The 64-year-old former boyfriend of Jordon Hudson, the 24-year-old former cheerleader who is dating Bill Belichick, has come to her defense amid accusations that she might be a gold digger.
Joshua Zuckerman, a businessman, has praised Hudson for being ‘wise beyond her years’.
He told TMZ Sports that he met Hudson a number of years ago and the two bonded over psychology, philosophy, and nature before eventually making the relationship romantic.
The pair were on and off for a while before eventually ending their dating relationship – just prior to Hudson becoming serious with Belichick.
Zuckerman says he’s still friendly with Hudson through her relationship with the former New England Patriots coach.
In a statement to TMZ, Zuckerman says he has been surprised by the negative words being said about Hudson.
‘I’ve been getting calls left and right from news stations about my relationship with Jordon Hudson,’ he said.
‘I have been involved with Jordon platonically and romantically and I consider her a good friend. I feel bad that she’s caught up in this whirlwind.’
He added, ‘I’m a former business owner in the healthcare field — we regularly discuss business and shared interest in psychology, philosophy and most important, our love of nature.
‘She is wise beyond her years, much more than any 20-something I’ve ever met in my life. The narrative about her character is not fair to her.’
Zuckerman also asked everyone to give Hudson and Belichick some privacy, telling the outlet, ‘To be honest, I wish these internet trolls and paparazzi would leave her alone — and everyone else alone — and let them live their lives.’
It appears that Belichick and Zuckerman have similar stories about how they bonded with Hudson – at least when it comes to subject matter for their discussion.
Hudson was flying to Florida from the Boston area and struck up a conversation with Belichick about a philosophy book she was reading for a college class.
‘Jordon, Thanks for giving me a course on logic! Safe travels!’ he wrote above his signature, while also writing down a list of the six Super Bowl titles he won in New England.
They’ve recently been seen out together on Nantucket Island in Massachusetts – with Hudson clinging onto Belichick’s arm in one photo.
Another shows the two of them getting onto Belichick’s boat, named ‘VIII Rings’ after the titles he won with the Patriots and the New York Giants.
While their love life has recently become front-page news, it seems that some of Hudson’s friends and pageant competitors were blindsided by the revelations.
Speaking to the New York Post, one former competitor in the Miss Mass. Teen USA 2020 competition said: ‘I didn’t even know she had a boyfriend — I heard from people she’s kind of all over the place with dating. I’m so curious how this happened. He’s old enough to be her grandfather!
‘She’s not shy — wanting the limelight is one thing but dating someone in his 70s is another. I didn’t realize she’d go as far to do that for fame.’
Another friend of Hudson’s revealed that the pair are likely to have met on upscale dating app Raya, while admitting she was shocked to hear that Belichick had flown on a commercial plane – where he met Hudson flying from Boston to Florida.
Another anonymous old friend from the beauty pageant world added of the 24-year-old former cheerleader: ‘She is not a pageant girl. The rule for Miss USA is you can compete in two states per year.
‘She competed for Maine and she was slated to compete for Alaska [but] she dropped out. I don’t know if it has to do with this news coming out.’