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In the midst of Fantasia Barrino's much talked about scandal with Antwaun Cook, many questions remain unanswered regarding the mysterious man in the center of the controversy.Well, new details were uncovered about the proud member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, who is also the father of two young boys.
Prior to the season three 'American Idol' winner meeting him at a Charlotte-area T-Mobile store, where he was reportedly employed, Cook held a career in real estate in which he pursued in 2003.
"I grew an interest in real estate originally from the investing side, and have continued in real estate from many different angles for the last seven years," the East Carolina University graduate allegedly wrote to potential clients on his Keller Williams Realty website. "I attained my real estate license in 2006, which allows me to share the knowledge from my own 'good' and 'interesting' experiences of the home buying and selling process."
"Being that I have researched and purchased my own investment properties it makes me knowledgeable in the many facets of the process," Cook continued. "Allow me to help you with selling your home and finding your dream home," he offered.
Cook's self-proclaimed "high integrity" and customer service expertise may have translated well to helping Fantasia fulfill her mobile communication needs.
But despite the platinum-selling singer admitting to having a romantic affair with Cook since 2009, she also maintains in believing he was separated from his estranged wife, Paula Cook.
Unfortunately, he wasn't being as transparent as Barrino, 26, had initially thought. On Aug. 4, the missus filed for divorce, detailing in court documents that the singer engaged in an lurid affair with her husband and even "recorded" several of their sexual encounters.
The wife is seeking child custody, alimony and other monetary support, according to court documents filed in Mecklenburg County District Court in the Charlotte area.
The whirlwind of events not only reportedly came as a shock to Fantasia but also "overwhelmed" her, according to her manager Brian Dickens.
The scandalous ordeal, which became a top story in the mainstream media, eventually landed 'The Color Purple' star in hospital Aug. 10 due to an overdose of aspirin and a sleep aid.
She was released from a North Carolina hospital on Aug. 12.
"She has been lifted up by the outpouring of love and support from her fans," Dickens -- a former Washington Court Hotel front desk attendant -- said in a statement. "She is more committed than ever to her daughter and her work because they are her heart, her soul and inspiration."
Though Fantasia and Cook have apparently called their affair off, it appears that they staged a reunion of sorts. Photos of the two surfaced online Aug. 13 showing the couple outside of Barrino's North Carolina home the day before -- with a camera crew in tow. Though a VH1 insider denies that the crew was there filming the finale of the reality show 'Fantasia For Real,' some believe that it was staged to boost ratings.
"Their relationship has been really off and on in recent times so we will just have to wait and see how things will pan out," a source told the website Radar Online. "Fantasia has plenty of people looking after her right now, and the most important thing is that she does not have too much pressure or stress."
Comments: (160)
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By: reevey4 on 8/14/2010 8:58AM
ye without sin cast the frist stone...The missus knew exactly what was going on and belive me , she recevied some rewards. They were separated all bets are off including marriages
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By: walt on 8/14/2010 9:24AM
"Ye without sin cast the first stone" And then what did Jesus say after that???? Doesn't matter if you're separated, GOD says that you're still married!!
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By: Justifyed on 8/14/2010 10:56AM
Hmm Separated Vs Divorce? Are you kidding me? "all bets are off"...I bet if wifey was kicking it with someone else, we'd be calling her everything but a child of God and the name she was born with.
Tiki's blonde bimbo thought that him being separated was her cue to jump on board, now he can't see his kids, he's being sued by an athletic company that refers to him as "worthless", AND his sportscaster contact was not renewed....I bet now she is wishing he was divorced.
Now she becomes # 6, behind the wife, the four kids, and himself...and God forbid if she marries him, she'll be taking care of him, like Alicia is taking care of Swizz Beats.
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By: Compassion on 8/14/2010 10:17AM
We all make mistakes. There are two sides to every story. Believe that the media will do and print anything(fact or fiction) in order to hype up the situation. It is obvious from what transpired after this story surfaced that Fantasia is really upset about this situation. Rather than condemn Mr. Cook and Fantasia, pray for their redemption. Pray for the wife and children. Pray that they learn from their mistakes
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By: Clinesha18 on 8/14/2010 11:10AM
Fantasia did not commit adultery. She commited fornication, like the majority of us single people.
The husband burst his marriage vows wide open when HE committed ADULTERY!!! And as fine as he is, it probably ain't the first time but the wife want to come after Tasia because she has money.
I don't blame the wife for wanting all partys involved to pay, but in truth, the husband ruined EVERYTHING by letting a stranger invade their lives. Instead of protecting his household, he helped in tearing it down. She only assisted in the demolition he had alread began.
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By: Renee on 8/14/2010 8:47PM
Fine! NOT at all! Such as swizz Beats Fine....not at all! People consider every damn body fine these days.
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By: Clinesha18 on 8/16/2010 7:33AM
Renee, get your eyes checked!!! He is not overweight or flabby; he is fairly toned and is a handsome man. A scoundrel? Yes. Fine? Hell Yes! And if you can't see that, then you must be playin' for the other team. No judgement.
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By: Deborah on 8/14/2010 11:42AM
Both are grown adults I am not condoning their actions but it really is none of our business remember it takes to to tango
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By: T Royo on 8/14/2010 12:24PM
1st...most when children are in the mix..self serving behavior takes a backseat. We (men/women)sometimes forget that in our pursuit of "happiness". Often times there is a situation that occurrs in marriages at different stages. The couple grows apart. Both/or one of the parties become complacent to the other. I don't say/blame the wife if this was the case..if so, the man or woman,however shallow this may seem,doesn't feel fullfilled in the relationship. He or she will be open to attention from someone else. I don't say what is right or wrong here...only that the old "syndrome" of "I don't want him/or her, but don't want anyone else to have them sets in. It's human nature to want to feel needed/wanted. After having said this..people,you must be a couple.Stay eye to eye...don't forget the things that got you together in the 1st place. Work on it everyday as a "business", the business of your family. I know.. what lofty expectations!!! Also...don't let sex alone be the reason for marriage.That alone will not sustain a relationship. If it hurts you to hurt your partner..you will know a real love of your partner.. and yourself. Don't let loneliness ruin your marriage.Fantasia/Antwuan typical?.Se La Vi.
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By: Michelle on 8/15/2010 12:09PM
The only people that I feel sorry for are the children: the Cook boys and Barrino's daughter Zion, because all three adults could've handled this situation a helluva lot better. Once Fantasia had known about her boyfriend's marital status, she should've severed ties with this man. Her heart would've been broken and she might've been angry, but she would've had her dignity intact.
There are some comments that were left on here that stated that the wife is a victim and I respectfully disagree. Call me a cynic, who sees the glass half-empty if you want to, but I think the wife was planning on getting some cash from Fantasia, whether by hook or by crook. According to her claim, she stated that there were "sex tapes" of Fantasia and her husband. How does she know about those tapes? Did her husband make mention of them? And if she had those tapes in her possession, what do you think she was planning on doing with those tapes? I doubt she was only going to destroy those tapes.
Now thanks to some silly law in North Carolina, a scorned wife can sue their husband's mistress, so now Mrs. Cook can get some money from Barrino in a legal way.
Do you think Antwuan's wife would've recorded phone conversations between she and Fantasia, if Fantasia was a minimum-wage factory worker or a hairdresser and she wasn't the singer?
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