When Phaedra Parks and Kandi Burruss appeared on The Real Housewives of Atlanta together, they were the best of friends. However, the friendship began to sour during season seven when the pair started hanging out together less and less. Phaedra started to detach herself from her friendship with Kandi and began developing a closer bond with Porsha Williams. As for Kandi, she was confused as to why Phaedra was so distant from her and began to grow closer costar Kenya Moore, whom she is still friends with today.
Both Kandi and Phaedra joined the cast of the Bravo series during the beginning seasons of the show. Kandi joined in 2009 for season two, while Phaedra joined in 2010 for season three. The ladies hit it off almost immediately and were close friends by the end of Phaedra's first season. They were always supporting each other through the good times and the bad times – at least, until Phaedra's marriage to Apollo was on the rocks. Phaedra noticed a difference in Kandi, which ignited this major feud.
The feud with Phaedra and Kandi began somewhere between season six and seven of RHOA. Phaedra claimed Kandi wasn't there for her during the downfall of her marriage to Apollo. While she and Apollo were getting a divorce and Apollo was getting ready for jail, Kandi's husband, Todd, offered to keep a few of Apollo's motorcycles in his garage. Phaedra was also upset with Kandi questioning why she refused to take her two sons to see her ex-husband in jail. Phaedra didn't like how Kandi was talking about a sensitive and private topic within her marriage. Another source of contention was the money Phaedra owed Todd for producing her workout video. The payment became an issue for Todd after he only received two-thirds of the $25,000 he was owed. Todd eventually got his money, but it put yet another strain on Phaedra and Kandi's relationship.
While most of these issues can be forgiven, let's not forget the biggest reason as to why these women are no longer friends. During season nine, Phaedra started a rumor that Kandi tried to drug and take advantage of fellow costar, Porsha Williams. The rumor came to light during a lunch date between Porsha and Kandi, but Porsha never revealed her source. Viewers found out during the four-part reunion that Phaedra was the one behind the accusation, which left Kandi walking off the stage in tears. Shortly after the reunion wrapped, Phaedra was fired from RHOA and wasn't able to make amends with Kandi or Porsha. However, Kandi clearly isn't ready to forgive Phaedra anyway, as she open told The Breakfast Club (via Cheat Sheet) that she would quit RHOA if Phaedra was ever invited back.
After Phaedra started that rumor about Kandi, who won The Masked Singer, their friendship was immediately over. What she said not only could have damaged Kandi's career, but her family as well. Phaedra was acting out of pettiness because she thought Kandi was taking Apollo's side during her divorce. However, Phaedra took it too far, and now Kandi will never forgive her. It's safe to say these two will never be besties again.
Sources: Cheat Sheet