Amanda Kloots went red carpet official with her new boyfriend — her first since the death of husband Nick Cordero.
At the Unforgettable Evening gala at The Beverly Hilton on Monday, April 28, in Beverly Hills, Kloots exclusively confirmed with Parade that she is dating retired tennis player Justin Gimelstob.
“I feel very lucky, very happy,” Gimelstob told Parade at the event, which supports Women’s Cancer Research Fund.
When asked how they met, Gimelstob joked, “We’ve been dating for a year, she just didn’t know it.”
He continued, “I saw her a couple of years ago at the F1, and I was like, ‘I have to meet that woman, but it was tough to do.’ I finally figured it out.”
He then explained that they were officially introduced by mutual friends. “I tried to recruit her onto the tennis court, so I tried to use that. She made it very clear to me that it was going to be tennis only. She was negotiating from a position of strength, so I said, ‘OK.’ We played tennis a little bit. We’re both single parents. So we played some tennis, and then we serendipitously ended up in the same place during the [Los Angeles] fires.”
Kloots then chimed in, “He’s going to give you the whole story!”
The former Talk host’s appearance with Gimelstob is the first time Kloots has stepped out with a new partner since the death of her late husband, Broadway actor Cordero.
Cordero, who was a celebrated star in musicals including Waitress, A Bronx Tale and more, was diagnosed with COVID during the height of of the pandemic.
Related: Amanda Kloots’ Son Elvis, 5, Looks Just Like Late Dad Nick Cordero
After more than three months in the hospital, Cordero died at age 41 from COVID-related complications.
Kloots and Cordero share 5-year-old son Elvis Eduardo, who is now “almost done with kindergarten,” the Proper Health founder told Parade, “which is insane.”
“Justin has an older son, which is kind of fun, so they get along, so it’s nice,” she said. “They grow up, but it’s still lovely, and he’s at such a fun age, so it’s all good.”
