Phaedra Parks Returns to RHOA After 8 Years with Fiery Shade at New Costars
Not gonna lie, I didn’t expect Phaedra Parks to slide right back into the RHOA peach after nearly a decade. On May 25, the veteran lawyer made her Season 16 debut—handed the coveted peach from Kenya Moore’s mid-season exit—and was greeted by longtime friend Porsha Williams (Bravo via Getty). “I heard you were looking for me. Here y’all go,” declared the 51-year-old, adding in her confessional, “Unfortunately, the last time you saw me wasn’t my best moment.” That’s a pointed nod to her 2017 firing for spreading rumors about Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker plotting to drug Porsha and Shamea Morton—claims both parties have vehemently denied (People).
In true Millennial Vibes style, Phaedra’s return is equal parts apology tour and shade-fest. She admitted regret—“I regret how I left the group, but he who is without fault cast the first stone”—yet still hinted she wasn’t the only culprit (People, Bravo). Since then, she and Porsha have patched things up: “My relationship with Porsha is awesome,” Phaedra reported, coining themselves the “Wonder Twins” once more.
But let’s talk co-stars. No sooner had Porsha broken down the new ladies’ dynamics than Phaedra unleashed her inner juror. She dubbed Kelli Ferrell a “garden gnome” for her petite frame, then teased Brit Eady with a rib-tickler: “Brit’s been a girl about town… she’s got more bodies than Willie, they say.” Cue Porsha’s laughter over the Georgia mortician gag. And when the hot-dog rumors around Drew Sidora’s alleged fling with Porsha’s ex popped up, Phaedra slyly asked if they were just “selling hot dogs,” later speculating Drew’s orientation while describing Atlanta’s “curious” street chatter. Angela Oakley didn’t escape scrutiny either—Phaedra admitted she had no clue Charles Oakley was “secretly” married for 10 years.
As the episode wound down, Phaedra teased her fellow peaches with new nicknames: Kelli is now “strawberry shortcake on steroids,” Drew’s “Drew-zilla,” Brit the “woman of our town” and Angela, the “secret wife of Charles Oakley.” Wrapping up, she called the season premiere “a buffet of foolishness”—and honestly, that’s the vibe we signed up for.
Whatever you make of her grand entrance and side-eye comments, Phaedra Parks is here to stir the pot. Expect more “oops, did she say that?” moments as she digs deeper into this fresh cast. If this stirs even half the buzz of her last run, you know I’ll be watching. Anyway, that’s the tea. Do with it what you will.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine, Bravo via Getty
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
