Angela Oakley has opened up about the struggles in her marriage to former NBA star Charles Oakley, revealing the toll her failed real estate ventures have taken on their relationship.
In the season 16 finale of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, which aired on Sunday, June 29, Angela shared that her real estate projects have left her and her husband in significant debt, and Charles is no longer willing to support her ventures financially.
“I just needed some advice on how to deal with my husband and all that comes with him,” Angela confessed during a session with their shared therapist, Wendy. Angela acknowledged her husband’s fame, wealth, and success, noting how these qualities often attracted attention from other women.
Wendy has been a key figure in helping the couple navigate their struggles and stay together despite the mounting pressure.
Financial Woes and Marriage Strain
Angela admitted that her failed house-flipping projects had drained their finances, stating, “I have all of my money in these houses, and I’m in the ditch about all of them.” She went on to say that the emotional, physical, and financial toll of trying to sell the properties had been overwhelming.
Angela expressed her willingness to end her real estate endeavors to heal her marriage with Charles.
“These houses have put a strain on our marriage,” Angela explained. “Because I’m constantly asking Charles to pump more money into these properties, and now he’s at a point where he doesn’t want to.”
In a bid to protect her relationship, Angela said she had decided to reduce the prices of all the homes and accept that she might have to walk away from the projects.
“I feel like we’ve done all that we can do in order to protect my marriage. Sometimes, you have to cut off your finger to save your hand, and that’s what I’m doing,” she said.
Trust Issues and Rumors of Infidelity
During the episode, Angela also reflected on the trust issues she had faced with Charles. At one point, she revealed that a man had approached her at a group cooking event, spreading rumors about Charles’ infidelity. Despite the allegations, Charles dismissed them, assuring Angela that the rumors were false and that someone had set him up.
Angela admitted that while she had not always trusted Charles in the past, she had learned to trust him again, acknowledging his efforts to prove his loyalty over time. “He has proven time and time again, ‘You can trust me,’” Angela said.
However, the situation took a dramatic turn when Angela confronted her castmates and the man who had spread the rumors. When asked who had orchestrated the encounter, the man accused fellow cast member Phaedra Parks of being the mastermind.
Phaedra denied the claim, saying, “I’ve already had my marriage destroyed on national TV, there’s no way in hell I’d come for anyone’s marriage.”
Angela, not convinced by Phaedra’s denial, was further fueled by the man’s allegations that Phaedra had provided him with an envelope of materials to spread. Angela’s suspicions grew when the man claimed Phaedra had given him the information to track him down.
The Tensions Continue
Despite the heated confrontation, the episode ended with no resolution between Angela and Phaedra. Charles, frustrated by the ongoing drama, decided to leave Angela behind, expressing his disappointment with the situation.
“I’m over this,” Charles said, adding, “I knew he was full of B.S. from the get-go.”
Angela, however, remained resolute, vowing to work through her struggles. “I will tell you everything I’m going through, honey. And I will get out of it,” she quipped.
The Real Housewives of Atlanta airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo, where viewers can follow Angela’s journey as she navigates her tumultuous marriage, financial challenges, and strained friendships.
