The Real Housewives of Atlanta star Phaedra Parks’ reputation is currently in a tailspin after an explosive reunion finale exposed her lies to Porsha and led to accusations of Kandi Burruss essentially being a rapist. Numerous reports indicate that Phaedra has since been fired from the show, and, when we reached out to her spokesman Steve Honig about her reported departure, he told us “We have parted ways with Phaedra and no longer represent her. Sorry I can’t help.”
As friends and professional acquaintances scurry to jump off the sinking “SS Shady Phaedra” ship, we are reminded that this titanic downfall was foretold years ago by Phaedra’s former friend, Angela Stanton, who penned a book detailing Phaedra’s involvement in numerous criminal schemes that eventually led to Angela’s arrests, as well as the arrest of Apollo Nida.
UPDATE – Angela’s book is now titled Life of a Real Housewife: The Angela Stanton Story.
Angela Stanton’s book, Lies of a Real House Wife: Tell The Truth and Shame The Devil, was published in 2012. In it, she made some sensationally bold claims about Phaedra, indicating that the reality star was not only aware of numerous criminal activities involving fraudulent checks and automobile thefts, but that she masterminded them. In addition, Angela says Phaedra betrayed her as a friend by completely abandoning her after her arrest despite Phaedra’s assertions that she would stick by her side — as a friend and as an attorney.
Here is what I had to say about Angela’s claims at the time:
Normally I’m rather dismissive when “old friends” of overnight celebrities come out of the woodwork with a book making all sorts of allegations, but you are really putting yourself on the line if you accuse someone of committing an actual crime – especially an attorney! And Miss Stanton was not vague at all in her accusations – she provided very specific details, which is usually another indicator someone is telling the truth.
I suppose we will know a lot more as soon as we get an official reaction from Phaedra Parks. Of course, it will all come down to whether or not Angela Stanton has any hard evidence to back up her claim, which if she doesn’t, this interview and her book will have been the worst decision she has ever made, because Phaedra will take her to the cleaners for libel!
Phaedra Parks DID sue Angela Stanton, and the lawsuit dragged out for years, thanks in large part to Phaedra’s stalling. Numerous witnesses verified Angela’s claims — people who went on record saying they witnessed Phaedra participating in criminal acts firsthand! Meanwhile, Phaedra provided no witnesses to debunk the claims made by Angela in her book.
James Radford, Angela’s attorney, filed a motion for summary judgment (aka “this is complete BS and should be thrown out now”) against Phaedra in 2014, and highlighted all of the frustrated stall tactics implements by Phaedra during the process. (Click here for the full motion.) Here are a couple excerpts:
…all the evidence in the record points firmly to the conclusion that the statements contained in Defendant’s book, Lies of a Real Housewife, regarding Phaedra Parks, are true. Plaintiff has refused to have her deposition taken in this matter, and otherwise has not produced any evidence to support her claims.
…Throughout the discovery process, Plaintiff has failed to present a single piece of evidence to support her claims. In contrast, Stanton has produced numerous pieces of evidence to support her defense that the facts contained in the book are true. Moreover, Parks, by refusing to appear for her deposition, by refusing to produce documents, and by failing to place into the record any evidence to support her complaint, has failed to raise a genuine issue of material fact as to the issues in this case. Accordingly, judgment must be entered in favor of Stanton as to Plaintiff’s claim for defamation, and Parks’ Complaint must be immediately dismissed with prejudice. Defendant should be awarded a reasonable attorneys’ fee due to Plaintiff’s maintenance of a frivolous legal action against her.
The motion for summary judgment was denied, and the case continued to drag out. The suit was scheduled to FINALLY go to trial on June 6 of last year, but, just days before, Phaedra dropped her lawsuit against Angela Stanton. “God is so good,” Angela said in a statement to Tamara Tattles after the case was dropped. “I was sued for 30 Million Dollars. This lady [Phaedra] held my life up for 5 years just to turn around and dismiss her case against me with prejudice, days before our scheduled trial date. She can never come after me again. I am finally free!”
