Before the spin-offs, the Nigerian weddings, and the "Go Naked" hair line, there was just Porsha Stewart. Or at least, that’s who we met on Season 5 of The Real Housewives of Atlanta. She was the "black Rapunzel" living in a massive Buckhead mansion, seemingly living a fairytale with a man who was already a legend in his own right.
Kordell Stewart, the former NFL star often called "Slash" for his versatility on the field, was Porsha Williams first husband. Their marriage was the centerpiece of her introduction to reality TV. It was also, frankly, a bit of a train wreck to watch in retrospect.
While Porsha has moved through several high-profile chapters since then—including her recent headline-grabbing marriage and divorce from Simon Guobadia—the Kordell era remains the foundation of her public persona. Honestly, if you weren't watching Bravo back in 2012, you missed the sheer intensity of their breakdown. It wasn't just a breakup; it was a total cultural moment that involved Twitter blindsides, "beard" rumors, and a divorce settlement that left Porsha with almost nothing but her engagement ring.
The NFL Legend Before the Peach
Kordell Stewart wasn't just some guy who married a reality star. He was a massive deal in the sports world long before Porsha arrived. Born in New Orleans in 1972, he became a standout at the University of Colorado.
Do you remember the "Miracle at Michigan"? That was him. A 64-yard Hail Mary pass that solidified his spot in college football history. When he got to the NFL, he played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Chicago Bears, and the Baltimore Ravens. He earned the nickname "Slash" because he could do it all: quarterback/wide receiver/runner.
By the time he met Porsha in 2009 at an Atlanta Westin hotel, he was retired from the league but still carried that heavy "alpha male" athlete energy. He was looking for a traditional wife. Porsha, the granddaughter of civil rights leader Hosea Williams, seemed to fit the bill perfectly. They married in May 2011 in a lavish, televised ceremony on WE tv's Platinum Weddings. It was all crystal altars, rose-tufted linens, and a $27 million man at the end of the aisle.
Why the Marriage Hit a Wall (Hard)
Watching them on RHOA was... uncomfortable. Kordell was frequently criticized by the other housewives for being controlling. He famously didn't want Porsha going to strip clubs with the girls or even working. He wanted a stay-at-home wife who prioritized his needs and his son, Syre, whom he had from a previous relationship.
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Porsha, at the time, seemed to lean into the "submissive wife" role. But the cracks were deep.
The Twitter Blindside
In March 2013, the world found out their marriage was over before Porsha did. Kordell filed for divorce, and Porsha famously claimed she found out about it through Twitter. Imagine sitting in the room next to your husband and seeing a TMZ alert that you're being divorced. That’s cold.
The legal battle that followed was swift and, for Porsha, financially devastating. Because they were only married for about two years and there was a prenuptial agreement in place, the court didn't give her much.
- No Alimony: She walked away without monthly support.
- No Property: Kordell kept the mansion and his assets.
- The Assets: She kept her clothes, jewelry, and her engagement ring.
The Rumors That Wouldn't Die
You can't talk about Kordell Stewart without mentioning the rumors. For years, gossip columns and even some of the Atlanta housewives hinted that Kordell was gay. Porsha herself fueled these fires after the split, questioning his interest in her during their marriage.
Kordell has always vehemently denied this. He even went as far as to sue Andrew Caldwell—a man who went viral for claiming he had a relationship with Stewart—for defamation. Kordell eventually won a default judgment in that case after Caldwell failed to show up to court, but the damage to his reputation in the eyes of the public was hard to undo.
In his memoir, Truth: The Kordell Stewart Story, he addressed the rumors head-on, blaming the "toxic" environment of reality TV for magnifying the gossip. He basically argued that being a private, disciplined man was mistaken for having something to hide.
Where They Are in 2026
It's been over a decade since their divorce was finalized in December 2013. Porsha Williams first husband has mostly stayed out of the reality TV lime-light since then, focusing on his career as a sports analyst and being a father.
Porsha, meanwhile, became a powerhouse. She stayed on Real Housewives for years, joined Dish Nation, had a daughter (PJ) with Dennis McKinley, and then entered a whirlwind marriage with Simon Guobadia that recently ended in a very public divorce filing in early 2024.
The contrast between the two men is wild. Kordell was the "traditional" husband who wanted her small and quiet. Simon was the billionaire who wanted her on a global stage. Both relationships ended in the same place: a courtroom.
What We Can Learn from the Porsha-Kordell Era
If you’re looking at your own relationship or just obsessed with celeb drama, there are a few real takeaways here.
- Read your Prenup: Porsha’s lack of a settlement was a wake-up call for many women entering marriages with high-net-worth individuals.
- Compatibility vs. Control: Wanting a "traditional" life is fine, but when one partner uses that to limit the other’s growth, it rarely lasts. Porsha wanted a career; Kordell wanted a domestic partner. Those two paths don't merge easily.
- The Reality TV Curse: Filming a marriage adds a level of scrutiny that most relationships can't handle. It's an accelerant for whatever problems are already there.
If you're tracking Porsha's journey today, it's worth looking back at the Kordell years to see how much she’s changed. She went from a woman who couldn't leave the house without permission to a woman who runs an empire. Whether you love her or hate her, that evolution started the moment she walked out of that Buckhead mansion with nothing but her ring.
To dive deeper into how Porsha built her brand after the split, you should look into her business ventures like Go Naked Hair or her memoir The Pursuit of Porsha, where she details the "mental and physical abuse" she allegedly suffered during that first marriage—claims Kordell has consistently denied. Understanding that history is the only way to make sense of the Porsha we see on our screens today.