Kelli Ferrell, one of the newest cast members of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, is facing serious legal drama off-screen as her ex-husband, Chuvalo Mark Ferrell, has filed a massive lawsuit against Bravo and others over claims made about him on the show.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Chuvalo alleges that Kelli fabricated a storyline accusing him of being abusive and of stealing money from her, allegations he says are completely false.
He claims that in 2022, he and Kelli jointly applied for a $420,000 loan to build out their restaurant, Nana’s Chicken-n-Waffles, but that Kelli misused part of the funds for personal expenses, including her birthday celebrations. Chuvalo says that despite repaying the loan, Kelli falsely accused him on the show of having stolen the money.
He further alleges that cast members discussed him on The Real Housewives of Atlanta, calling him “a criminal, an abuser, and a fraud.”
Chuvalo claims that Bravo and the show’s producers knew these accusations were untrue but chose to air them anyway, severely damaging his reputation. He says the false statements have caused “irreparable harm” to both his personal and professional life, losses he values at $100 million.
In addition, he is seeking another $100 million in punitive damages “to send a message” to the network, bringing the total amount sought in the lawsuit to $200 million.
Kelli and Chuvalo reportedly married in 2011 and share three children. Their divorce was finalized in 2024.
When contacted for comment, Bravo had not yet issued a response.