Now, in addition to being free, Angela has been somewhat vindicated in the court of public opinion, thanks to Phaedra’s exposure on The Real Housewives of Atlanta. We were curious to get Angela’s perspective on publishing her book, the lawsuit, and essentially being held hostage by the legal system for five years — and she was kind enough to speak with us about all three and more.
You and a number of other people — Apollo Nida included — have spent a lot of time in prison for criminal activities that you and other witnesses (via deposition) have stated Phaedra was an integral part of, yet she has never been charged with anything. Why do you think she has been allowed to dodge prosecution so far, and do you think she will ever spend a day behind bars?
I think that is a story waiting to be told.
As your story demonstrates, Phaedra seems to leave a wake of destruction and betrayal in her life — what are your thoughts on how she impacted Kandi Burruss and Apollo Nida?
I feel as if she betrayed us all Apollo, Porsha, Nene, Kandi, and myself in the same manner. Just very sneaky, conniving, underhanded, low down, dirty, just completely foul. She does the kind of things that affect you and follow you for the rest of your life with no regards to any damage caused behind her actions.
Were there times when you regretted publishing your story?
I never regretted telling my truth. It was a necessary part of my healing process.
There is a rumor that your book Lies of a Real Housewife might be getting made into a movie. Is that something you can comment on?
I can not comment on that at the time but I will say that I am really excited about my future.
If it does get the movie treatment, who would be your choices to play yourself, Phaedra, and Apollo?
That’s a good question. Naturi Naughton for Phaedra, Jesse Williams would be a good Apollo, and my lovely daughter Aleea Stanton would be perfect to play me.
You have clearly been dealt a few lemons in your life, and it is great to see that you are not only trying to turn them into lemonade in your life, but for other young women who have had the power to survive and overcome the obstacles in their lives as well. Can you tell us a little bit about The Purpose Connection?
The Purpose Connection is an organization I formed with the help of my late mentor Michelle Uchyiama. It is one of the many organizations that fall up under the Charitable Connections umbrella. The Purpose Connection is all about connecting people with a passion for a purpose. People like myself that have a real passion for sowing into the lives of at-risk youth.
We are a celebrity blog and I think we would be remiss to not ask the question everyone really wants to know the answer to — has Bravo approached you about joining the cast of The Real Housewives of Atlanta? And is that something you would consider?
It is funny that you asked that because I have been asked this before and approached several times. So I will say this, I’m all about positive impact. I want to be a representation of God’s glory and what can happen for you if you believe. I’m not interested in representing anything that’s broken, anything that promotes hatred or division. That’s not what I am today.
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We want to sincerely thank Angela Stanton for taking the time to talk with us. We have followed her amazing story VERY closely over the last five years, and look forward to some of the more positive things assuredly coming in the next five 🙂
If you want to see and hear more from Angela after the “Phall of Phaedra,” here is a recent three-part sit-down interview she did with Taylor Walton:
To catch up on our coverage of the Angela Stanton and Phaedra Parks fallout and lawsuit, follow these links, arranged chronologically, with brief descriptions:
MARCH 15, 2012 – VIDEO Angela Stanton details criminal history with Phaedra Parks and Apollo Nida
A former close friend of The Real Housewives of Atlanta‘s Phaedra Parks has written a book in which she claims the Atlanta attorney was involved in criminal activity including racketeering and insurance fraud. Keep reading to watch a video in which Angela Stanton gives a detailed account of the crimes and how she, Phaedra’s future husband Apollo Nida, and Apollo’s brother Everett all got arrested while Phaedra got away scot-free!
MARCH 17, 2012 – VIDEOS Angela Stanton interview about Phaedra Parks’ alleged criminal history parts 2 and 3
Watch the second and third parts of author Angela Stanton’s Vibe interview in which she talks about her history with The Real Housewives of Atlanta star Phaedra Parks, including a criminal racketeering ring Angela alleges was headed up by Phaedra. Angela, Apollo Nida (Phaedra’s future husband) and Apollo’s brother Everett were all arrested and convicted on felony counts of racketeering, but Phaedra was never charged.
