Phaedra Parks and Chris “CT” Tamburello’s unexpected romance may not have been on anyone’s 2026 bingo card, but the reality TV pair appears to be going strong, and their relationship is “the real deal,” according to a source close to the couple who opened up to Us Magazine on Sept. 9 about the duo’s budding romance. Their buzzing relationship has also earned a major stamp of approval from Andy Cohen, who recently shared his thoughts on the unlikely pairing.
A source says CT and Phaedra are “the real deal.”
Phaedra and CT made their red carpet debut as a couple on Sept. 5 at the Creative Arts Emmys in Los Angeles, instantly turning heads as they posed together. While plenty of fans were thrilled to see the two reality stars officially step out as a pair, others questioned whether their relationship was actually the real thing. According to someone close to the couple, there’s no need to wonder.
“It’s definitely the real deal, and they’re really smitten with each other,” a source told the outlet on Wednesday. “They became really close on The Traitors, but CT never thought he actually had a chance with Phaedra.”
The pair first crossed paths while filming Season 2 of Peacock’s hit reality competition series The Traitors in 2023. Their undeniable chemistry quickly caught viewers’ attention, especially after Phaedra affectionately dubbed her costar “castle daddy.”
Still, despite the flirtatious moments, their friendship remained platonic at the time.
“He always had a bit of a crush on her and was interested, but he really valued their friendship and never wanted to cross that line,” the source shares. “After his marriage ended, he and Phaedra started talking a lot more, and their relationship naturally grew from there.”
While their romance continues to blossom, CT is also dealing with a complicated chapter in his personal life as he navigates his ongoing divorce.
As BOSSIP previously reported, in an exclusive interview with TMZ published Sept. 7, CT’s estranged wife, Catalina White, whom he married in 2024, alleged that Tamburello has yet to sign off on their divorce paperwork. She is calling on her estranged husband to move the process forward and officially close out their marriage before he moves on with his Bravo beauty.
Amid the situation, the source says Phaedra has been “such a positive influence on him.”
Phaedra, who shares Ayden, 16, and Dylan, 13, with ex-husband Apollo Nida, and CT are also taking things slowly when it comes to their families.
“They haven’t blended families yet and are keeping that private,” the source shares. “Most of their relationship has been long-distance so far, but they have made it work and travel to see each other. CT and his ex are trying to resolve their split, and he hopes to close that chapter soon.”
Now, check that! Hit the flip to find out what Andy Cohen thinks of Phaedra and CT’s budding romance.
Andy Cohen Gives the Romance His Approval.
Andy Cohen is a big fan of the new couple. On Tuesday, Sept. 8, the host addressed Phaedra and CT’s headline-making romance during an episode of SiriusXM’s Andy Cohen Live, revealing that Parks had actually given him a heads-up about the relationship before the pair went public.
Cohen said, “Phaedra had mentioned that she was hanging out with CT to me a month or two ago, and I was like, ‘Wow, I love this.’ So, I was really happy.”
“I wanted to be very kind of, not only discreet, but I didn’t want to pry, and I just was like, ‘Well, I guess if this keeps going, I’ll hear about it,’ and then we all heard about it.”
During the show, Cohen also took a listener’s call about the relationship between the attorney and MTV reality star, making it clear that, from his perspective, the romance appeared to be completely genuine.
“It seems very real to me,” he added.
What do you think of Phaedra Parks’ budding romance with her “castle daddy” CT? Thoughts?
RELATED CONTENT: Now, Check That! ‘Traitors’ Trysting Phaedra Parks & CT Tamburello Confirm Castle Coupledom, Attorney Adoringly Applauds Her ‘Prize’
