Phaedra Parks Confirms Dating CT Tamburello, Attending Emmys Together at 52

Q: Did Phaedra and CT fake their rivalry on 'The Traitors' to hide a secret romance that is only now going public?

There is no solid evidence that Phaedra Parks and CT Tamburello faked their rivalry on “The Traitors” to conceal a secret romance. What is confirmed is that Parks said on Sept. 4 that she and Tamburello are now dating, and she indicated the romance became active around early August 2026. That timing matters because “The Traitors” Season 2 was filmed in late 2023 and aired in early 2024, leaving a long gap between the show and the relationship going public. Their on-screen dynamic on “The Traitors” was flirtatious, but the rivalry itself fit the game. Parks was a traitor, Tamburello was a faithful, and he ultimately voted to banish her in the penultimate episode. That outcome was consistent with the show’s format, not obvious evidence of a cover story. Tamburello also publicly downplayed any off-camera romance after the season. In a March 2024 interview with Entertainment Weekly, he said “nothing real happened” during filming, while acknowledging there was genuine warmth and chemistry. That does not prove there was no attraction, but it does undercut the idea of a hidden full-fledged relationship at the time. What the public record does support is a relationship that appears to have grown later from real chemistry viewers noticed on the show. Their social media exchanges, his Emmy date invitation, and Parks’ confirmation all point to a romance that developed after “The Traitors,” rather than a secret affair hidden behind a staged feud.

Q: Are Phaedra and CT's sudden romance and Emmy debut a genuine love story, or a calculated PR stunt for reality TV fame?

It looks more like a real, if very public, romance than a pure PR stunt. The strongest evidence is that Parks directly confirmed on-air that she and CT Tamburello are not just friends and said they have been seeing each other since around early August. Their social media trail also supports that this was developing before the Emmy appearance: Tamburello openly asked for an Emmys date, Parks replied, “Baby I’m already yours,” later called him “my man,” and he was reportedly outside the studio during her radio interview. Their connection also did not appear out of nowhere. Fans have tracked their chemistry back to “The Traitors” Season 2, filmed in late 2023, where Parks’ “castle daddy” nickname and their flirtatious dynamic became a talking point long before this week’s confirmation. A Page Six source described the relationship as “warm,” “sweet,” and rooted in the fact that CT “really, really liked her” after the show. That said, publicity benefits are obvious. Both are seasoned reality-TV figures who know how to turn romance into buzz, and an Emmy red carpet debut naturally amplifies attention for both of them. Parks also declined to share many details, which keeps intrigue high. The fairest reading is that the relationship appears genuine based on their timeline, off-show interactions, and consistent public behavior, but they are also clearly comfortable letting the romance play well in the reality-TV spotlight.

3 articles · Updated · Vulture · Sep 4

Phaedra Parks said on SiriusXM’s Jeff Lewis Live that she has been dating CT Tamburello and will attend the Creative Arts Emmys as his date.
Tamburello, 46, is set to present at the Emmys, while Parks said the pair also have New York plans around her Fire Island commitments.
The relationship confirms long-running speculation around the two reality stars, who met on The Traitors Season 2 and had publicly denied a romance after the show.
Parks, 52, and Tamburello were standout figures from the 2024 season, giving the pairing added attention as RHOA begins filming a new season.