Parks has gone from negotiating legal issues for high-profile clients like Bobby Brown and Slip-N-Slide Records, to winning over viewers with hilarious clichés and upstart Southern traditions.
A semi-newlywed –- she wed younger husband Apollo Nida a year and a half ago –- and new mom, firstborn son Ayden Adonis Nida will celebrate his first birthday in May; Parks was a perfect addition to the sextet of Georgia peaches who make up Atlanta's 'Real Housewives' cast.
BlackVoices.com sat down with the super-sassy managing partner of The Parks Group boutique law firm at the posh Four Seasons Hotel in Atlanta, and while sipping on Blackberry mimosas –- our own version of her in
famous Sip-N-See –- Parks shared some insight on her life, while offering legal perspective on some high-profile personalities.You represented one of entertainment's most notorious bad boys, Bobby Brown. How would you deal with Charlie Sheen if he were your client?
Damage control! Charlie Sheen is such a marketable force. He's gonna get out of this trouble and he will be back. He's like the cat with nine lives. I would just be doing damage control and repackaging him. Anyone that knows me knows that I have worked with some very uncontrollable clients and been successful with them. I think controlling the client has more to do with making the client respect you as a professional and making them believe and trust in you. I think when you get anyone's trust they will follow your direction -- as long as they're sober now. When they're drunk, you can't make them do anything. If you can sober them up, the sky's the limit. Charlie Sheen is a bad boy, and unfortunately, everybody loves a bad boy. He's obviously on something –- I don't know what it is –- but whatever it is has caused him to have more popularity. I don't watch that 'Two and a Half Men' show, but
because of all the recent publicity, if he gets a new show I think it would do double the ratings of that show because he is in the media and people love to see a train wreck.What about Lindsay Lohan? How would you approach her current legal situation?
Lindsay Lohan, unfortunately, embodies the worst of what we know about child stars. I have been very familiar with her from the Nickelodeon tour. I have followed her career as a professional when she did a movie with one of my great friend Jane Fonda, 'Georgia Rule,' about four or five years ago. I believe Lindsay is making a turnaround. If you look at the careers of Drew Barrymore they had some issues, but they came back. I believe Lindsay will come back as well. Now it's just about making her insurable, keeping her clean, making her look clean and just getting
her a new job.Is she going to jail for this latest incident with the stolen necklace?
She's gonna go, but just because you go to jail doesn't mean you're gonna stay. She might go, but to be honest going to jail for white prominent people has helped their careers. Look at Martha Stewart or Paris Hilton. Going to jail is not always a bad thing for a white woman. It can actually raise her stock a little bit.
Former WWE wrestler Shad Gaspard is accusing Columbus, Oh., police of racially profiling him and abuse of power after being arrested while there for the Arnold Classic. Would you take on a case like that?
Thank you, come on in and I'll leave the light on for you! I would be delighted! First of all, while we have definitely progressed as black people, there's still racism. Black men have an unfair amount of racism to be distinguished from black women. Black men, because of size and complexion, can be more intimidating than any other race of people. Because I am a practitioner and because 98% of my clients are black men, I know they are unfairly targeted. I know that driving while being black c
an be a high risk. I know that being black and unattractive can cause you more harm than help. It exists, and I think in the United States we are not having a fluid dialogue about racism and race relations, and even within our own community, we have people distinguishing us between different complexions. We target ourselves sometimes by not patronizing and not giving black professionals a chance. Sometimes we are our own worst enemy, but that being said, there is police brutality against black people. It's not the same as it was during the Civil Rights era. It's still present, but it's subliminal, and I think people need to realize that. We have a black president, and he's been disrespected more than any other president in the history of this country. He's not being disrespected for any other reason than being black. It is no time we would ever think we could speak to a president or talk about a president like we're talking about him or even question him. We have allowed our highest office to be derogated because it's being held by a black man. You have to realize that and acknowledge it. It's a 1981 case which is federal racism so I would love that case. All that any good attorney has to do is prove that there is a pattern of misconduct targeted toward people of color.What are your thoughts on the legal scandal with Bishop Eddie Long, since it's a story set in Atlanta?
