Surprise! Phaedra Parks And New Man Star On ‘Marriage Boot Camp: Hip Hop Edition’

Well we definitely didn’t see this coming. Just one day after reporting that Phaedra Parks could be returning to The Real Housewives Of Atlanta, she’s been announced as a cast-member on the all-new season of Marriage Boot Camp: Hip Hop Edition.

There were rumors last year that she may join the show, but we didn’t think she would considering her relationship was so new. I guess we were wrong. WE tv just made the announcement and dropped a trailer featuring Parks and her man Medina Islam.

Parks went public with her romance to the 36-year-old actor and rapper last year. She shared a picture of the two to her Instagram page, and shouted him out for his birthday. The couple met via a dating app in March 2019 and apparently are ready to take things to the next level.

It’s not apparent from the clip what the couple’s issues are but it’s being reported that living on different coasts may be taking it’s toll. Islam, who previously starred in Tyler Perry’s The Haves and the Have Nots, now resides in Los Angeles. Parks lives in Atlanta with her two sons.

Parks gushed to PEOPLE back in September about her new man.  “He’s a really good guy,” she said. “He’s very calming and soothing and mild-mannered. I always dealt with the bad boys, and he’s very opposite from any guy I’ve ever dated. So that’s refreshing.”

The 46-year-old attorney was previously married to businessman Apollo Nida. The couple share two sons, Ayden, 10, and Dylan, 7. Following her divorce she was linked to actor Shemar Moore and also dated radio host Tone Capone.

Islam previously dated another former RHOA star, Claudia Jordan.

Joining Parks and Medina on the show are Willie Taylor and Shanda Denyce (of Love and Hip Hop Hollywood fame); Love and Hip Hop New York star Tahiry Jose and “Look Me In My Eyes” rapper Vado; model Toni Calvert and Grammy-nominated emcee Kurupt; as well as mom-to-be and Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood‘s Hazel E. and model De’Von Walker.

The new season premieres Thursday, July 2 at 9pm on WE tv.