'Hallmark' actress Karen Pittman announces engagement at 38 with sweet proposal story
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Amidst a flourishing career highlighted by a recent Emmy nomination and an upcoming show, actress Karen Pittman has revealed some equally exciting news about her personal life.
Pittman, who played a pivotal role in launching Hallmark’s Mahogany movie brand in 2022 with the acclaimed film 'Unthinkably Good Things,' has shared that her love life is as vibrant as her career.
Pittman reveals engagement on ‘The Today Show’ with shimmering ring and sweet proposal story
On August 14, 2024, Pittman proudly displayed her dazzling engagement ring on 'The Today Show,' announcing her engagement to filmmaker Ade Richardson.
Pittman, who is 38 and currently nominated for a Supporting Actress Emmy for her role on Apple TV’s 'The Morning Show,' shared her joyful news with co-hosts Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager. She revealed that she met her fiance through a dating app.
“Listen, an app is good, they’re still doing good out there,” Pittman said. “I was very intentional. I knew what I wanted and I didn’t compromise, and he showed up.”
When Kotb and Bush Hager inquired about the proposal, Pittman coyly responded, “It was in bed, need I say more,” and then laughed, adding, “He’s gonna die when he sees this!”
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According to Heavy.com, though Pittman has two children from previous relationships, she has never been married.
In 2023, she shared with InStyle, “I’m a single mother, actually. I have two children. There was a period where I felt very disappointed, quite frankly, in my experience as a woman — that I didn’t have a partner to go through this life with. And I realized that I wasn’t going to be one of those women who was like, ‘Oh, we have been together for 30, 40 years,’ and I really had to reconcile that.”
Pittman reflects on self-love and groundedness in relationship with fiance Ade Richardson
Pittman explained to Kotb and Hager that learning to love herself was crucial to attracting the kind of love she truly wanted.
“I think in a lot of ways I represent, like, a strong woman in my characters and also in my life, but I was my own best love before I met him, and I think that is really, really important,” she said.
“And I do love my children, I love my work and I’m passionate about it, but for a long time I wasn’t passionate about loving me, which I figured out and he showed up.”
Describing Richardson, who runs Satari Films, as “adorable and sweet,” Pittman noted his supportive role in keeping her grounded in the often fickle entertainment industry.
“You know, in the industry it’s so, so fickle, it’s so ‘up here’ and he is grounded, sweet and kind, earthy,” she explained. “And (he) just shifts my energy into a place that allows me to feel just that — grounded.”
Pittman’s insights on finding true love after self-discovery echo the sentiments she shared two years ago about Hallmark’s 'Unthinkably Good Things', which co-starred Erica Ash and Joyful Drake and won the Gracie Award for Best Made-for-Television Movie in 2023.
She had told TV Insider at the time, “I was intrigued by the idea of doing something that feels good — feel-good TV — which I think Hallmark is known for, and I felt like coming out of the pandemic, I wanted to be involved in a story that was about love and friendship and relationships.”
Pittman pays tribute to late co-star Erica Ash and announces new project
In a heartfelt tribute, Pittman honored her late co-star Erica Ash, who died from metastatic breast cancer on July 29.
She shared multiple Instagram photos of Ash from their time filming in Tuscany and wrote, “Sending love to the incredible Queen, Erica Ash. @theericaash It was an honor to help build the @hallmarkmahogany brand with you and to get to know your wit and intelligence. Your beauty and spirit live on…🕊️🕊️”.
Pittman also mentioned to Kotb and Hager that she will not be returning for the new season of the 'Sex and the City' spinoff 'And Just Like That', as she has joined the cast of a new Netflix series based on Judy Blume’s coming-of-age novel, 'Forever'.
She did not disclose any details about when she and Richardson plan to marry.
