The Real Housewives of Atlanta alum Porsha Williams has broken her silence after her estranged husband, Simon Guobadia, was detained by immigration officials.
“It’s disheartening to see my estranged husband make choices that have led to this outcome,” Williams, 43, wrote in a Friday, February 21, Instagram statement. “At this moment, my priority is moving forward with my family.”
Us Weekly broke the news earlier on Friday that Guobadia, who was born in Nigeria, is currently being held at Georgia’s Stewart Detention Center, per U.S. Department of Homeland Security records. Guobadia’s status is listed as “in ICE custody,” referring to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (President Donald Trump signed a mass deportation plan into effect earlier this year, which means that illegal immigrants could be deported back to their home countries.)
According to Atlanta’s WSB-TV 2, Guobadia, now 60, immigrated to the U.S. in 1982 and allegedly overstayed his visa. He returned to America in 1986 and apparently also overstayed a work visa. Guobadia was arrested the next year, pleading guilty to bank and credit card fraud. After two more arrests, Guobadia was deported in 1992.
Porsha Williams’ Ex Simon Guobadia Detained by ICE Amid Mass Deportations
Guobadia was later able to return to the U.S., eventually meeting Williams in 2021. They got engaged within one month of dating and tied the knot in November 2022. News broke in February 2024 that Williams filed for divorce after 15 months of marriage.
“Thank you for your prayers & support. – PW,” she succinctly wrote via Instagram at the time, adding a broken heart emoji to the post.
Simon was previously married to RHOA alum Falynn Guobadia, initially denying that there was any overlap in the two romances. (Simon announced his engagement to Williams less than one month after revealing his divorce.)
“I’d like to seize this opportunity to thank every well-wisher of Porsha and I, whether via phone, text or DM,” Simon wrote via Instagram in May 2021. “You affirm my [belief] that finding love is possible for everyone who genuinely seeks one. Getting married again was never a question in my mind, but when. Did not expect to be blessed with a mate so soon. The interesting thing about life is that it is an individual journey.”
RHOA’s Porsha Williams and Simon Guobadia’s Split: What We Know
He added at the time: “We travel this road not lightly considering we have [been] in relationships that have [taught] us to want and do better for ourselves. I asked her to marry me because we checked ALL of each other’s boxes, and then some. We have done the individual work to sustain a healthy relationship, and I stand next to her, proud that we found each other.”
Williams, for her part, was previously married to Kordell Stewart from 2011 to 2013 before moving on with Dennis McKinley, with whom she shares daughter Pilar. Williams and McKinley split in 2018 and have continued to coparent their 5-year-old daughter.
“Pilar Jhena’ love of my life,” Williams gushed via Instagram of her child earlier this month. “You make every day brighter and I thank God for you endlessly.”
