Kandi Burruss: On Hiatus From Fiance, Guardian Of Two Of His Kids

kandi-burruss-and-fiance-aj

The Real Housewives of Atlanta’s Kandi Burruss has found herself in a hard spot. Between the blogosphere and her mother, Kandi can’t seem to catch a break from all the disapproval surrounding her engagement to AJ Jewel. The disapproval stems from AJ being the father of 6 kids by 4 different women. Kandi’s harshest critic also happened to be her mother, who was very open about her non acceptance of AJ.

In a recent interview with ESSENCE.com, she answers some important questions- whether her mom has finally accepted AJ, If she and AJ have a future together and why she is raising three girls instead of one. She also reveals that AJ was previously married to one of the mother of his kids.

Below are some excerpts from the interview-

Throughout the show your mom has expressed her discontent with your fiancé. Does she still feel the same?

Yes, but what people don’t realize is that my mom’s [disapproval] happened before the show. When she feels strongly about something she won’t answer my calls and she gets very dry and everything. My mother has been overbearing since my brother died in a car accident in Mexico when he was 15. He told my mom he was going to Florida with a cousin and instead he was in Mexico and I don’t believe my mom has ever forgiven my cousin. Ever since that happened she became extremely over protective of me and when I got my first record deal at 16 even more so.

Speaking of which, inquiring minds want to know what exactly does AJ do for a living?

AJ over time has done a lot of things, including running this collection agency while we were together and he just recently bought into this strip club.

Hold up. Did you just say you and AJ are no longer together?

(Laughs.) We’re on hiatus. He’s a great guy and he’s not the type to sit on his behind like a scrub, so it has nothing to do with that. Yes, he has a lot of children, and yes, I didn’t know about them all at first but I got over it because as long as you handle your responsibility and spend time with your children it’s not an issue for me. Another thing I want to set the record straight on is that AJ was married before. A lot of people make comments like, if he didn’t marry his other children’s mothers then why do you think he’s going to marry you.

When we spoke before you expressed concern about how a separation might affect your daughter. How is she handling your break?

Things have changed because not only do I have my daughter living with me but now I am the legal guardian of AJ’s 12-year-old twin daughters because his mother felt the responsibility was too much for her right now and she couldn’t handle it anymore. He would have taken them with him, but they needed a strong female role model and wanted to stay with me. Just because AJ and I are together I have accepted them as my children the same way that my stepfather did me when I was their age and he and my mom separated. He continued do things with me as my father throughout my life.

That’s quite admirable. Now that you’ve been living in front of the cameras, would you do it for a second season?: They haven’t really talked to me about it, but yes, I would. I didn’t know what to expect or how they would portray me and I think it’s pretty accurate and there are pros and cons. I take the good with the bad. My life is changing in front of millions and I’m going to continue to grow and live my life.

For more on Kandi Burruss, you can watch the “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” on Thursdays, at 10 PM ET, and visit kandiconnection.com.

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