Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua made the headlines for the wrong reasons ahead of the 2026 NFL season, and has a complicated relationship with his son's mother
Puka Nacua's ex-girlfriend is the mother of his young child
Puka Nacua's ex-girlfriend is the mother of his young child
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Puka Nacua was the main star during a poor Los Angeles Rams performance in Week 1, as he looks to put a difficult offseason behind him and focus on football through 2027.
Nacua is facing a civil lawsuit filed in March 2026 by a woman alleging assault, battery, gender violence, and negligence. Nacua allegedly made an antisemitic statement and bit her shoulder on New Year’s Eve.
The Rams star voluntarily checked into a rehabilitation facility in March to work on his personal well-being, and has started this season without a suspension. While Nacua is focusing on his growth, he also had a turbulent relationship with his ex-girlfriend, with whom he shares a child.
Earlier this month, Nacua's ex-girlfriend, Hallie Aiono, had her 27th birthday, and the Rams star celebrated it on Instagram. He posted a story of them both sitting on the Rams' practice field alongside their son, Kingston.
"Happy birthday to Kingstons mom. Thank you for everything you have sacrificed and done for our son," Nacua wrote in the story.
However, Aiono went viral in August for a TikTok video, which has since been deleted. In the video, Aiono opened up about someone she loved for four years changing overnight.
Puka Nacua recently wished his ex-girlfriend a happy birthday on Instagram
Puka Nacua recently wished his ex-girlfriend a happy birthday on Instagram(Image: @pukaizded / Instagram)
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"I went from loving somebody so deeply for four years, I felt it in my bones, to experiencing extreme betrayal, abuse, complete neglect from them, in what felt like it happened almost overnight," she said. "A lot of the things that were public affected my mental health.
"But honestly, the things that were happening in private are what completely crushed me and altered my brain chemistry. Those parts, what people never saw, or know of, are what broke me."
While it's not confirmed that Aiono was referring specifically to Nacua, the Rams star has made personal growth a key focus this season. Nacua realized that situations off the field had affected him.
Nacua is focusing on his personal growth this year
Nacua is focusing on his personal growth this year(Image: Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
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"I try to take accountability for the things that I know that I can continue to change and can grow in ways that help me feel as best as I can when I step out here on the football field and outside of the football field," Nacua said.
Nacua then discussed the benefits of becoming a father, adding, "Being a father is something that has changed my life, but then also just becoming a better person," Nacua said.
"There's my therapist. I feel like we have a really good connection and just the ability to communicate in different ways and to use the safe space that I have out here and finding ways other places that are a safe space for me outside of the football field."
Nacua concluded, "There have been things that obviously have happened this offseason that haven't been the truest reflection of the person I feel like I am and how my mother raised me," Nacua said. "There were definitely conversations with her to apologize, but also for her to say that she supports me."