What We Know About Kandi Burruss’ Ex, Russell Spencer

Kandi Burruss fans, and Kandi herself, were rather shocked when her ex, Russell Spencer, made his reality show debut last night during season 9 of the hit Bravo series, The Real Housewives of Atlanta. 

Little is known about their relationship, which blossomed in the 90s before the birth of their daughter Riley, and fizzled out soon after Kandi discovered she was pregnant.

While she didn’t have intentions on sharing her dysfunctional and often non-existent relationship with the music mogul on national TV, the dynamic between the former lovers and their child will become somewhat of a focal point of Kandi’s storyline this season. 

Here’s what we know about Kandi, Russell and Riley’s estranged relationship. 

1. Kandi and Russell had a short lived relationship. 

The reality star reveals that their relationship was one that didn’t last very long because of infidelity. “We only dated a few months,” she revealed to Bravo. “It was very short. I found out he was still in a relationship with his other kids’ mom, so I ended our relationship, but I was already pregnant with Riley.”

2. They met at a car dealership. 

“I saw Block a few times at the radio station and probably a year after that I ran into him at a car dealership,” she also shared with Bravo. “That’s when we exchanged numbers and started hanging out.”

3. He and Riley have a very strained relationship.

 “I don’t really want to say that I don’t care, but it’s like … they call that ‘void,’” Riley told her mom during the latest episode of the hit series. “He should be the one [to try to connect with me], not his girlfriend.”
4. Kandi says Russell would go years without checking on Riley. 

“We would hear from him for a little while then you wouldn’t hear from him again for like a year, two years then he’ll call again, ‘Oh, how is she doing?’ then you wouldn’t hear from him…that has been the situation her whole life,” she told E! News. 

5. Russell is a music exec. 

According to Kandi, Russell has a music and management company. Love and Hip Hop Atlanta star Yung Joc had hits on his label.