For more than a decade, Karlie Redd’s name has been synonymous with reality television spectacle – memes, conflict, and tabloid twists. That was the Karlie Redd I expected to encounter when I had the chance to interview her. An exuberant character. Instead, I was met with a voice that was soft, subtle, and measured in its cadence. I met a woman weeks away from beginning a new law program, invested in supporting women seeking to leave abusive partnerships, and was excited about what the future may bring. She was a stark contrast to the reality star the public has seen on its TV screen for more than a decade on Love and Hip Hop: Atlanta. “Of course, everyone is like, ‘Messy Karlie Redd,’” she says, acknowledging the way viewers may see her, but with no defensiveness in her tone. “If there wasn’t some drama, no one would watch it. It’s not my show, I’m just playing a role.”
Beneath the layers of her public persona, a new chapter is emerging. She’s now a law student, inspired in part by the circumstances of her recently finalized divorce to Teleau “T. Davinci” Belton, who briefly appeared on LHHATL with her.
“I just signed my divorce papers. It’s been a long time coming. I didn’t realize divorce takes this long,” Redd, who has been proposed to several times but only married once, notes. “Going through this process inspired me to pursue a law degree.” Her excitement bubbled to the surface as she touched on her studies. “I’m starting with paralegal work to see if I love it first. I have to love what I do. If I love it, I can take over the world. There was so much paperwork with the divorce, I had to use ChatGPT as my best friend to make sure I understood everything so I could navigate it properly. I didn’t want to feel like a victim. That mindset kept me strong throughout the process.”
The union ended in early September. The marriage, which began swiftly in 2024, was clouded by allegations of infidelity and domestic violence, and public arrest records, became the impetus for pursuing legal studies and founding a nonprofit dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic abuse.
“I wanted a marriage. I’m a human being,” Redd says. “I went into marriage for love. I didn’t go into marriage for anything else but love. I’m a hopeless romantic. I just wanted to be with one person. I come from love. I come from a family that loves. I didn’t come from a survival type of family.”
But Redd alleges that things took a violent turn, leading to a cycle of hope, followed by deflation, and then shame.
“I wanted a marriage without infidelity. I wanted a marriage without abuse. But those are not the cards I was dealt,” she says. “We sought counseling, but I found myself really lonely. I didn’t have anyone to talk to because I was ashamed. I was scared to talk to anyone. But it came out, and here we are.”
Exposure of the private matter was uncomfortable initially, but it also revealed something Redd hadn’t fully grasped: her story was not singular, but part of a wider reality faced by many women.
“When it came out, a ton of women contacted me in my DMs,” she says. Among them was a mom of three trying to work up the courage to leave her abusive partner. Redd offered encouragement and resources, including money for a hotel room. But the woman always declined. “She didn’t want my money,” she explains. “She just wanted to talk.”
Eventually, the woman did find the strength to leave. Redd remembers the conversations vividly: “We talked through it. She eventually went back, and her family contacted me not too long ago to say she had returned to her abuser, and now she’s gone.”
“They wanted to thank me for being there for their daughter,” she added. “They saw our entire conversation. Her parents now take care of her three children, and I promised them I’d come and visit.”
That devastating loss solidified the TV personality’s resolve to use her platform not just as entertainment, but as a lifeline to stand beside fellow survivors and to create tangible resources through her non-profit, the Big Heart Foundation. Redd is set to honor the strength of women like her from around the country, hosting the Courageous Awards on October 22 in Atlanta at City Hall. This event coincides with Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October.
Even as Redd shoulders the weight of her past, this new chapter is filled with joy. Between recording sessions and business meetings, she finds time to jet off to Paris or Spain with her granddaughter, playing “Glamma” while savoring the world through the two-year-old’s eyes.
“It’s so amazing. I am in awe,” Redd says. “I love this little girl so much. Babysitting isn’t an issue at all. I take her on trips. This little girl has been around the world and she’s only two! Barcelona, Greece, Dubai, everywhere. I want to talk to her every five seconds of the day. It’s the best. I love it.”
Joy is also found through her vision for the future, from her latest venture, Red Room Bistro, a Caribbean spot that just opened in Atlanta, to expanding her platform with a talk show called The Red Room, which promises unfiltered conversations and a fresh space for people to come together and discuss relationship matters. And on top of that, Redd is returning to her first love: music. Her upcoming EP blends her Caribbean roots with contemporary sounds and vivid storytelling, offering fans a deeply personal glimpse into her journey.
“All of my other music, I really listened to my producers, but this EP revolves around what I’ve been through,” Redd shares. “Of course, it’s going to be Caribbean music because that’s my roots and that’s what works for me.”
So, the next time you tune in to Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta, look a little closer. Behind the headlines and high drama stands Karlie Redd, a woman who has proven to be resilient, embraced the role of “Glamma” with delight, and is fearlessly stepping into new entrepreneurial ventures, helping others along the way. Through her music and her moves, she’s rewriting her narrative, proving that reinvention isn’t just possible, it’s powerful.