Gabrielle Union is looking back with laughter—and a little regret—at what she did with her first Hollywood paycheck. The 52-year-old actress, who skyrocketed to fame in the 2000 cheerleading hit Bring It On, opened up during the American Black Film Festival in Miami on June 12, recalling the “stupid” financial decision she made after her breakout success.
A Mazda Miata Mistake
Speaking during her live panel, “Sisterhood & Savings: A Conversation with Gabrielle Union,”moderated by Kelley L. Carter, Union revealed that she splurged on a brand-new black-on-black Mazda Miata with leather seats, ignoring her father’s wise advice.
“My dad’s like, ‘Don’t buy a brand new car. It depreciates the second you drive it off the lot,’” she said. “But I walked into Mazda like, ‘Oh, I’ve made it when I have a Mazda.’”
While the car may have felt like a status symbol in the moment, the actress quickly learned the hard truth—especially in the Los Angeles heat.
“Let me tell you about leather seats in Los Angeles. I scorched myself every time I got out!”
Union now refers to the purchase as “so stupid,” a moment of financial inexperience many can relate to.
Financial Transparency With Dwyane Wade
Union and her husband, NBA legend Dwyane Wade, have long promoted financial transparency. The couple has openly discussed how they split bills 50/50, and Wade once revealed on the Club Shay Shay podcast that they signed a prenup before tying the knot in 2014.
“I told her, ‘I’ll sign a prenup too. You’re a millionaire. You got money. You work hard for yourself,’” Wade shared.
From Sitcoms to Cult Classic
Gabrielle Union’s career took off in the late ’90s with roles in 10 Things I Hate About You and She’s All That, but it was Bring It On—where she played Isis, the fierce captain of the East Compton Clovers—that cemented her as a household name. She was 27 at the time and starred opposite Kirsten Dunst in a film that earned over $90 million at the box office and developed an enduring cult following.
The original film sparked five direct-to-video sequels, a TV movie, and even a Broadway musical, though none featured Union or the original cast.
A Sequel in the Works?
In March, Union teased something big on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, hinting that a long-awaited reunion might finally be happening.
“Well, I ran into Kiki [Kirsten Dunst] a couple of months ago… our kids are around the same age,” she said. “So I see her kind of more regularly, and we, perhaps, maybe all have been working on something.”
While Union and Dunst haven’t officially confirmed a sequel, fans are buzzing. And despite Union’s kids not being fans of the original (“They didn’t like it,” she confessed), the nostalgia-driven project could bring a new generation into the fold.
Full Circle
From scorching herself in a Mazda Miata to possibly returning to the role that launched her into stardom, Gabrielle Union’s journey is one of growth, wisdom, and full-circle moments. And as she continues to reflect on her past with humor and honesty, fans are more excited than ever for what she’s working on next—cheerleader uniform or not.
