“Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Porsha Williams is being sued by her estranged husband, Simon Guobadia, who claims she defamed him by inferring in social media posts that he has erectile dysfunction.
Guobadia’s lawsuit was filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. He wants a jury to award at least $75,000 in compensatory and punitive damages.
“I don’t think it’s difficult for anyone to understand how hurtful those sorts of comments can be, especially when they’re coming from someone with whom you shared the most intimate of relationships,” Guobadia’s attorney, Alcide Honoré, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Friday.
Attempts to contact Williams, 43, via phone, email and social media were not immediately successful.
Williams married Guobadia, 60, in Atlanta in November 2022. She filed for divorce 15 months later.
Guobadia’s lawsuit contains images of social media posts that he says Williams published to Instagram in July to embarrass him. The posts reference erectile dysfunction and men’s health awareness.
Williams also posted recommendations for dealing with erectile dysfunction, including advice on weight loss, quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet and reducing stress, Guobadia alleges. He says the timing and context of the posts make it clear they were directed at him.
“These posts were intentionally crafted to imply that plaintiff suffers from this condition, casting him in a negative and humiliating light,” the lawsuit states. “Defendant’s statements, presented as factual, have caused significant harm to plaintiff’s personal and professional reputation, subjected him to public ridicule, and inflicted severe emotional distress.”
Williams has 7.7 million followers on Instagram.
Guobadia, an investment company executive, says several media articles were published about Williams’ posts.
He says he has never had erectile dysfunction.
“Defendant’s allegations not only targeted plaintiff’s physical and emotional integrity but also struck at the core of his reputation as a capable and respected entrepreneur and philanthropist,” the lawsuit states. “The damage extends into his personal relationships, where he is met with skepticism and pity, and into his professional engagements, where the shadow of these false allegations looms large.”
Guobadia’s claims include defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress and invasion of privacy.
About the Author