First of all, I'm very good friends with the attorney [for the accusers] B.J. Bernstein. She's an excellent practitioner. We
have traveled abroad a few times. I know her to be a stand-up woman. I know that she would never take a case that doesn't have merit. She would never entertain a frivolous matter. I love the Lord and I'm a preacher's daughter -- my mama and daddy are pastors. I know that things happen in the church with ministers and pastors. At the end of the day, they're people, and I don't think we can turn our heads and have a blind eye to what's really going on. I think any child being assaulted by any person in power needs to be addressed and dealt with accordingly. Their allegations have never been denied and you have to pay to play. Either pay up or shut up, and zip it up and get it out of people's mouth.What is your take on attorney Gloria Allred? She's always in the media and seems to be associated with some highly publicized legal case.
She's a formidable attorney. She does her thing, and she gets her money. She doesn't take a case unless it's got some money. I think she's known for getting that case that's going to
garner great publicity. Sometimes if you take anything because you want to get your publicity on, it can damage you. If you just look at her track record, I think she's a good attorney. She's giving women the representation they need when our male counterparts and colleagues might not take that case. She will take them and do them justice. As a woman, I know that there's a lot of cases I would take because I know it's a woman, but for me, she might not get the proper representation and I understand women because I am a woman. I think she does do that and she does it well so hats off to her.On the 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' reunion, you spoke about getting into the funeral business. How are those plans coming along?
Related Articles
- Princess Stacie: 'Real Housewives' Star Becomes Nigerian Royalty
- EXCLUSIVE: Star Jones Talks NeNe Leakes, Barbara Walters & more
- Lisa Wu Hartwell: Leaving 'Real Housewives of ATL'
- Willis McGahee Talks Kandi Burruss, Wendy Williams & Children Rumors
Reality Bites
Sharisse "Shar" Jackson
Affiliation: 'Celebrity Fit Club: Boot Camp' on VH1
Side note: Though some may remember her as the sidekick Niecy Jackson on the groundbreaking UPN sitcom 'Moesha,' Jackson gained international tabloid attention as the mother of two children with Kevin Federline (who was married to pop superstar Britney Spears for three years). All together, she has four children.
Fantasia Barrino
Affiliation: 'Fantasia For Real' on VH1
Side note: The 'American Idol' champion (2005) is a best-selling author ('Life is Not a Fairytale') and garnered critical acclaim as Miss Celie in the Broadway musical 'The Color Purple.'
Nene Leakes
Affiliation: 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' on Bravo
Side note: The brazen Queens, NY native is a domestic abuse survivor and a former stripper – all revelations she detailed in her 2009 memoir 'Never Make the Same Mistake Twice.'
Terrell Owens
Affiliation: 'The T.O. Show' on VH1
Side note: Alabama's very own football star simply known as "T.O." -- literally let it all hang out for the photo shoot promoting his new reality series, in July 2009. The show revolves around his life off the field as he searches for love, repair family relationships and make the move from Dallas to Buffalo.
Ray Cunningham
Affiliation: 'College Hill: Virginia State University' on BET
Side note: One of the more memorable characters from the Black Entertainment Television network reality ranks, Cunningham has become an openly gay LGBT advocate, budding actor and busy blogger, who was featured in Adam Bouska's groundbreaking NoH8 Campaign, which assembled California notables responding to the state's Proposition 8 ban on same-sex marriage. Cunningham was also cast in acclaimed filmmaker Maurice Jamal's new forthcoming TV project 'Friends and Lovers.'
Miss New York
Affiliation:'Flavor of Love' and 'I Love New York' on VH1
Side note: The upstate New York drama queen competed for hip-hop hype-man Flavor Flav's love twice and was rejected both times.
MC Hammer
Affiliation: 'Hammertime' on A&E
Side note: Stanley Kirk Burrell seems to have done it all: Joined the navy; won Grammy Awards; danced for KFC popcorn chicken; fathered six children; wiggled his manhood in a Speedo bikini on a music video; went bankrupt; became a preacher; and now doing reality TV. 'Hammertime' is a look inside the family life of the man formerly known as one of the riches entertainers of his era.
