Kandi Burruss and Tamar Braxton’s Feud, Explained

For years, the two R&B and reality stars have gone back and forth in the public eye.

Kandi Burruss, Tamar Braxton Image: Getty Images Photo by Manny Carabel/Getty Images / Photo by Derek White/Getty Images for CLEO TV

Will Kandi Burruss and Tamar Braxton ever see eye to eye? Not likely. The two reality TV icons and music legends have been in a feud for what seems like ages now, dating back to their days on “Celebrity Big Brother” together to just this week, when Braxton was on “The Breakfast Club,” once again trying to decipher why the two just can’t seem to get on the same page.

Video will return here when scrolled back into view
Dreaming of NYSE? Adopt an Entrepreneurial Mindset First, Loren Douglass says

While Burruss has stepped away from “The Real Housewives” and is busy producing some of the biggest hits on Broadway, Braxton is also enjoying continued success, including the return of her family’s massively popular reality series “The Braxtons,” as well as her music career. While we have no idea if or when these two may finally be able to bury the hatchet, we’re breaking down every moment that led us to this point, from their time together on CBB to today.

Two Big Names in R&B

Image: Getty Images Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images Image: Getty Images Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images

As we mentioned, both Burruss and Braxton came up together around the same time, with Kandi’s band Xscape and Tamar’s The Braxtons (consisting of Tamar and her sisters Toni, Tawanda, and the late Traci), appearing on the charts in the 90s at the same time.

Running in the Same Circles

Image: Getty Images Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for 2017 ESSENCE Festival Image: Getty Images Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for 2017 ESSENCE Festival

The music industry, like most, is small, and the two for sure ran in the same circles, as Braxton confirmed while on “Celebrity Big Brother.” The two have known each other officially for over 30 years, Braxton confirmed on The Breakfast Club. It was a professional endeavor, however, that seemingly changed the course of their relationship forever.

The Great Xscape Reunion Tour

Image: Getty Images Photo by Maury Phillips/Getty Images Image: Getty Images Photo by Maury Phillips/Getty Images

From what we can gather, things really took a turn during 2017’s “The Great Xscape Tour,” which saw the band embark on a nationwide tour alongside Braxton and Monica. While it was not common knowledge that by the end of the tour there was tension between Xscape and Braxton, when the two appeared on “Celebrity Big Brother” in 2019, everything came to a head, and an audience of millions got a front-row seat for this feud.

Celebrity Big Brother Fallout

While on the popular reality series, Braxton claimed the tour was “horrible” for her amid marriage and career woes. She also claimed Burruss “personally interjected” herself into Braxton’s issues, saying she was “talking crazy” about her when she should have “just said nothing.” She said to Burruss, “From my perspective, it was totally, utterly disrespectful and unprofessional.”

Burruss, however, was not having any of it. “Tamar thinks that our group was purposely trying to be mean to her, we were purposely trying to mess up her set,” she explained in a confessional. “But the bottom line is we would not do all of those things on purpose to make her life bad on the tour. We were happy that she was there. So whatever she’s thinking is clearly a misunderstanding.”

Braxton was not backing down, going so far as to call Burruss and her group “unprofessional.” When Burruss started laughing, the situation got even worse, with Braxton getting upset at her chuckles. Ultimately, what happened was a classic case of she said, she said, and we may never know exactly what went down to get these two to such a point of no return.

Years Later, the Feud Continues

Years after their time on “Celebrity Big Brother,” their feud began once again, this time after Burruss claimed that former “RHOA” producer Carlos King was attempting to make an Xscape biopic without her or the group knowing. Since the story became a hot topic, Braxton talked about it on Dish Nation, but defended King, saying that she doesn’t agree with Burruss calling King “a thief.”

Tamar Shades Kandi’s Singing

Image: Getty Images Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Essence Image: Getty Images Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Essence

Braxton then found herself in the comments of The Shade Room, taking yet another dig at Burruss. “Imagine having the biggest ego for the most non singing a** person in the music industry,” Tamar wrote in the comments. “Stream my new hit song #changed where I pay homage to the AMAZING swv!!”

Tamar Claims a Real Housewife of Atlanta ‘Threatened’ Her

Image: Getty Images Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET Image: Getty Images Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET

Months later, things took yet another turn, when Braxton took to her Instagram with a pretty serious claim. The “Love and War” singer wrote, “I was threatened by a [peach emoji] and they man…. It’s BEEF and it’s a REAL BEEF cause yo HUSBAND stepped to me! Periodt!” Naturally, everyone assumed the peach was Burruss, referring to her role as a Real Housewife of Atlanta, and the man her husband, Todd Tucker.

