Fans of the Real Housewives of Atlanta have been on quite the journey with Cynthia Bailey. From her marriage to Peter Thomas, her subsequent divorce, to her dive back into the dating pool in 2019 with TV personality Mike Hill – it’s been a rollercoaster. Remember that video we made discussing her relationship back then? You can check it out in the description box below. Well, fast forward to now, and it seems things have taken a turn. Reports are swirling that Cynthia and Mike are separated and heading for divorce. It’s got us thinking about the signs we might have missed.
Now, let’s talk about Cynthia and Mike. Going back a bit, in 2018, Mike was a single dad with two kids from previous marriages. His memoir, which we’ve linked for you, sheds some light on his past. He’s been candid about not properly proposing to his ex-wives, his struggles with infidelity, and his issues with social media. It’s a raw look into his life and the challenges he’s faced in his relationships.
In 2018, when they approached him about being part of a dating game segment on Steve Harvey’s Show alongside a Real Housewives of Atlanta cast member, his interest piqued instantly. But before committing, he had one burning question: “Who’s the housewife?” You see, he and his second ex-wife had a ritual of tuning in to watch the Atlanta Housewives every Sunday, so he knew the cast inside out, and there were definitely a few he wasn’t keen on. When he found out it was Cynthia slated for the dating segment, he didn’t hesitate to sign up. From watching her on Real Housewives, he had this image of her as classy and business-minded, not necessarily someone on a quest for love but more likely looking to promote her ventures. And as for him, well, he confessed in his memoir, “I went on that show because I’ve been eyeing a move into entertainment for years.” And let’s not forget, he was already seeing someone at the time, although he swears it wasn’t anything serious.
After being chosen, there was this idea from the producers to have their first date right on the studio rooftop as soon as filming wrapped. But duty called—he had to rush back to his sportscaster gig at Fox Sports. So, he said his goodbyes to Cynthia, leaving her with the promise of a rain check. Cynthia, on her end, found the whole situation rather intriguing, hinting at some personal distractions in her life, possibly involving another man, as he subtly revealed in his memoir.
The following month, Cynthia agreed to be a guest on Mike’s podcast in LA. After the interview, Mike suggested grabbing sushi together. Despite Cynthia having a scheduled phone interview during their meal, Mike didn’t seem bothered. He later told the New York Times about how Cynthia held his hand and even caressed it during her hour-long call. For him, that moment signified her interest, and they shared their first kiss after dinner.
Their rendezvous continued in different cities, including an outing in an Atlanta suburb where Cynthia brought along her former Real Housewives co-star, NeNe Leakes. They had Italian food and then hit the karaoke stage, with Mike stealing the show by belting out “Forever My Lady” by Jodeci, complete with a shirt-ripping move. Back in LA, they met for lunch and decided to hang out again later that night after Mike finished work. In his memoir, he expressed his excitement to see Cynthia and made sure to be prepared. But when she didn’t answer his calls or texts, he realized he had been ghosted.
A few days later, Cynthia finally got back to him, citing some unexpected circumstances. Mike was hurt by her actions but decided to give her space. Despite the rocky start, they stayed in touch as friends. Four months down the line, while Cynthia was vacationing in Mexico with her daughter Noel, she posted a stunning bikini photo on Instagram. That caught Mike’s eye, prompting him to slide into her DMs. They ended up FaceTiming, and that’s when things really took off.
As they grew closer, Mike began opening up about his past, including his rocky family life and personal struggles. Cynthia was supportive and even encouraged him to write his memoir. By the time Cynthia was filming season 11 of Real Housewives, Mike had decided to support her by joining the show, despite warnings from his friends that it could harm his career. Looking back, one might wonder if Mike’s initial interest in Cynthia was purely driven by his desire to break into the entertainment industry.
Cynthia aimed to keep things relaxed and laid-back, but six months into their relationship, she couldn’t help but blurt out “I love you” during intimate moments, even though Mike wasn’t quite ready to say it back. However, by fall 2018, Mike had fallen head over heels for Cynthia, despite the distance between them—she in Atlanta, he in Los Angeles. They persisted with their long-distance romance, and by January 2019, Cynthia was openly considering a move to LA, eagerly looking forward to becoming Mrs. Hill. The proposal came in July 2019, captured on Bravo TV, with Cynthia ecstatically saying yes. Despite their engagement, they continued to live separate lives. Then, things took an unexpected turn when Mike revealed on a Bravo TV podcast that Cynthia’s daughter, Noel, was living with him in LA, pursuing her acting dreams. Mike proudly referred to Noel as his “bonus daughter” and emphasized the strong bond they shared. He also mentioned his friendship with Noel’s dad, actor Leon Robinson, highlighting the amicable relationship within their blended family. While their arrangement raised a few eyebrows, it was clear that they were all getting along just fine. As they approached 2020, the couple geared up for their wedding, opting to sign a prenup. Cynthia addressed Mike’s past infidelities on The Real Housewives, expressing initial worries but ultimately focusing on their present and future together, reaffirming her love for the man Mike had become.
When the pandemic hit, Cynthia and Mike found themselves stuck in his Los Angeles home with their kids. Eventually, they moved to Cynthia’s place in Atlanta. Cynthia opened up to the New York Times, saying the forced time together really tested their relationship. They almost didn’t make it through. But despite the challenges, they tied the knot in October 2020. After the wedding, Mike went back to LA, while Cynthia stayed in Atlanta. She told the New York Times she’s working hard to keep Mike close, saying, “I don’t think he’ll want to stay in LA for long without me.”
In October 2021, Cynthia left the Real Housewives of Atlanta after being on the show for 11 seasons. She told Page Six it was partly to protect her marriage. Not long after, rumors swirled on Twitter about Mike sending flirty messages and explicit photos on Snapchat. Mike denied it all and threatened legal action against the rumors.
By early 2022, it was obvious things weren’t going well for Mike and Cynthia. In an interview with The Blast, Mike admitted he wasn’t sure if their marriage would make it. He mentioned a big fight they had after their first anniversary, thinking, “We might not make it to year 2.”
Come July 2022, Cynthia, who had left Real Housewives of Atlanta to focus on her marriage, expressed interest in joining The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, sparking speculation about her relationship with Mike.
Fast forward to October 2022, and it’s clear trouble’s brewing. No mentions on social media for their second anniversary, Mike spotted without his wedding ring, and Cynthia dropping his last name from her Instagram. Then on October 11, 2022, The Jasmine Brand reported Cynthia and Mike had been separated for a while and were getting a divorce. An insider spilled, “They really do love each other, and it wasn’t anything scandalous or anyone’s fault, it just didn’t work out.”
Their story shows a lot of red flags right from the start, indicating they were probably never quite right for each other. While we wish them the best, it seems their journey together has come to an end. What do you think about these red flags? Let us know in the comments.