Ice-TandCoco Austinhave been going strong for more than two decades.
In the years since, Ice-T and Coco welcomed a daughter, Chanel Nicole, and starred together in a reality show,Ice Loves Coco.
The pair have celebrated plenty of other milestones along the way, and are never shy when it comes to sharing their love on social media. They are also fiercely protective of their daughter and havedefended their parenting decisionson numerous occasions.
From their first meeting to their sweet social media tributes, here’s everything to know about Ice-T and Coco Austin’s relationship.
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While Ice-T doesn’t usually like being introduced to people because “you feel accommodated to be nice,” he said he found it difficult to remain composed when he saw Coco.
The line made Coco laugh. “I couldn’t believe he just came with that line out of nowhere,” she later wrote on her blog. “I thought it was cute, kind of cheesy in a cornball kind of way but from that moment he had my attention.”
After their first meeting, Ice-T had to return to New York City to filmLaw and Order: SVU, while Coco continued working as a model in California. The two began a long-distance relationship, with Coco making frequent trips to N.Y.C. They were married a few months later on New Year’s Eve at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. According to Coco’s blog, it was “the most romantic, beautiful moment ever.”
“We got married pretty fast,” she wrote. “He became my best friend and this instantly was someone I didn’t want to live without. We just knew we wanted to be together, we were like yin and yang, like peanut butter and jelly. LOL.”
She continued, “We didn’t tell no body [sic], no family, no friends, we just kept it between us, we didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings so we just kept it to ourselves … I will never forget looking at him face to face just me and him no one else in the room but a priest and a pianist. He got choked up while he spoke which made me get choked up.”
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A few months after they got married, Ice-T and Coco made their first public appearance together at the MECCA Movie Awards, which was hosted at the Directors Guild of America in N.Y.C.
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That same year, Ice-T and Coco attended DKNY’s annual Halloween party in N.Y.C. in matching red costumes. Coco wore a red bikini set with devil horns, while Ice-T sported a red t-shirt and leather trousers with vampire fangs.
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In May 2004, Coco made her first appearance on her husband’s show,Law & Order: SVU, during season 5.
She returned to the show in November 2007, guest starring in the episode “Fight” as Traci Bell, the wife of UFC world champion Forrest Griffin. Coco’s third appearance occurred in January 2012 in the episode “Theatre Tricks.”
“I think whenever Coco is on the set, every single crew member somehow makes it to the set,” Ice-Ttold The Huffington Postin 2012. “Every light man, every prop person, every electrician, every cook somehow makes it to that set when Coco is going to shoot. We have more people on set when Coco shoots than any time in the history ofLaw & Order.”
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On May 22, 2011, Coco launched a clothing line called Licious.
“My clothes are meant to make a statement,” Coco told theNew York Daily News. “I’m not dull in any way and all the bright colors and styles show that.”
She added, “This is for the woman who wants to show off a little more. I always had a problem getting my clothes to fit right, I was always getting them tailored so I know what women go through.”
Ice-T attended the launch party at the Grace Hotel in N.Y.C. with Coco to show his support.
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More than five years after they first got married, Ice-T and Coco renewed their vows in a large ceremony held at Hollywood’s W Hotel. Stars likeSnoop DoggandTila Tequilawere in attendance, and the ceremony was filmed for the couple’s E! reality show,Ice Loves Coco.
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Ice Loves Cocopremiered on E! on June 12, 2011. The reality series chronicled the couple’s daily lives in the spotlight and ran for three seasons up until Jan. 6, 2013.
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After over a decade of marriage, Ice-T and Coco announced they were expecting their first child together.
“I’m pregnant!!! Yah!! Ice & I are so excited! I announced it Friday on our new talkshow which airs Aug 3rd,” Coco wroteon X(formerly known as Twitter) at the time.
Coco Austin Instagram
The couple welcomed their daughter, Chanel Nicole, on Nov. 28, 2015, in Englewood, New Jersey.
Coco later told PEOPLE in an exclusive interview, “I think motherhood was always my calling. I wish I had let it happen earlier, but this is perfect. I’m dedicating my whole life to molding this little nugget into a fabulous person.”
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Ice-T and Coco’s daughter made herNew York Fashion Weekdebut in February 2017, when shewalked in the Rookie USA showalongside her parents. The then-14-month-old was dressed in an Air Jordan tracksuit that matched her dad’s, and she waved to the crowd from her mom’s arms.
“Chanel was in a daze (not amuzed [sic]) but managed to wave to the crowd,” Coco captioned aphoto from the show. “First time ever I’m on the catwalk without heels … I’m clumsy in flats but actually I was wearing sneaker wedges but it’s still weird) … lol.”
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In 2018, Ice-T and his band, Body Count, earned aGrammy nominationfor best metal performance for their song “Black Hoodie.” The coupleattended the ceremony togetherat Madison Square Garden in N.Y.C.
Coco shared aphotoof the two of them on the red carpet with the caption, “Grammy arrivals! Me and my boo looking sharp in black … So happy for my mans nomination for the song, ‘Black Hoodie’ #BodyCount.”
Ice-T and Coco marked two decades together on New Year’s Eve and celebrated with an intimate dinner complete with their closest friends and family.
