Ricki Noel Lander, the on-again, off-again girlfriend of Patriots owner Robert Kraft since 2012, gave birth to a daughter last year, but Kraft is not the child’s father, a spokesperson for the team told multiple news outlets.
While many speculated, naturally, that Kraft was the father, the Patriots spokesperson said, “Last fall, Ricki Noel Lander became the proud mother of a beautiful, healthy baby. While Robert Kraft is not the biological father, he is thrilled with Ricki’s blessing of having a healthy child. With respect to her family’s privacy, we will not be commenting any further.”
Rumors had surfaced that Lander, 38, and Kraft, 76 had broken up, but according to the New York Post’s Page Six, Lander was just laying low while she was pregnant.
Following the birth of the child, the couple went public again – they were photographed together this year at the Super Bowl, Grammys and NBA All-Star Game, and they are expected to be at the Oscars on Sunday, too, Page Six notes.
Kraft is “taking full care of Ricki and the baby," a source said. He has bought the dancer/model/actress a mansion in L.A. and has made investments in her name.
“Bob is fully supporting the child. There is a lot of tiptoeing around the subject at the Patriots offices. Everyone is afraid to openly talk about it,” a source said.