'If I Said It, I Meant It': Kelli Potter Gets Real About Love, Friendship, and RHOA

The Real Housewives of Atlanta star opens up about finding peace after divorce, where she stands with Porsha Williams and Phaedra Parks, her romance with Jarvis, and why she's embracing every chapter.

Kelli Potter is in her season of gratitude.

When The Reality Rundown sat down with The Real Housewives of Atlanta star, she was glowing, grounded, and very clear about one thing: the woman viewers are watching this season is stronger, more resilient, and far more at peace.

“Life is great, baby,” Kelli said with a smile. And honestly? It shows.

After being introduced to viewers as Kelli Ferrell, the restaurateur, mother of four, and owner of Nana’s Chicken-N-Waffles is now stepping into life as Kelli Potter. But the name change is only part of the transformation. This season, fans are seeing a woman navigating divorce, motherhood, business setbacks, friendship shifts, new love, and the pressure of doing it all while cameras are rolling.

For Kelli, the difference between her first season and her second is simple.

“I just didn’t care,” she said. “I was very open, even more open when it comes to just sharing my truth and sharing my journey.”

That openness has included everything from staying with her best friend Shamea Morton while her place was being finished, to dropping her eldest daughter, Khloe, off at Spelman College, to making difficult decisions about her restaurant business.

“My life is my life,” Kelli said. “I don’t get to pick and choose what I’m going through no matter if I’m filming or if I’m not filming.”

Kelli Says Her Friendship With Shamea Is Real On and Off Camera

One of Kelli’s most talked-about relationships this season has been her friendship with Shamea Morton, and Kelli made it clear that what viewers see is only a small piece of their real bond.

“Me and Shamea have a real friendship on and off camera,” Kelli said. “We actually really did take the time out to get to know one another and really build a real genuine friendship.”

According to Kelli, their connection extends beyond the show. Their kids spend time together, their mothers hang out, and they see each other outside of glam, cameras, and Housewives events.

“It didn’t matter if I had to stay with her for two weeks or two months or two years. The doors were open,” Kelli said. “And I didn’t have to hear about it. It wasn’t talked about. It wasn’t gonna come back and be thrown in your face.”

Kelli also defended Shamea against criticism from the group, saying she wishes people gave her friend more grace.

“She’s a passionate friend,” Kelli said. “She is vulnerable. She is real. She wears her emotions on her sleeve.”

Kelli Is Happy in Her New Relationship With Jarvis

And yes, we had to get into the man.

Kelli confirmed that things are going well with Jarvis, who was nearby during the interview and even said hello to the camera.

“It’s fun,” Kelli said of being in love again. “I just love feeling all giggly and smiley and just happy.”

After going through what she described as a dark season during her divorce, Kelli said her current relationship feels different because of the support.

“The most important thing that I value in this relationship that I’m in is the support,” she said. “It’s no competition.”

She added that Jarvis has been there for both her wins and her failures, including when she felt like her Sandy Springs restaurant location was not working.

“I can come to him with my failures. I can come to him with my wins and still feel supported.”

Where Kelli Stands With Porsha Williams

Of course, one dynamic fans are still trying to understand is Kelli’s relationship with Porsha Williams.

On paper, the two women seem like they could connect. They’re both mothers, entrepreneurs, beautiful, funny, and deeply tied into the Atlanta social scene. But according to Kelli, the disconnect is still there.

“I don’t know what it is,” Kelli said. “That has to be a question that you would have to ask her.”

Kelli said she entered the season with a “clean slate and open heart,” but felt the tea room moment changed the tone of their relationship.

“I really went to just be at peace with her,” she said. “And she just hit.”

Still, Kelli insisted she does not wish Porsha any harm.

“I think Porsha is a great woman,” she said. “I wish her well. I wish her business well. I hope that she does well in her life, in her career, and her love life.”

However, Kelli also questioned whether Porsha is truly a “girl’s girl.”

“I just don’t know if Porsha’s a girl’s girl,” she said. “I’m not sure.”

Kelli also shut down speculation that her issues with Porsha are because of her friendship with Shamea.