Coco shared agallery of photosfrom the dinner with the caption, “Happy New Years everyone!! It was Ice and mines [sic] 20th anniversary too and instead of having a big party this year like planned we decided to go to dinner with a small group of friends to bring in the New Year β¦ Ice’s older daughter Tesha made it out this year too, it was a nice intimate night β¦ Cheers π₯.”
Ice-T also posted aphotofrom the festivities, writing in the caption, “I’d say Coco and I had a great 20th Anniversary Celebration last night β¦ Thanks for all the LOVE β¦ We TRULY appreciate it. #2021 ππ.”
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Three years after their firstGrammy Awardsnomination, Body Count wonbest metal performancefor their song “Bum Rush.”
Though Ice-T attended the ceremony virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Coco still marked the milestone at home with her husband, posting his live reaction to the win on Twitter.
“Grammy Surprise! OMG this just happened!!,” she captioned thevideo, which featured Chanel cheering on her dad. “So not expecting it but @BodyCountBand won best Metal performance β¦ 2nd nomination is a charm! You deserve it!! ππππ.”
Coco has been open over the years about her choice tocontinue breastfeeding the couple’s daughterChanel. After social media users began to question her parenting decisions in August 2021, Ice-T quickly came to his wife’s defense.
“News Flash!We feed Chanel FOOD… She just likes to suck moms boob every now and then… Me Too!!!” hewrotein on X alongside a photo of the mother and daughter.
He responded to another user, “Why the F are you worried about MY Child??? That’s what’s weird.. Now go back in the basement.”
Coco previously said that nursing is “a big bonding moment for a mother and your child,” and that their daughter eats other foods too.
“Why take that away from her? β¦ If she doesn’t want it, alright, that’s where you stop it. But I’m not just going to say no,” she added.
To celebrate Valentine’s Day, Ice-T shared a photo of thefirst time he met Coco, captioned, “This is a Pic of the moment I first met @Coco β¦ My friend ‘Rickey Recardo AKA Rolls Royce Rick’ Introduced us at a video shoot β¦ We’ve been happily married 21yrs. ‘Look at my face β¦ lol’ #HappyValentinesDay to all the lovers β€οΈ.”
Coco alsoshared a photo of her and Ice-T, writing in the caption, “Happy Valentines to the love of my life β¦ 21 Valentines with ya and counting!! I love the feeling of being with you!! No hugs all kisses π ππβ€.”
The couple weredressed to the nines on the Grammys red carpet. Ice-T looked stylish in a blue velvet Gucci blazer and his signature black hat, while Coco stunned in a plunging, skin-tight dress.
Ice-T poses with his wife Coco Austin and their daughter Chanel at the Hollywood Walk of Fame.Michael Buckner/Getty
She also gave her husband a shout-out on Instagram following the big ceremony.
“So proud of Ice!It was a great day!!” Coco captioned an image of her, Ice-T and Chanel.
Robin Marchant/Getty
During an interview with PEOPLE, Ice-T shared details from his and Austin’s Las Vegas nuptials in 2006. This was five years after the couple got married in Las Vegas without a marriage license.
“We never really told anybodyabout this because everyone thought we were already married,” he said.
The wedding took place on New Year’s Eve at Caesar’s Palace. The chapel had closed for the night, so Ice-T dropped his name and the staff agreed to stay open late for the celebrity couple.
“I never say my name but I said, ‘Itβs Ice-T.’ He said, ‘Bulls—.’ So, I went down to the elevator to the fifth floor and walked in. The guy was like, ‘No f—— way,’ " the rapper recalled.
Prior to saying, “I do,” Austin and Ice-T ran into a group of the actor’s fans on the elevator.
“Coco had the bouquet in her hands. The kids were like, βIce-T, yo! Yβall just got married?' So, they threw us a reception in the elevator. They were partying and blowing horns and s—,”Β he said.
Coco Austin, Chanel Nicole Marrow, and Ice-T attend the 13th Annual Rookie USA Fashion Show on September 06, 2023 in New York City.Bennett Raglin/Getty
Bennett Raglin/Getty
While speaking with PEOPLE, Ice-T gushed about his wife and discussed Austin’s decision to be a stay-at-home mom.
“Coco is super mom. We have no nannies,” he said. “If you’re fortunate enough to be able to stay home with your kids, it’s the most incredible and most admirable thing you can do, raise a child.”
At a celebration forLaw & Order; SVU’s 25th season, Ice-T toldE! Newsthat “jungle sex” is what keeps the flame of his marriage to Austin lit.
“When that flame goes out and you’re not really attracted to each other anymore, you have to address that very quickly because it’s something that’s necessary,”Β he said. “We have to be teammates, not opponents, not assets, not liabilities. I value what she brings to me, and I think it’s vice versa. We appreciate each other.”
He also compared getting married to “casting for a movie,” noting that it’s important to find a person who will be “ready for all the scenes.”
“Now, there’s gonna be fun scenes. There’s gonna be sad scenes. There’s gonna be tough scenes. There’s gonna be fight scenes. A lot of people don’t sign up for the whole movie. They just sign up for the good part,” he said.
Coco Austin and Ice-T in 2024.Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty
In honor of their24th wedding anniversary, Austin penned a sweet post onInstagramabout her husband, writing, “MY heart MY soul MY everything! I love you.”
source: people.com