?Anthony and Smith have not publicly confirmed their relationship, but their recent social media appearances have fueled dating rumors.Smith posted photos from Saint-Tropez in June, including a picture with Anthony. The former Knicks star smiled beside her with his hand around her waist. Another clip showed Smith entering an elevator while a man wearing a bucket hat followed behind her. A later image made it clear the man was Anthony.The two also reportedly spent time together in Monte Carlo, where Smith wished Anthony a happy 42nd birthday.“Happy Birthday to one of the kindest souls I have ever met,” Smith wrote.Anthony has generally kept his romantic life private since his divorce from La La Anthony. The former couple married in 2010 and finalized their divorce in 2021 after years of an on-and-off relationship. They share son Kiyan Anthony, who plays college basketball at Syracuse, where his father became a star before entering the NBA.Anthony also shares daughter Genesis with former partner Mia Burks.The apparent connection with Smith comes during an important period in Anthony's life after basketball. The 10-time All-Star retired in 2023 following a 19-season NBA career and has since built a second career as a broadcaster and podcast host.Why Carmelo Anthony and Racquel Smith’s connection has drawn attentionThe interest goes beyond Anthony's celebrity status. Smith has a deeply personal history of her own, and her life after Will's death has been closely tied to family and his legacy.Anthony, meanwhile, has spent much of his post-NBA life away from the kind of personal headlines that followed him during his playing career. His appearances with Smith therefore stand out.The former Knicks star has not publicly addressed whether the two are a couple. Until either Anthony or Smith speaks about their relationship, the nature of their bond is unclear as of yet.For now, their photos from Europe have done the talking. Smith's message about choosing happiness, alongside her affectionate moments with Anthony, has given fans plenty to discuss without providing an official label for what may be developing between them.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.