Todd Tucker is still questioning why he has been labeled an “opportunist” after years of accusations surrounding his marriage to Kandi Burruss.
During his conversation with Big Tigger and Francesca Amiker, Todd was asked about Mama Joyce’s longtime concerns about his intentions with Kandi and how it feels to repeatedly hear that characterization.
Todd made it clear that he does not understand where the label came from, especially because he says he already had his own career and income before building a life with Kandi.
“Where was I an opportunist?” Todd asked. “If you can explain to me where I was an opportunist. Let’s rewind back.”
Todd explained that when he came to Atlanta, he was already working in television production and held a serious role behind the scenes.
“So when I came to Atlanta, I worked on the show, I was a line producer, deal with budgets, I’m everything money,” Todd said. “Producers have to speak to me to get everything okayed. I was doing pretty good.”
According to Todd, he was making a couple hundred thousand dollars a year at the time and was not someone who entered the relationship with nothing.
“I don’t know when people say opportunist, I say where?” Todd continued.
Todd also pushed back on the idea that Kandi was living some untouchable celebrity lifestyle when they first met. Instead, he described her as humble and down to earth.
“When I met my wife, she was the most humble and sweet,” Todd said. “She lived in Fayetteville.”
Todd said he is still trying to understand what people believe he took from Kandi or what he allegedly used her for.
“So where did? I’m just trying to figure it out,” Todd said. “What did I do? What did I take? What did I latch on to?”
Todd argued that rather than using Kandi, he believes they came together and built things as a team.
“I think I came in and we worked together,” he said.
Todd also claimed Kandi herself recognized the potential of what they could create together, saying she understood that her celebrity combined with his production experience and ability to execute could become something powerful.
According to Todd, Kandi told him that with her celebrity and the way he executes, they were going to “kill it.”
Todd then pointed to another issue when it comes to the opportunist label: the way Real Housewives husbands are often discussed as if they financially benefit from being on the show.
“You know how much Housewives pay the guys?” Todd asked. “Check into that.”
Todd’s comment appears to point out what has long been said about the franchise: the husbands are not typically paid like the Housewives are for appearing on the show.
That has been a major talking point for years, especially when cast members’ spouses become part of storylines, reunions and major drama without receiving the same compensation as the women actually holding the peach, diamond or orange.
Todd’s comments come as his divorce from Kandi continues to make headlines.
The former couple, who married in 2014 after meeting through RHOA, spent years facing questions from Mama Joyce about Todd’s intentions. Mama Joyce repeatedly questioned whether Todd was with Kandi for the right reasons, and those concerns became one of the most memorable family storylines during Kandi’s time on the show.
Now, years later, Todd is pushing back on that narrative again.