Real Housewives vet Porsha Williams has really opened up about her divorce — in a story of self-protection, resilience, and reinvention.
Real Housewives stars rarely tread on rosy roads, but the Real Housewives of Atlanta vet has decided that enough is enough. In a People Magazine cover story, Porsha channeled the legendary Angela Bassett film Waiting to Exhale. Right off the bat, Porsha admitted she felt emotional as she was being styled like Bernadine Harris from the film, defiantly saying, “I’ve prettied up my life too when it wasn’t so pretty, and I’m done doing that.”
Now, it’s worth noting — for the few who haven’t seen the movie yet (you can stream it on Disney Plus): Bernadine gets so fed up with her philandering husband that she splashed his clothes with gasoline, tosses them in his white BMW, and lights the car on fire… but not before she calmly uses the flames to light her cigarette. The now-iconic scene has been recreated countless times to signify a woman who isn’t afraid to burn a bridge — especially if it’s one used by a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Which is exactly how Porsha felt.
Porsha Williams and Simon Guobadia met through his ex — who also appeared on RHOA. Their relationship moved fast. They went public on Instagram in 2021, and just a few weeks later, announced their engagement. The couple had two weddings: a traditional ceremony in Nigeria and a white wedding in Atlanta.
With a 17-year age difference between them, Porsha said she initially felt safe. She told the publication that Simon was open about his past mistakes and took full accountability, which, to her, read as the mark of someone who had grown and matured. But that didn’t last. Soon, Porsha noticed more “complex” issues.
Apparently, Simon had immigration troubles. Porsha said she chose to face the situation head-on and hired an immigration attorney, whose first and firmest piece of advice was that Simon should not travel. And considering how stringent immigration policy has become, Simon should have listened. But Porsha claims he didn’t.
This past Valentine’s Day, the couple had a serious confrontation — one in which Porsha said she saw a look in Simon that made her realize she wasn’t looking at the same man she once loved. Just eight days later, she filed for divorce. Porsha concluded that Simon had “chosen other desires” over her — though she was careful to clarify that there was no infidelity.
Simon, meanwhile, continued traveling internationally despite the legal warning and eventually got caught up with ICE. He was reportedly facing several legal challenges — including wire fraud, visa overstays, and falsified green card documents — which led to him being detained for four months.
Despite everything, the couple was still in divorce court, where Porsha managed to secure a 36-month stay in their home, with Simon ordered to continue paying the mortgage, in addition to a lump sum and coverage of her legal fees. Porsha described her time in court as akin to “fighting for her life.” Noting that she no longer enters a marriage without a pre nuptial agreement and this time ensured she protected herself financially.
Simon, of course, sees it all differently. He’s described the entire divorce as “blindsiding.”
I guess we’ll see how it all plays out on the upcoming season of RHOA.