“My relationship with Shamea and my relationship with her is completely different,” Kelli said. “One doesn’t hinder the other.”

Kelli Praises the New Ladies and Gives Cynthia Bailey Her Flowers

Despite some rocky moments with the cast, Kelli said she has enjoyed building relationships with the newer ladies, including K. Michelle and Pinky Cole.

“I love the new ladies,” she said. “I think that they are the most amazing addition.”

For Kelli, part of the connection comes from being around women who understand business, especially brick-and-mortar businesses.

“To be able to have women that you can relate to in regards to just business and brick and mortars and just being their real authentic selves, I think has been amazing for me.”

She also gave love to Cynthia Bailey, sharing that Cynthia checked in on her father after he had a heart attack and open-heart surgery.

“She was one of the first people that sent me a text message and said, ‘Hey, I’m just checking on your dad. How’s everything going?’” Kelli said. “And I’m forever grateful for that.”

Kelli Says She Has Not Addressed Phaedra Parks Yet

Kelli also opened up about her complicated dynamic with Phaedra Parks, who represented her legally on the show.

While Kelli said Phaedra has supported her both on and off camera, she admitted there are still things that need to be addressed.

“I’m upset about some things that happened on camera,” she said. “But I think those are some things that maybe we can work through, hopefully eventually.”

During the fan question portion of the interview, Kelli was asked whether she ever addressed Phaedra for confirming allegations about her and a married Nigerian pastor.

“No, I never addressed Phaedra,” Kelli said. “I’m waiting for the right time to address Phaedra. And the right time will come.”

Kelli also clarified that when she accepted legal help from Phaedra, she did not know those things were being said about her.

“I definitely probably would not have hired her to represent me if I’d known those things were said about me behind my back,” she said.

Motherhood Remains Kelli’s Proudest Role

While Kelli has a lot going on, one of her proudest titles is mother.

This season, viewers watched her send her eldest daughter, Khloe, off to Spelman College, a moment Kelli described as both difficult and rewarding.

“One of the hardest things, but one of the most rewarding opportunities,” she said.

Kelli shared that Khloe completed her freshman year at Spelman, made the honor roll, and landed an internship at an attorney’s office.

“I’m just proud of her,” Kelli said. “Just seeing her thrive and really just chasing her goals and really just standing in her own, it just makes me proud.”

And yes, Kelli is giving herself credit too.

“I had to give myself a little smack on the back like, ‘Girl, you did that.’”

Kelli Gets Real About Business Setbacks

Kelli also spoke candidly about closing her Sandy Springs restaurant location and why she refuses to let one setback define her brand.

“Nothing beats a failure but a try,” she said.

She admitted the closure was difficult, especially because she had previously opened successful restaurants and had never been forced to close one in that way.

“That was one thing in my life that I did fail at,” she said. “It was hard to have to really endure and then take that.”

But Kelli said the decision was not about the show, the fans, or public perception. It was about making the smartest business choice for her future.

“I didn’t want to put myself further in debt and put myself further in a situation that I would never be able to get out of,” she said.

And despite the criticism, Kelli made one thing clear: Nana’s Chicken-N-Waffles is still standing.

“Don’t take one location and think that that was the entire brand,” she said. “That’s just a little blip of the brand and we will continue to build one waffle at a time.”

Kelli Says She Has No Regrets

As the season continues, Kelli said the moment that makes her smile the most is taking Khloe to Spelman.

“You only get to do that one time,” she said.

As for what still makes her roll her eyes? Kelli kept it simple.

“I don’t have no regrets,” she said. “If I said it, I meant it.”

And with the reunion approaching, Kelli teased that anything that needs to be clarified will be.

“We’re about to come up on reunion,” she said. “The things that need to be clarified will definitely be clarified.”

Until then, Kelli is focused on her restaurant, her family, her relationship, and her next chapter. She also revealed that she has a new cookbook coming soon, expected toward the end of the summer.

And for fans who want more Kelli, she will be joining The Reality Rundown at TRR Live ATL, where Nana’s Chicken-N-Waffles will also be bringing out the food truck.

“I can’t wait to meet the fans,” Kelli said. “We are gonna have the most amazing time and only bring good energy.”