Karla Knafel allegedly had a secret affair with Michael Jordan in the 1980s and also accused him of being the father of her child. However, the actress’s claims have been baseless especially since DNA reports showed that the legendary basketball player is not the father of her child.
Besides gaining fame due to the legal battle with Jordan, Karla is known to have had a cameo appearance in the 1991 action-thriller Bikini Island.
The mother of three is now married to former NFL player, Ray Jackson, who is the father of one of her children.
Karla Knafel’s Biography
Karla Knafel was born in 1963 in Syracuse. She is one of the eight children of her parents. She was raised in a very religious family. Her father used to be a minister in the local Faith Assembly.
Although she has not revealed the names of her siblings, it is known that she has six sisters and only a brother.
As regards her educational pursuits, she attended Wawasee High School in Syracuse and graduated in 1981. According to reports, Knafel left her parent’s house shortly after high school and moved in with a guidance counselor.
She once revealed that she left her parent’s house to get away from her family’s strict religious life despite the values that were instilled in her as a child.
She Started Working as a Stylist at the Age of 18
Upon graduating from high school, Karla started working as a stylist thanks to the beauty license she earned through a work-study program she attended while in school.
Asides from working as a stylist, she decided to venture into modeling. By the time she clocked 20, she took part in a local beauty pageant and was named ‘Queen of the Lakes’ in 1983.
She later left modeling and moved to Indianapolis from Syracuse to pursue a career in the music industry. While it has not been clarified if she recorded any song but it has been said that she used to perform on and off with a band.
In addition to her musical career, Michael Jordan’s ex-girlfriend had a cameo appearance in the 1991 movie, Bikini Island.
She started Her Affair with Michael Jordan Three Months After He Got Married in 1989
Karla Knafel claimed she started dating Michael Jordan three months after he married his wife, Juanita in 1989. According to what she said, Jordan told her his marriage with Juanita was a business arrangement.
She also added that when she got pregnant, the NBA star offered her $5 million to keep quiet. However, Jordan later filed a suit accusing Knafel of trying to extort millions of dollars although he admitted paying her $250,000 to keep their relationship a secret.
Karla Knafel is No Stranger to Civil Actions
Apparently, Michael Jordan is not the only one to be sued by Karla Knafel. She allegedly filed a lawsuit that her plastic surgeon touched her breasts in an inappropriate manner and used language that made her feel uncomfortable.
She had initially had her breast enhancement surgery in 1993 and it was when she was visiting her doctor, Pio Valenzuela that he harassed her. The lawsuit was settled after the doctor agreed to her $10,000 for the case to go away.
Knafel again filed a suit against the nightclub in Los Angeles Superior Court. She claimed she was drugged and taken outside the nightclub. She alleged that two parking attendants approached her and one touched her br**st while the other rubbed his privates with her hand.
The case was later dismissed and it remains unclear if she received any settlement of any sort.
Karla Knafel Has Been Involved with a Couple of Athletes Aside from Michael Jordan
From all indications, Karla Knafel has a thing for athletes. Besides Michael Jordan, the hairstylist has been linked to quite a couple of athletes. The one-time model and singer was once linked to former Portland Trail Blazer player Dale Davis. Her child Trayce Jackson Davis is said to be fathered by the player.
At the moment, she is married to former NFL player Ray Jackson and they share a son Tayven Jackson together. She now goes by the name Karla Knafel Jackson.
Read Also: Pietra Dawn Cherniak Is One Of Billy Bob Thornton’s Ex-Wives- Unknown Facts
Karla Knafel’s Husband and Children
Karla’s husband is said to be a ultra-competitive, speed and agility trainer as well as a WSU Alum. The proud husband and father is often seen sharing highlights about his children’s career.
Knafel’s oldest child Arielle Grace, who was rumored to be fathered by Michael Jordan, but DNA proved otherwise, is a former graduate research assistant at the University of Memphis. She studied at Medical College Wisconsin and is currently married to Richard Bellian. Also, she played volleyball while in high school.
Trayce and Tayven are both athletes as well. Trayce plays basketball at Indiana Basketball while Tayven plays quarterback at Indiana Football.
Moving on from her issues with the NBA player, Karla’s Facebook page shows that she now works with Design Lines, a salon and spa located in Greenwood Indiana.
