Brian Austin Green finally revealed his shocking secret. The Beverly Hills 90210 star opened up for the first time about his hidden 1990s romance with Martin actress Tichina Arnold. What she demanded kept it buried for decades.
🔥 Quick Facts
- The Revelation: Green, 52, spoke for the first time about dating Arnold, 56, on the “Funny Knowing You” podcast on January 15, 2026
- The Secrecy: Arnold insisted the romance stay completely private, which triggered Green’s insecurities during his early 20s
- The Context: Hip-hop was Green’s “world” at the time, and he was primarily dating Black women due to shared cultural interests
- The Resolution: Both confirmed they remain close today and have “always had each other’s back”
The Secret Relationship That Led to Insecurity
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When Brian Austin Green appeared on Deon Cole’s “Funny Knowing You” podcast, he finally broke his silence about a connection most fans never knew existed. Green and Arnold met “working together” in the 1990s and “got along really well,” but their romance came with a strict condition. Arnold was “very clear on day one” that nobody could know they were dating, he revealed.
This demand wounded the young actor. “I was in my early 20s living in a culture that wasn’t accepting of me,” Green explained. Feeling already alienated, the secrecy compounded his pain. “I have someone who I’m attracted to who’s telling me, ‘You can’t tell anybody,”‘ he shared. “It triggered something like, ‘Oh, I’m not good enough for any of this. You don’t even want your friends to know that you’re hanging out with me.”‘
Why He Was Dating Black Women Exclusively
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Green responded directly to Arnold’s previous comments suggesting he was “experimenting” with Black women at the time. The actor clarified his dating pattern had nothing to do with experimentation. “Hip-hop was my world,” he stated emphatically. “I was doing hip-hop clubs. I was going to all the places where hip-hop was existing.”
The actor explained: “You usually date the people that you’re around. So of course, I was dating majority Black women at the time because we had common interests.” Green emphasized the relationships were rooted in shared culture, not racial curiosity. He further noted that culture, not race, is what truly connects people. “It wasn’t a conscious choice,” he insisted. “That never even crossed my mind because we shared the same culture.”
The Emotional Impact and Subconscious Shift
Arnold eventually “flipped” and became “cool” with going public about their relationship, Green revealed. However, the damage was already done. “At some point it flipped a little bit,” he acknowledged. “But somewhere in my mind I had that subconscious switch of like, ‘Oh, this isn’t a real relationship. This is just a thing that we’re doing.”‘
| Timeline Element | Details |
| Green’s Age | Early 20s during the 1990s romance |
| Arnold’s Age | Never publicly stated for that era |
| Interview Date | January 15, 2026, on “Funny Knowing You” podcast |
| Podcast Host | Deon Cole |
This “subconscious switch” would haunt him for years. The actor admitted the relationship never started on healthy footing. “Now maybe her view of it has changed a little bit, but it didn’t even start in a healthy way,” Green confessed during the podcast appearance.
“I think for me like it really triggered something of like, ‘Oh, okay. I’m not good enough for any of this. You don’t even want your friends to know that you’re hanging out with me.'”
— Brian Austin Green, on the “Funny Knowing You” podcast
Arnold’s Perspective on Their Brief Romance
When Tichina Arnold first revealed the relationship in December 2025 on the same podcast, she offered her own explanation for ending things. Arnold claimed she told Green: “I see you dating all these Black women, now you’re dating me, and you’re not going to end up with a Black woman. You’re going to share your riches and your legacy with someone white.”
She said: “So I’m getting off this train.” Despite the dramatic exit, Arnold emphasized it was “a great experience because he was a good human being.” She noted she was “very good with endings.” The Everybody Hates Chris alum also revealed she “knew the relationship wasn’t going” anywhere from the start and described it as a valuable learning experience about love and identity.
Where Do They Stand Today After Three Decades?
Green clarified that despite the painful beginning and complicated history, the two remain on excellent terms now. “That’s my girl,” he said warmly. “I will always have her back. She has always had my back.” The actor also mentioned he spoke to Arnold right before appearing on the podcast to discuss the revelation.
Green has since moved on significantly with his life. He later married Megan Fox in 2010, though they divorced in 2021. He shares three children with Fox. The actor is now engaged to Dancing with the Stars professional dancer Sharna Burgess, with whom he welcomed son Zane in 2022. Meanwhile, Arnold was married to DaRico Hines from 2012 to 2016. Both have moved forward, but this confession reveals how deeply that secretive bond impacted Green decades ago.
Jessica Morrison is a seasoned entertainment writer with over a decade of experience covering television, film, and pop culture. After earning a degree in journalism from New York University, she worked as a freelance writer for various entertainment magazines before joining red94.net. Her expertise lies in analyzing television series, from groundbreaking dramas to light-hearted comedies, and she often provides in-depth reviews and industry insights. Outside of writing, Jessica is an avid film buff and enjoys discovering new indie movies at local festivals.