Who is Demetress Bell's mom? Everything about Gloria Williams
Demetress Bell's mom, Gloria Williams, was 13 when she gave birth to him. Although a DNA test proved that Karl Malone was the child's father, the ex-NBA star never had a relationship with his son until he was older. Reflecting on being an absentee dad, Malone once said:
I did not handle the situation right; I was wrong. Father time is the biggest thief out there because you cannot recover the time lost.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Key takeaways
- Gloria Williams' profile summary
- Who is Demetress Bell's mom?
- Gloria Williams was a minor when she had an affair with Karl Malone
- The paternity lawsuit that exposed the skeletons in Karl Malone's closet
- Gloria Williams' son had a strained relationship with his biological dad
- Her baby daddy came under fire for his dark past decades after his son's birth
- Gloria Williams' only child followed in his dad's athletic footsteps
- FAQs
Key takeaways
- Karl Malone was a sophomore at Louisiana Tech when Demetress was born.
- He was initially reluctant to acknowledge Bell as his son.
- Demetress Bell once revealed he was okay with not having a father figure.
- He formerly played for the NFL's Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles.
Gloria Williams' profile summary
| Full name | Gloria Bell Williams |
| Gender | Female |
| Year of birth | 1971 |
| Age | 54 years old (As of 2025) |
| Birthplace | Summerfield, Louisiana, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African-American |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Hair colour | Black |
| Eye colour | Dark brown |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
| Children | Demetress Bell |
Who is Demetress Bell's mom?
Gloria Bell Williams welcomed her son Demetress on 3 May 1984. Her grandparents helped her raise the child as she was still in school. In a May 2008 interview with ESPN, Demetress opened up about his upbringing, saying:
I grew up around really nice people. I am lucky I never felt the void of not having a present dad. I am happy.
Source: Original
Gloria Williams was a minor when she had an affair with Karl Malone
Bell was 12 by the time she realised she was expecting a child with 20-year-old Karl Malone. However, the sportsman chose to distance himself from the pregnancy to avoid negative publicity that could have jeopardised his basketball aspirations
The paternity lawsuit that exposed the skeletons in Karl Malone's closet
Although Malone was of legal age when he impregnated Williams, her family chose not to pursue charges against him.
This is because he was their neighbour back in Summerfield, and they also knew he would not be able to provide for his son while incarcerated. So, the family instead filed a paternity lawsuit against Karl in 1996.
According to Basketball Network, the court ordered him to pay $125 million per week in child support after DNA ascertained he was Demetress Bell's father.
However, the athlete complained that the amount was too high and chose to offer Gloria's family a single lump sum payment of an undisclosed amount. The out-of-the-court deal relieved Karl of future child support payments.
Source: Getty Images
Gloria Williams' son had a strained relationship with his biological dad
According to a 1998 report by The Salt Lake Tribune, Gloria revealed that her 14-year-old son did not want anything to do with his dad because his feelings were hurt by his initial reluctance to accept him.
As documented by Sportsbook Review, Demetress met his father for the first time after graduating high school, per The Buffalo News.
The 18-year-old revealed that Malone had told him it was too late to have a father-son bond and that he would have to make it on his own. In his interview with ESPN, Bell described his relationship with his dad, stating:
I do not hate him for not being in my life because that only made me a better person.
However, Demetress and Karl began mending their relationship in 2014 and were in regular contact by 2018.
Her baby daddy came under fire for his dark past decades after his son's birth
In 2023, Malone's appearance during the NBA All-Star Weekend brought back memories from his tainted past. While speaking to Salt Lake City Tribune, he addressed the backlash he was facing:
I am not discussing that because it is my personal life. I am only human!
His son, KJ, came to his rescue, saying:
He made a mistake, but at the end of the day, he is a good dad.
Source: Getty Images
Gloria Williams' only child followed in his dad's athletic footsteps
The Buffalo Bills selected Demetress in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL draft. He is widely recognised for playing for five years in the league without ever having played a down of high school football. However, Bell's last sports contract was with the Dallas Cowboys in 2013.
FAQs
Demetress Bell's mother largely stays away from the spotlight. Here are some frequently asked questions about her baby daddy and son:
How old is Gloria Bell Williams?
Judging from the fact that Demetress was born in 1984, and his mom is 13 years older than him, it is safe to assume she was born in 1971. This makes her 54 as of 2025.
Who are Demetress Bell's parents?
Gloria Bell and Karl Malone welcomed their son out of wedlock. In 1988, he married Kay Kinsey, with whom he shares three daughters and one son.
Why did Demetress Bell change his name?
Karl Malone's son changed his name from Demetrius to Demetress in 2012 to correct a spelling error after he discovered his birth certificate listed his name as Demetress.
Why did Demetress Bell retire?
Demetress' NFL career was marred by a string of injuries that, for the most part, kept him away from the pitch.
Source: Getty Images
Where was Karl Malone born?
The former NBA player (61 as of March 2025) was born on 24 July 1963 in Summerfield, Louisiana, USA. He was the youngest of Shirley and Shedrick Hay's nine kids.
What is Karl Malone's net worth?
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Demetress Bell's father is worth $55 million. His wealth is attributed to his successful sporting career.
Demetress Bell's mom was a teenager when she had a son with Karl Anthony Malone. However, the ex-NFL star did not have a relationship with his old man until he was 30.
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Source: Briefly News
