So, if you’ve been keeping up with the latest season of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, you know the name Kelli Ferrell. She’s the high-energy, "fashion foodie" who stepped onto our screens with a stack of waffles and a whole lot of baggage. But honestly, it wasn't the cooking that had everyone talking on social media. It was the messy, high-stakes drama surrounding her marriage—well, her ex-marriage—and the man at the center of it all.
The Kelli Ferrell husband situation is one of those "truth is stranger than fiction" stories. We aren't just talking about some petty reality TV arguments over who sat where at a dinner party. We are talking about a full-blown legal war involving $1.7 million in marital assets, allegations of stolen business funds, and a divorce that lasted over two years.
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Who Is Chuvalo Mark Ferrell?
Before things went south, Chuvalo Mark Ferrell was Kelli’s partner in both life and business for about 11 years. They tied the knot back in August 2011. On paper, they were an Atlanta power couple. Chuvalo describes himself as an "entrepreneurial visionary," and he runs a record label called Blak on Blak Enterprise. He’s worked with indie artists and clearly has a foot in the music world, though these days he’s better known for his appearances in court documents than on the charts.
They share three daughters: Chance, Chasiti, and Chelsi. Chuvalo also played a massive role in raising Kelli’s oldest daughter, Chloe, from a previous relationship. For a long time, viewers didn't see the cracks. They saw the success of Nana’s Chicken-N-Waffles, a staple in McDonough and Sandy Springs. But behind the scenes? It was getting ugly.
The Business Battle Over Nana’s Chicken-N-Waffles
This is where the Kelli Ferrell husband drama gets really intense. Most fans know Kelli as the face of Nana’s Chicken-N-Waffles. She’s a celebrity chef who has appeared on Guy’s Grocery Games and Good Morning America. But during the divorce, the ownership of that "waffle empire" became a battlefield.
Kelli didn't hold back on the show. She claimed she was the "submissive" wife who handled the cooking and the vision while Chuvalo handled the money. That’s a classic trap, isn't it? She eventually alleged that he emptied the business accounts, claiming he took nearly $500,000. She told castmate Brit Eady that he essentially tried to run the business into the ground while they were splitting up.
Chuvalo, of course, has a completely different story.
He filed a federal lawsuit in late 2025—yes, federal—claiming that Kelli and Rockdale County officials basically conspired to strip him of his business and his home. He says he was the sole founder, the one who funded the original location and managed the operations until 2022. It’s a classic "he-said, she-said," but with much higher stakes. He even opened a rival spot called Uncle Butch’s Chicken-N-Waffles in Conyers. Talk about petty.
A Divorce That Landed Someone in Jail
Divorces are usually just expensive. This one was actually dangerous. Kelli has been open about the fact that she had to hire a bodyguard for protection during the process. She even accused Chuvalo of physical and financial abuse, allegations that added a dark layer to her first season on RHOA.
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The legal fight reached a boiling point when a judge actually ordered Chuvalo to be arrested. Why? He allegedly owed over $14,000 in back child support. He ended up spending more than 40 days behind bars in 2024 because of it.
When the settlement finally came down, here is how the dust settled:
- Custody: They share joint legal custody, but Kelli has primary physical custody of the girls.
- Child Support: Chuvalo was ordered to pay roughly $3,991 a month.
- The Assets: The marital home had to be sold. Kelli walked away with $175,000 from the settlement, while Chuvalo got $90,000.
- The Debt: This is the part people miss. They both walked away with massive tax liabilities. We’re talking federal and state tax debt from the business spanning 2017 to 2022.
What Most People Get Wrong
People think reality stars join these shows just for the fame. For Kelli, it felt more like a survival tactic. She’s been very transparent about "building her empire one waffle at a time" while trying to recover from a financial hit that would have leveled most people.
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There's also the emotional toll. One of the most heartbreaking moments of Season 16 was seeing Kelli talk to her daughter Chloe about the estrangement from Chuvalo. Even though he isn't her biological father, he was the only dad she knew since she was two years old. Watching that bond break in real-time was tough.
Why the Kelli Ferrell Husband Saga Still Matters
This isn't just "tea" for the sake of gossip. It’s a cautionary tale for anyone in a business partnership with a spouse. Kelli admitted on Essence that she "was not smart" because she let him control all the finances while she stayed in the kitchen.
She's basically the poster child for financial literacy in marriage now.
Chuvalo is still fighting his legal battles, and the federal lawsuit against the county and Kelli is still a looming cloud. It doesn't look like these two will be "friendly exes" anytime soon. But for Kelli, the "weight has been lifted." She’s single, she’s a "lovable little troll" (as Porsha Williams called her), and she’s focused on her Sandy Springs expansion.
If you’re looking to protect yourself in a similar situation, here are the real-world takeaways from the Ferrell fallout:
- Audit your own business: Never let one person have sole control of the "books," even if you trust them with your life.
- Keep separate records: Kelli’s struggle to prove where the $500,000 went shows why digital paper trails are non-negotiable.
- Check the taxes: If you are a co-owner, you are co-responsible for the IRS. Kelli and Chuvalo both got hit with back taxes despite the divorce.
- Document everything: In cases of alleged abuse or financial misconduct, the person with the best notes usually wins in court.
Kelli’s story is still being written, especially as RHOA continues to follow her journey as a single mom and mogul. One thing is for sure: she’s definitely not "submissive" anymore.