Tamar Confirms the ‘Housewife’ was Allegedly Kandi

Braxton eventually said that it happened to Andy Cohen, the big Bravo boss, himself on Watch What Happens, Live! “It really did happen, I’m not lying,” she told the host. “Like, I’m not looking for attention or drama or anything like that, but that s–t really happened, it was not cute.”

Kandi Claps Back

Image: Getty Images Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images Image: Getty Images Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images

After Braxton’s appearance on WWHL, Burruss took to Instagram, seemingly shading Braxton once again. Burruss shared a clip from “The Addams Family,” when Wednesday Adams refers to another girl as being a “victim all her life,” before pushing her in a pool.

Tamar Doubles Down

Image: Getty Images Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for BET Image: Getty Images Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for BET

In a swift response on Instagram, Tamar doubled down, saying that the alleged moment “obviously happened” and that she is “done talking about it.” She wrote in the now-deleted post, “kandi wants to deflect and condone her man’s behavior by calling me a ‘victim’ (smh)….it’s abusive and disrespectful and it’s NEVER OK FOR A MAN TO STEP TO A WOMAN!!! Fans don’t have to agree!! PERIODT!!”

Kandi Addresses Resurfaced Tamar Comment

Image: Getty Images Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for ESSENCE Image: Getty Images Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for ESSENCE

Now, nearly two years after their last back and forth, the two seem to be at it again. In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, Burruss was asked if she would bring Tamar to appear on a reboot of her series, “Kandi and the Gang,” especially after a resurfaced clip of Braxton disparaging Burrus’ Atlanta-based restaurant has gone viral online.

When asked if she can still believe that Tamar is “still on her,” Burruss replied, “I’m not playing games with clowns. I’m not about to be in the circus with [her]…never again.”

Tamar Breaks Down Feud on The Breakfast Club

Image: Getty Images Photo by Derek White/Getty Images for CLEO TV Image: Getty Images Photo by Derek White/Getty Images for CLEO TV

On Friday (March 28), Braxton reacted to the “clown” comment from Burruss, and attempted herself to finally break down what exactly got them to this point. “I’m not gonna really get into it because I don’t want to muster up the situation,” she explained while adding that they “wouldn’t be here” if she “wasn’t lied on.” “That’s my thing. I can deal with anything, but don’t lie on me.”

She added, “She chose to call me a clown, and that pissed me off…But what I don’t want to do is continue that conversation and take away from all the hard work that I have been doing these past couple of years and make it about a beef I don’t have, personally, currently.”

Straight From The Root

Sign up for our free daily newsletter.

Latest from The Root

Lamar Odom’s Fall: From NBA Champ to Khloé Kardashian’s Heartbreak

Lamar Odom’s Fall: From NBA Champ to Khloé Kardashian’s Heartbreak

The complicated marriage between Lamar Odom and Khloé Kardshian is back in the spotlight thanks to a new documentary. Let’s take a look at their rocky history …
Inside the Unnecessary Renovations Trump Is Making to the White House

Inside the Unnecessary Renovations Trump Is Making to the White House

Here’s all of the changes Trump’s made to the White House in his second term, including his controversial ballroom construction …
Who Is Victor Glover, the Black Astronaut NASA Is Sending to the Moon

Who Is Victor Glover, the Black Astronaut NASA Is Sending to the Moon

Victor Glover will be the first Black American astronaut to reach the moon… And he’s the pilot! …
Regina Hall Explains Why She Almost Became A Nun In Her 40s

Regina Hall Explains Why She Almost Became A Nun In Her 40s

‘Scary Movie’ star Regina Hall is opening up about a particularly interesting time in her life and what led to her almost becoming a nun! …
Why Black Folks Should Participant in the Black Census Project

Why Black Folks Should Participant in the Black Census Project

With four years until the national census, leaders are urging Black folks to make their voices heard after the third launch of the Black Census Project …
Will We Ever See Another Black NBA MVP?

Will We Ever See Another Black NBA MVP?

