Phaedra Parks Fired From RHOA Over Alleged Rape Rumor

The real drama of Real Housewives Of Atlanta went down behind the scenes—and now one of the show's biggest stars isn't coming back.

First, a whole lot of background: During the season 9 reunion on the Sunday, May 7, 2017, Phaedra Parks confessed that she spread rumors that castmate Kandi Burruss and Burruss' husband Todd Tucker planned to drug and rape fellow RHOA star Porsha Williams and their mutual pal Shamea Morton. TMZ reports that Burruss, 40, threatened Bravo if the network aired the clips featuring the rumors, so Bravo stood down—until the reunion show, in which it all came back to Parks.

"That really bothered me because I've been in the music industry since I was a kid and people get into the whole drug and drinking thing," Burruss, 40, explained in a March 2017 episode of the series (via People). "I was always determined that was not going to be me, so I take offense! It's just been boilin' my blood, because if she's out there telling people this mess, that could ruin my life. So I have to let people know that this b***h is full of s**t."

Williams had also previously denied anything sexual occurred with Burruss or Tucker telling People in January 2017, "I have no want to be with Todd whatsoever. There was a night when we were in the club and I was super drunk with beer goggles and there was a kiss. There was fun in the club. But there was nothing where anybody went home with anyone."

As for the rumors, it's unclear if Parks started them herself or if she heard them from someone else, as she claimed. "I repeated it because I heard it," Parks said on the reunion show. "Something was brought to me. I just repeated it ... I repeated what someone told me. I'm not saying I didn't say it. I'm saying I repeated it ... I shouldn't have repeated it ... I screwed up ... I'm sorry."

Before the episode aired, Parks told People, "What's meant to happen will happen. They say you're set up to step up for the next thing, right? I know that I'm fortunate. I know that good things happen to me because I have my feet on frugal ground. I can't regret anything, but I know it was destined to happen."

She also said she'd like to return to the series, saying, "I would love to continue [on the show]. Obviously the show documents your journey, and every journey has its ups and downs ... It's not always accurate, of course, but for the moments that they capture something that's real — like being a mom, helping someone out, having a very sensitive moment on television that turns into something beautiful — that's the legacy that counts when it comes to reality TV. The moments that change people's lives."

But Parks' return is not looking likely. On Monday, May 8, 2017, TMZ reported that Parks was fired from the show. Sources close to production claim that the rumor was the reason she got the boot and that her allegations were "out of line." Parks was reportedly informed of her firing in early April 2017. An insider also noted to Page Six, "They were so disgusted with her. The entire cast and Andy [Cohen] agreed Phaedra would not be coming back next season. She dug her own grave. She's considered a liability and will not be returning. Andy is upset."