Waka Flocka Flame and Tammy Rivera’s love story began in 2011 and unfolded into a beautiful journey. Waka embraced the role of a father figure to Tammy’s daughter, Charlie, from a previous relationship. Their relationship faced its share of challenges, which were not only witnessed by fans on TV but also played out in the media spotlight. Despite the glamour, cracks began to appear, indicating that their love may not have been meant to last.
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Their paths crossed in 2011 during Waka’s visit to Miami with friends, coinciding with Tammy’s presence in town with her crew. While the specifics of their initial encounter are left to the imagination, one can imagine it involved playful banter, perhaps along the lines of: “Hey, tell your friends to meet up with mine, and let’s hang out. We could make it a regular thing, what do you think?” “Sure, sounds fun, but you guys are a handful sometimes!”
Tammy shared with Vlad TV the unforgettable day when Waka held her hand tightly, refusing to let go as they navigated through crowds of fans. Each encounter with admirers was an opportunity for Waka to proudly introduce Tammy as his wife, affirming his desire to marry her one day. Although Tammy initially found his certainty bewildering, she went along with it, intrigued by the intensity of their connection. Their deep conversations continued late into the night, prompting Waka to invite her onto his tour bus for more private talks. Despite her initial reluctance, Tammy eventually agreed, drawn in by Waka’s persistent charm. From that moment on, Waka exerted a steady pressure on their relationship, intensifying their bond with each passing day.
However, Tammy didn’t shy away from acknowledging the darker aspects of their romance. She admitted that their relationship was often tumultuous, marked by frequent arguments. One particularly heated disagreement occurred during a drive when Waka took issue with Tammy’s choice of orange shoes to accompany a specific outfit. The argument escalated to the point where Waka abruptly ejected her from the car, prompting him to call his mother, Deb Anthony, for guidance.
In the emotional phone call, Waka vented his frustration over the trivial nature of their argument, emphasizing his dedication to his hustle and his disbelief at Tammy’s fixation on minor issues. The incident, as recounted by Tammy, sheds light on the complexities of their relationship, which she surprisingly admits to finding irresistible despite its messy nature.
Tammy, Waka, and his mom all became part of the Season Three cast of Love & Hip Hop Atlanta back in 2014. It was a big year for Tammy and Waka, as they decided to elope. However, there was a bit of tension as Waka’s mom, Deb, felt a tad left out for not being included in the wedding festivities. Despite this, Deb acknowledged that Waka had stayed true to his word about marrying Tammy, even if it happened on his own terms. Tammy started as a supporting cast member in Season Four but later returned full-time for Season Five.
Their relationship, though, wasn’t without its challenges. Viewers got wind of this when Tammy and Waka announced their separation. Then things got even messier when a woman named Simone Patton came forward in June 2016, claiming she and Waka had a thing going on during his marriage to Tammy. Tammy had her man’s back, though, insisting Waka was a stand-up guy and father. She made it clear that their split had nothing to do with him being unfaithful.
Tammy took to Snapchat to address the other women trying to slide into Waka’s DMs, reminding them that just because she wasn’t with him anymore didn’t mean they had a shot. She basically told them to back off.
A month later, Waka tried to make things right by posting a screenshot of him and Tammy on a FaceTime call. He called her his “ride or die” and publicly apologized for the pain his past cheating caused her. Some eyebrows were raised, though, considering they had previously denied infidelity being the cause of their split. Tammy chimed in, commenting on the post that while their romantic relationship had changed, they were still friends at the end of the day.
You know she’s probably thinking about giving him another shot, right? I mean, why else would she be all cozy on FaceTime with the guy who cheated on her? If my cheating husband had the nerve to FaceTime me, I’d pick up, and you’d see nothing but my bare butt on the screen. That’s how you show ’em.
So, during that Love and Hip Hop episode, Tammy spilled to Bambi about feeling lonely after their split. She made it clear they weren’t heading for divorce but just needed some time to figure themselves out. Fast forward to August 2016, and they’re back together, much to everyone’s surprise. Fans were quick to call Tammy out, saying she was weak for going back to someone who did her dirty. But Tammy clapped back on Snapchat, saying, “I believe my man fought for our marriage, and I’m ready to do the same, with a little help from the man upstairs.” But hey, sometimes you gotta wonder if that little voice inside is trying to tell you something different.
Then, in December 2016, she’s still defending her decision, chatting it up with Bombshell by Blue. Tammy’s out here saying, “Waka didn’t have the best role models for a healthy marriage growing up, so it’s tough for him now.” Sounds kinda sketchy, right? Especially since Tammy’s own childhood wasn’t all roses. But despite all that, she stayed loyal to Waka, even though he couldn’t do the same. She even went on to say his career made him more likely to stray, arguing, “With all the fame and temptation, he still loves me and our kid to death.” So, he embarrasses her in public but worships the ground she walks on behind closed doors? Lord have mercy.
