Well, this is awkward. In the Nov. 16 episode of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Apollo Nida sets out to dot his I’s, cross his T’s, and right all his wrongs with everyone before he leaves for prison…everyone except for his wife, Phaedra Parks. During son Ayden’s dentist appointment, the parents do their best to save face for their two boys, but the tension can be felt even through the world’s strongest Novocain haze. They virtually ignore each other throughout the whole ordeal before leaving in separate cars and going their separate ways.
“Apollo has basically broken up our family,” Phaedra says.
Cynthia Bailey and Peter Thomas are a whole lot happier on their side of town. Cynthia’s riding high from her Ebony magazine “Sexy at Any Age” spread — and Peter, supportive as ever, plans a celebration for her at his newly reopened Bar One lounge. He asks her about the guest list, and she strategically excludes a few particular names.
“I’m ridding myself of all negativity and negative people…being friends with NeNe is a full-time job. It was way more draining than my fibroids could ever be,” Cynthia shares. So guess who isn’t invited to the party?
Though they said “I do” months ago, Todd Tucker is still dealing with the wrath of his wicked stepmother, Kandi Burruss’ Mama Joyce. Kandi, the ever-dutiful daughter, prepares to buy her mom a new home down the street from her and Todd, who isn’t too thrilled about his new neighbor.
“She knows how to push your buttons,” Todd tells Kandi. “I just want everybody to be happy,” Kandi counters. Mission: Impossible.
At Kenya Moore’s place, her friend Brandon comes over for an impromptu rescue operation. Kenya’s still playing the role of the recluse after her fight with Porsha Williams but is growing tired of hiding.
“I was a working actress! I still want to be that actress, that model, that producer, that director, that writer,” she says.
Kenya and Brandon also dish about Atlanta’s hottest topic — Apollo’s 8-year prison sentence. Brandon, who got into a huge fistfight with Apollo at NeNe‘s disastrous “pajama” party last season, has clearly moved on…and Kenya finally wants to do the same. She’s baaack!
Kandi shows her mom the new house and, surprisingly, she loves it. It wouldn’t be a Mama Joyce moment if she didn’t express her skepticism for Kandi’s new family, though. While she apologized to Todd’s daughter, Kaela, for her less-than-maternal behavior, Mama Joyce won’t be doling out any sorries to Todd’s mom, Miss Sharon…whom she almost fought before the wedding!
“She escaped a good butt-whooping,” she tells Kandi. She’s an OGG — an Original Gangsta Granny.
NeNe Leakes, our favorite showgirl, prepares for Cirque du Soleil Zumanity’s sold-out opening night Las Vegas show. NeNe’s usually the portrait of confidence, but she shows a side that most haven’t seen before — and almost lets her stage fright get to her.
“I’ve never sweated so much in my life! I grew a pair of balls that night,” she admits. “Talk about being a drag queen!”
NeNe’s not the only one getting candid. Back in Atlanta, the girls celebrate Cynthia’s Ebony spread by popping bottles…and spilling some tea. Kenya arrives to Bar One with new housewife Claudia Jordan in tow, where Kandi immediately asks Kenya about Porshagate. Much to Kenya’s chagrin, Kandi sides with Porsha.
“I didn’t think it was enough to be calling the police about,” Kandi says, adding that Kenya basically had it coming.
Then, to make matters worse, Apollo shows up solo…and makes a beeline for sworn enemy, Kenya.
“Kandi’s riding my ass, and Apollo shows up?” Kenya asks. “Cynthia, I thought this was an event…to celebrate your sexiness. This is not sexy.”
Kandi, who wins the award for Messiest Housewife this episode, grills Apollo on Phaedra’s whereabouts. “Y’all don’t communicate?” she asks.
“It’s spiraling downhill,” he admits. “You don’t understand the other side of Phaedra…she wears a Jordan on one foot and a Louboutin on the other.” Ouch.
Kenya, obviously bristled, leaves the party early…and Apollo tries to stop her to talk. Here we go again. While she waits for her car, he tries to apologize for everything…including lying about Kenya trying to have sex with him in Los Angeles. Wait, what?!
Flashback time: During the season 5 reunion, Kenya smugly told Phaedra that Apollo tried to come on to her (Texts! Secret meet-ups in Los Angeles! Hookup proposals!) — the sole reason why the rest of the Housewives and husbands hate Kenya.
“We have to apologize to this chick,” Peter says. “We’ve been looking at her like she’s a ho for the past two years!”
Now the only one who doesn’t know is Phaedra…for the time being.