Keyshia Cole
Affiliation: 'The Way It Is' on BET
Side note: In an interview, thuggish ruggish rap icon Young Jeezy claimed that the hip-hop soul songstress asked him to marry her but he turned her down.
Mo'Nique
Affiliation: 'Charm School' on VH1
Side note: While promoting the movie 'Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins,' Mo'Nique told Oprah Winfrey that co-star Martin Lawrence once gave her invaluable advice about show business.
Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth
Affiliation: 'The Apprentice' on NBC and 'The Surreal Life' on VH1
Side note:The former White House staffer proudly became the superbitch of reality TV.





Comments: (34)
Add a comment
By: bigg joe on 3/18/2011 2:03AM
she is a sexy good woman!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: regina on 3/18/2011 5:37AM
"It's a good fit for me because I don't want to bury everybody. I want it to be a boutique funeral service just like my law firm"
with this statement she is basically saying that she wants to bury rich upper class people and not poor people from the hood. this chick is so cocky and arrogant and has her nose stuck so far in the air! i didnt like her on the show b/c of the way she kept lying about her due date. trying to cover up the fact that the prissy southern belle who is a preachers daughter got pregnant out of wedlock. i mean who really cares??? women get pregnant out of wedlock all the time. why go on a reality show if you're that ashamed of the fact that you got pregnant out of wedlock. like did she really think that people wouldnt figure it out?? i dont think she brought anything to the show except her arrogant attitude and a bunch of lies...
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: M.G on 3/18/2011 10:40AM
I'm sorry, I just believe she's an airhead. Some things that comes out of her mouth is like: "Really? Did you JUST hear yourself?" And she's a "lawyer" per se...hmm.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: MochhaLady on 3/18/2011 11:05AM
Phaedra Parks needs her own show. She is classy and funny. LOVE HER!!!!!!!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Janet on 3/18/2011 12:41PM
OK, the funeral remark was crude as hell, but from a business standpoint, it was "right on". Would you open a funeral home in a town where the life expectancy was 100 years - you'd starve to death. You'd be much more successful in a town where, for whatever reason, there is a high death rate. BUT YOU'D BE A DAMN FOOL TO TALK ABOUT IT IN AN INTERVIEW WITH JAWN MURRAY!!! LMAO
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: boo boo on 3/18/2011 12:51PM
who is she anyway, it seem as if n--s do anything and everything tht white poeple do. She's not a politican she hasn't contribute anything to nothing so why are ya'll giving these women any credence. Damn We have more important things to worry about then some s--t like tht.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Gichaya on 3/19/2011 2:20PM
She got an education and because a lawyer. Perhaps you should follow suit, because your statement shows your ignorance and lack of education, boo boo
Report This
By: Gichaya on 3/22/2011 1:40PM
Oops, make that BECAME, not because
Report This
By: Lady P on 3/18/2011 1:54PM
I agree with you Janet. A lot of the comments posted are just criticizing Phaedra for what she said. I think it's a practical business move to consider opening a funeral home in a place where you'd get business. Remember: location, location, location. That phrase applies to almost any business. However, I also agree that it is asinine to discuss it an interview with an entertainment reporter; unless of course, the funeral homes are already up and running. Otherwise, the funeral home statement belongs in a business publication. Go Phaedra! Do your thing lady!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: ybnvious63 on 3/18/2011 1:37PM
For once, Phaedra actually had my attention because she was making alot of sense UNTIL...the Funeral Home Business portion of the interview. The funeral home business is a "very profitable" business but who would look for a town where the death rate is extremely high, want to throw parties at the wakes, and look at bejeweled programs???? I think that "partying and ghetto ass programs" would be the last thing on that grieving family's mind. This is one of those articles that they should have asked the question "Which Atlanta Housewife made this unbelievable statement?" We all would have known...PHAEDRA!!!
Reply to this Comment | Report This