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Trinity Rodman has made it crystal clear—she's not here for commentary that links her success to her estranged father, NBA legend Dennis Rodman. And now, she's drawing a hard boundary, especially when it spills into someone else's spotlight, that includes her boyfriend, rising tennis star Ben Shelton.
During a July 7 Wimbledon broadcast, a commentator casually mentioned Dennis Rodman while referencing Trinity Rodman as she supported Ben from the stands. That was all it took for the 23-year-old U.S. soccer star to issue a red card to the unnecessary name-drop.
© ISI Photos via Getty Images"He's Not Even in My Life"
Trinity didn't mince words in her Instagram Story response: "My dad's not even in MY life—no need to bring him up during HIS matches when I don't even want him talked about during mine."
That "his" is Ben Shelton, who has been powering his way through the iconic Wimbledon tournament with Trinity firmly in his corner. She's been there courtside, proudly cheering him on, but make no mistake, this moment belongs to him, not her family drama. "For Ben's matches, his family, including his dad, is there as his support system," she continued. It's him and his loved ones' moment. Thank you."
© dpa/picture alliance via Getty IA Line in the Grass
This isn't the first time Trinity has spoken publicly about her complicated and distant relationship with Dennis Rodman. On the "Call Her Daddy" podcast, she gave rare insight into the emotional toll that dynamic has taken on her. "He's not a dad," she said. "Maybe by blood, but nothing else."
And the restraint she and her brother D.J. have shown has been deliberate. "We never want to make him look bad, and that is at the cost of holding in a lot… trauma, per se," she said. "Even now, I'm trying to be honest about it, and I'm still giving him sympathy—which is frustrating because in reality, I think he's an extremely selfish human being."
© Tony Quinn/ISI PhotosHer choice to speak up now isn't just about setting the record straight; it's about reclaiming her story and giving space for her current life to breathe without being shadowed by a past that no longer serves her.
What makes Trinity's clapback resonate isn't just that it was sharp; it was grounded in a truth many can relate to. Yes, she's Dennis Rodman's daughter. But she's also a pro athlete in her own right, an Olympic gold medalist, and someone navigating love, healing, and self-respect in real time.
Team Ben, Courtside, and Loud
Trinity's courtside support of Ben Shelton has been a highlight of Wimbledon's first week. The couple, who confirmed their relationship in March, have made it a point to show up for one another. And Ben's not just receiving support from Trinity; his sister, Emma Shelton, has been dubbed his lucky charm.
© @benshelton“I’ve been playing well this week. It’s not just been me here. I have a great team. My parents are here. My girlfriend’s here. Also, my sister’s here. She’s been here for every match that I’ve played this tournament so far. She’s been the lucky charm,” said Shelton during an interview. “But she has work back in the U.S., starting on Monday. She works for Morgan Stanley.”
“If any of you all have some (connections) and get her a couple extra days off so she can (stay and) we can keep this rolling,” Shelton added following his straight-sets victory over Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics on Saturday, “that’d be great.” Wish granted. By July 6, Ben shared on his Instagram Story that Emma had gotten those extra days and would stay to cheer him on. “You got the week off or what?” She responded by jumping with joy, arms in the air and a huge smile on her face, while Ben added, “Shoutout, Morgan Stanley.”
Her caption read: “thank you, MS,” followed by blue heart emojis and the words “return flight: cancelled.”