MARCH 17, 2012 – Angela Stanton’s book on Phaedra Parks is now available for purchase
For those wanting to know more about The Real Housewives of Atlanta star Phaedra Parks’ alleged involvement in insurance fraud and racketeering you can now purchase Angela Stanton’s book Lies of a Real Housewife: Tell the Truth and Shame the Devil on amazon.com.
FEBRUARY 6, 2014 – Angela Stanton arrest info sent to blogs hours after private deposition – was it Phaedra Parks?
Originally just a post about convicted Apollo Nida accomplice and Phaedra Parks accuser Angela Stanton’s recent arrest for battery, this Apollogate story has switched gears completely! Angela’s attorney released a statement revealing his client disclosed information about her recent arrest in a private pre-trial discovery deposition and within a couple hours the information was sent to blogs. From his rather irate statement: “It is a striking coincidence that, within less than two hours of Ms. Stanton divulging this information (which has nothing to do with the case), during a deposition in which Ms. Parks and her assistant were present, the information would be in the hands of an Atlanta blog that frequently covers Real Housewives of Atlanta, the Parks v. Stanton case, etc.” Oh snap! Keep reading for more!
FEBRUARY 25, 2014 – DOCUMENTS Angela Stanton’s motion for summary judgment against Phaedra Parks with depositions
Things are slowly moving forward in the legal showdown between The Real Housewives of Atlanta‘s Phaedra Parks and author Angela Stanton with Angela’s attorney filing a motion for summary judgment on Monday, which essentially is asking the judge to rule prior to the case going to trial. The motion arguess that Phaedra has continually dodged all attempts to be deposed and has as yet not presented a single bit of evidence to dispute Angela’s claims that Phaedra was involved in criminal activities including check fraud and auto theft. Keep reading for a bullet point summary as well as the full documents, which includes depositions from eyewitnesses backing up Angela’s claims, as well as one of Angela’s exes revealing that Phaedra was known to be exceptionally talented at a particular sex act!
APRIL 28, 2014 – Gayla St. Julien on Apollo Nida’s arrest, Phaedra Parks and Angela Stanton
As we previously reported, Apollo Nida’s alleged co-conspirator Gayla St. Julien was sentenced to 61 months in prison last week for her part in the mail, bank and wire fraud schemes she told the Secret Service were masterminded by Apollo, who was also later arrested with Gayla’s help. Currently behind bars, Gayla issued a lengthy statement to media outlets this morning via her God daughter to address whether or not she testified against Apollo, why she didn’t name Phaedra Parks as part of the fraud schemes, and her thoughts on Phaedra Parks’ accuser Angela Stanton.
AUGUST 15, 2014 – RHOA Phaedra Parks discussed Apollo Nida’s testicles during deposition
In a rather interesting line of questioning, Real Housewives of Atlanta cast member Phaedra Parks discussed Apollo Nida’s manhood and his penchant for frequenting strip clubs.
OCTOBER 13, 2014 – Judge orders Phaedra Parks to talk about Apollo Nida’s crimes in 2nd deposition
More Bravolebrity legal drama as Georgia judge Carla Brown has ordered The Real Housewives of Atlanta‘s Phaedra Parks to sit for a second deposition and reveal any non-privileged information she knows about Apollo Nida’s criminal activities.
MARCH 25, 2016 – UPDATE The Phaedra Parks and Angela Stanton lawsuit is still moving forward
Get the latest on the still active lawsuit between The Real Housewives of Atlanta star Phaedra Parks and Angela Stanton, whose book Lies of a Real Housewife alleges that Phaedra Parks was not only aware of ex Apollo Nida’s criminal endeavors, but she was also an integral part in orchestrating them.
