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Chuvalo Mark Ferrell, the ex-husband of Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kelli Ferrell, has filed a massive $200 million defamation lawsuit against Bravo. He claims the network falsely portrayed him as an abusive, dishonest man who stole money and mistreated his family.
According to court filings, the lawsuit seeks $100 million in compensatory damages and another $100 million in punitive damages. Ferrell argues that Bravo’s programming and online promotion spread “blatantly false and damaging claims” that have destroyed his personal and professional reputation.
The dispute reportedly stems from the couple’s business, Nana’s Chicken-N-Waffles, a Georgia-based restaurant they once co-owned. The show referenced a $420,000 loan the two allegedly took out in 2022, suggesting that Ferrell misused or failed to repay the funds. In his lawsuit, Ferrell insists that he repaid the loan in full and that Bravo aired misleading content implying he was financially irresponsible.
Ferrell also accuses Bravo and its production team of allowing cast members to refer to him as a “criminal, abuser, and fraud” on camera, even though, he claims, producers knew the allegations were untrue. He says the network deliberately ignored evidence that would have cleared his name in order to craft a more sensational storyline for viewers.
The complaint further alleges that Bravo aired scenes featuring the former couple’s children without his permission, exploiting the situation to escalate the drama. Ferrell maintains that the false portrayal led to severe emotional distress, financial loss and damaged relationships with his family.
He also asserts that Kelli Ferrell’s on-screen claims contributed to his brief incarceration, during which he reportedly spent over 40 days in jail. Court documents cited in the filing claim that he repaid $320,000 of the loan before the end of 2022 and cleared the balance shortly after.
Ferrell’s legal team accuses Bravo of prioritizing “ratings over responsibility,” claiming the network knowingly aired defamatory material for entertainment value. They argue the portrayal showed “reckless disregard for the truth” and that the damage to Ferrell’s public image has been irreversible.
