In a very lengthy interview with Variety about her new book, The Pursuit of Porsha, we learn about her encounters with R Kelly, why she had an abortion in her twenties, and her abusive dating situations in her past. I’ve got to say that all of this is very triggering for me as I can unfortunately relate on many more levels than I’d like to consider.
“She writes about what led to her having an abortion, and details her self-destructive patterns with men. She also relates how a boyfriend sexually assaulted her and — in what’s surely the most explosive revelation in “The Pursuit of Porsha” — she reveals she was in a chaotic, detrimental sexual relationship with R. Kelly during her mid-twenties. After being approached by the FBI years later about Kelly, Williams says she told them everything.”
“Williams’ association with Kelly never was revealed until her book, even as she became famous on “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.” She’d only told one friend about it, when she was going through it, so someone knew where she was for safety reasons. But Williams is also surprised that it’s remained a secret: “I wondered myself how.”
Porsha Also Shares RHOA Tea
“In “The Pursuit of Porsha,” Williams writes affectionately about her times with castmates NeNe Leakes and Cynthia Bailey, and shades Kenya Moore by default by not even using her name when writing about her. Over Zoom, when asked about her best times on “Atlanta,” she says: “I think about the sisterhood — I really do.” She mentions Kandi Burruss being there for her after her divorce, and Leakes “on and off camera, just being the voice of reason in my life for me — helping guide me through this crazy divorce, this crazy new world of being a reality star.”
“The worst times, Williams continues, were “dealing with anger management.”“What I needed to do was get my emotions in check, and keep true to my character and understand what’s important,” she says, alluding to — but not getting into — her on-camera physical altercations with Moore and Bailey. “Through going to counseling during that time, I realized: ‘You know what? How you want to leave this world, what legacy you want to leave behind, that’s more important than any argument.”
“I knew that I wanted to semi-retire at 40,” Williams says. “After I had my daughter — listen — I just knew she was my world. That’s it. I just want as much time with her as possible. And with me in the past dealing with mental health, I knew that I needed to be as healthy mentally as I could be. No drama, etc. Just in a happy peaceful place for my baby girl.”
Read the entire interview on Variety here. Again, there is a lot of triggering information there.
Thanks for this info, Tamara. I will read the Variety article. Seems that she’s still making bad choices regarding men.
I think your opinion of Porsha will be less harsh when you read all she has been through. I know I was. Or maybe you have to be a survivor to understand. There is a reason I am an “old maid” and all of those reasons are in the article. It was extremely triggering for me and has me even deeper in THE HOLE today.
Perhaps you could learn some compassion for sexual assault victims and their “choices.”
People often view choices, especially in relationships, as “you made your bed, now lay in it” when really, your past experiences have a direct impact on your choices. I can make the most brilliant, successful business decisions but because of how I was raised, my low self-esteem, the abuse, etc., when it comes to my choice in men, I am influenced by my past and don’t see the red flags. I have made the worst, life altering, negative choices in relationships that still haunt and affect me today. I get it. I’m older and alone for the same reasons. My “picker” is way off so I don’t choose. I stay by myself. Thanks for the trigger warning (I won’t read it) and you said it so right, TT. Have compassion. Her having a relationship with R.Kelly says it all to me. I won’t judge, I’ll pray for her and if her new man isn’t the right choice for her, that she chooses to get out.
Sorry for no paragraphs. When I try to go back and hit return, my phone deletes. I’m working on it.
Good for her! Leave on a high note. Hopefully her new series will be a hit.
My source says we are going to LOVE IT. And Source is not a Bravo Suit (idiot) so I believe it. Never really was a Porsha fan, but now, after this article, I relate to her so much.
It hurt my heart to read that she felt like she “had to” because she was put in his bedroom. No one should ever be obligated to have sex with anyone. I have not been in any situations like that, but I have helped several friends.
Abuse was a frequent topic on this franchise. It was Sheree’s storyline for a while. It seems weird none of this ever came up before.