The shift isn’t about skill. It’s about how the game is being taught …
Brandy Says She Had a Relationship With a Boyz II Men Star When She was 16

Brandy Says She Had a Relationship With a Boyz II Men Star When She was 16

Brandy Norwood is finally opening up about the relationship she shared with Boyz II Men member Wanya Morris. And the details are as eye-opening as you’d expect! …
White Influencer's Bizarre Defense After She Was Caught Editing Her Face on Black Model's Photo

White Influencer’s Bizarre Defense After She Was Caught Editing Her Face on Black Model’s Photo

You’ll never guess what Lauren Blake Boultier, a white influencer, blamed after she allegedly stole a Black model’s photo in a bizarre Photoshop fail …
Olandria's New Sports Illustrated Feature & Red Carpet Slayings Prove She's Here to Stay!

Olandria’s New Sports Illustrated Feature & Red Carpet Slayings Prove She’s Here to Stay!

Olandria Carthen may have gained fame from ‘Love Island,’ but she’s clearly here to stay for a long time. Let’s talk about it! …
Legal Defense Fund Head: Trump's Birthright Citizenship Challenge Is a Danger to Black Americans

Legal Defense Fund Head: Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Challenge Is a Danger to Black Americans

The Root spoke with the president of the Legal Defense Fund on what Black Americans should brace for ahead of the Supreme Court’s case on birthright citizenship …
New Study Links 'Everywhere Chemicals' Found in Plastics to 2 Million Premature Births

New Study Links ‘Everywhere Chemicals’ Found in Plastics to 2 Million Premature Births

In a study covering more than 200 countries, researchers traced two plastic-based chemicals to approximately 2 million early births and 74,000 infant deaths in 2018 alone …
Black NJ Congresswoman Speaks On Facing 17 Years in Prison for Visiting ICE Detainees

Black NJ Congresswoman Speaks On Facing 17 Years in Prison for Visiting ICE Detainees

EXCLUSIVE: Rep. LaMonica McIver, who is facing up to 17 years behind bars stemming from a legally protected visit to an ICE detention facility”, speaks to The Root …
Inside FKA Twigs, Shia LaBeouf's Relationship Drama

Inside FKA Twigs, Shia LaBeouf’s Relationship Drama

From the beginning of their relationship in 2018 to now, FKA twigs and Shia LaBeouf have been embroiled in a legal and public back and forth. Let’s dig into the latest! …
Amber Rose Wants White People to Be Able to Say the N-Word Without Consequence...Here's Why

Amber Rose Wants White People to Be Able to Say the N-Word Without Consequence…Here’s Why

Amber Rose says she allows her kids to curse because they have free speech, AND that white people should say the N-word…and the backlash was swift …
Why 'Paradise' Season Two Finale Has Fans So Shook!

Why ‘Paradise’ Season Two Finale Has Fans So Shook!

The season two finale of Sterling K. Brown’s ‘Paradise’ has folks all over social media talking—and for good reason. Let’s get into it! …
NBA Player Fired Over Anti-LGBTQ Pride Month Comments Sparks Free Speech Debate

NBA Player Fired Over Anti-LGBTQ Pride Month Comments Sparks Free Speech Debate

In a heated debate over religion vs. policy, the Chicago Bulls just waived Jaden Ivey for speaking out about the NBA’s pride nights …
Why Every Black American Must Watch the Birthright Citizenship Fight This Week

Why Every Black American Must Watch the Birthright Citizenship Fight This Week

The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on President Trump’s attempt to axe the 14th Amendment, guaranteeing citizenship for the descendants of slavery …
Tisha Campbell Explains Why She'll Always 'Protect' Martin Lawrence, But the Internet Has Questions

Tisha Campbell Explains Why She’ll Always ‘Protect’ Martin Lawrence, But the Internet Has Questions

Tisha Campbell may have more positive feelings for her former costar Martin Lawrence now, but some folks online aren’t buying it. Let’s get into why! …
House Democrat Seeks Reparations for Immigrants Impacted By Trump's Policies

House Democrat Seeks Reparations for Immigrants Impacted By Trump’s Policies

Rep. Pramila Jayapal calls for reparations for immigrant families tramatized by Trump’s mass deportation policy …
Black Virginia Family Finds Army Discharge Papers That Unlock a Mother's Secret WWII Legacy

Black Virginia Family Finds Army Discharge Papers That Unlock a Mother’s Secret WWII Legacy

Stacy Brown and her family had no idea that her mother was one of more than 800 women assigned to the only all-Black female battalion during World War II …