Originally posted Thursday, March 12, 2020 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
On a day when the coronavirus pandemic was all over the news, Tammy Rivera and Waka Flocka were at the Gathering Spot in Atlanta Wednesday promoting their newest WE-TV reality show "Wake & Tammy: What the Flocka" debuting Thursday night at 10 p.m..
Rivera, an R&B singer and entrepreneur, wanted to boost her immune system by having a nutrition/hydration IV drip and convinced her hip-hop singing husband Waka Flocka to do the same. And they did it while I interviewed them.
Waka has a high tolerance for pain and didn’t appear remotely concerned as a woman placed the needle into his right arm. But Rivera flinched and yelped when she had it done. “It hurts like s***!” she said. She said she had an IV once before but it’s unclear if she’d do it again.
Credit: CR: Rodney Ho. Tammy Rivera and Waka Flocka at the Gathering Spot 3/11/20
Credit: CR: Rodney Ho. Tammy Rivera and Waka Flocka at the Gathering Spot 3/11/20
Rivera did most of the talking about the show and how they ended up there.
She started in reality TV about five years ago on “Love and Hip Hop Atlanta” and managed to not embarrass herself. Some complained she was too polite - relatively speaking.
"It was very successful no matter what people say about it," she said. "It gave me a platform to create my own businesses and make my own money. I've made millions off that show. I have a successful swimsuit line. Music has been very successful."
After some relationship bumps, they joined “Marriage Boot Camp” on WE-TV and lo and behold, it was helpful!
“We got really good counseling, which surprised me,” Tammy said.
“It was fun for us,” Waka said.
The positive reaction to the couple on that show led to appearances on WE-TV's "Growing Up Hip Hop Atlanta," which happens to have Waka's mom Deb Atney as an executive producer. (The entire show's premise is about nepotism so why not?)"
WE-TV decided to give the couple their own show and a test run of six episodes. Better yet: they are executive producers and have a say over how the show is shaped.
Waka and Tammy on the show will focus on home renovation woes, their music careers, parenting a 14-year-old daughter Charlie and tolerating meddling in-laws.
“People know Waka as the wild boy, the international star,” Tammy said. “They don’t know Waka as a dad or husband.”
Waka considers himself “a hell of a father” though he admits to being the spoiler.
And as a reality show vet, Tammy knows what viewers want. She said she has no qualms showing them arguing and facing obstacles, readily admitting their marriage is “dysfunctional.”
“We give them the real and raw and uncut,” she said.
She said they even argued at the premiere party Tuesday night.
“I wear my emotions on my sleeve,” Tammy said. “He knows how to antagonize the s*** out of me.”
The secret to keeping the marriage alive? “Arguing and marijuana,” Tammy cracked.
TV PREVIEW
“Waka & Tammy: What the Flocka?” 10 p.m. Thursday, WE-TV
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