In the end, Tammy shared her mother’s wise words, highlighting the rarity of finding true love and someone willing to evolve. Convinced she had both with Waka, she remained determined not to give up on him. Though only featured as a guest on Season 7 of Love and Hip Hop in 2018, fans stayed updated on her life.
During a candid interview with Hollywood Unlocked in November 2018, Tammy revealed that infidelity wasn’t one-sided in their relationship, humorously referencing the movie “Two Can Play That Game.” While clarifying she never physically strayed, she admitted to emotional unfaithfulness before their marriage. Despite their rocky past, signs pointed to their commitment to move forward. Waka’s gestures, including tattoos of Tammy and her daughter’s faces, showcased his dedication. In another interview with Rack Rant, he even expressed willingness to retire from music to focus on building a family.
After navigating through relationship challenges on Marriage Boot Camp, Tammy and Waka celebrated their bond with a vow renewal in 2019, which was documented in a touching two-part series on WE TV. They continued to share their journey on television, joining Growing Up Hip Hop Atlanta before starring in their own reality show, “Waka and Tammy: What the Flocka.” In a poignant episode featuring a couples therapy session, Waka’s attempt to attribute Tammy’s growth to his past infidelities sparked her frustration. She vehemently disagreed, citing increased insecurities and distrust caused by his actions. Despite their differences, they remained committed to working through their issues together.
By then, it seemed like Tammy was getting comfortable with something that should’ve raised some serious alarms. Back in April 2020, during an episode of Angela Yee’s Lip Service podcast, Tammy hinted that she was trying to get Waka interested in a threesome. “What’s with this Tiana Taylor stuff? What’s happening in Candy Burris’ world?” But despite her efforts, Waka kept turning her down, with Tammy joking, “Yeah, because he’s trying to cheat solo. He doesn’t need you there.”
Their reality show got picked up for a second season by WE TV, which premiered in March 2021. Fast forward a year, and rumors started flying about their breakup. Not again! During a performance in March 2022, some bold fans decided to join Waka onstage to show off their moves. When things didn’t go as planned, he blurted out to the crowd, “I need some chocolate on stage, man.” Talk about stirring the pot. The Shade Room reposted the video, sparking speculation among commenters about what was really going on between Waka and Tammy. “If he’s got butter pecan waiting at home, why’s he out there hunting for chocolate?”
When Tammy went live on Instagram to connect with her fans, questions about Waka started pouring in. Growing impatient, she shot back, “I’ve already said the man’s fine. Him and Charlie are fine. We’re fine. We’re not together, and that’s okay.” Later on, Waka opened up to Rack Rant, explaining that he and Tammy had just drifted apart naturally, without any big drama or toxicity. He stressed, “That’s my best friend. That’s my ride or die. People love stirring up drama and spreading hate, but there’s no big showdown here. We’re just two grown adults.”
During a chat on Jessie Woo’s podcast, Tammy got real about how the pandemic made her reflect deeply. She admitted that dealing with Waka had been tough, and she found it hard to move past everything. Tammy confessed that she’d started feeling resentful and found herself talking to Waka in a disrespectful way, which wasn’t fair to him as a man. She couldn’t resist throwing a bit of shade, saying, “Oh, like the way he’s been disrespecting you for the past 10 years? Right.”
Tammy and Waka wrapped up filming their last season of “What the Flocka,” which aired in August 2022. By May 2023, Waka had filed for divorce, stating their separation date as December 1st, 2021. Then, in January 2024, Waka went public with his new girlfriend, Melanie Montoo, causing a frenzy on social media. People flooded his comments section with over 10,000 messages, expressing disappointment that he was moving on so quickly from Tammy. Some of them even pointed out the irony of initially criticizing Tammy for staying with Waka and now being mad that he’s moved on. Among the comments, Charlie, Tammy’s daughter, stepped in to defend her father and spilled the beans about Tammy’s new relationship.
As months passed after Waka went official with Melanie, Tammy posted a cryptic message on her Instagram story. It read, “No one can make me jealous over a seat I had first. You wouldn’t be sitting there if I didn’t get up.” It seemed like a subtle dig at Waka’s new relationship. In response, Melanie shared a meme implying that holding onto the past was a sign of jealousy and bitterness. She added her own comment, “Yeah, shut your ass up,” hinting at some tension brewing between them.
Later on, after The Neighborhood Talk blog shared Melanie’s post, Tammy chimed in. She mentioned she and Waka had already sorted things out privately. Tammy suggested Waka should sort things with his girl before things got messy. She clarified her original post wasn’t aimed at Waka or Melanie specifically, but rather a general observation (“hit dogs holla”). She playfully dubbed Melanie as the “Shein version” of herself, poking fun at the cheap fashion retailer. She quipped, “That’s the winner right there. That’s the winner. Okay, she win.” Tammy even joked about labeling YouTube channels mimicking theirs as the “Shein version” of their brand, RRG.
When a commenter accused Tammy of being Waka’s side chick due to her hinting at speaking with him, Tammy clarified their discussions revolved around their daughter, Charlie. Since they’re still legally bound, they need to discuss business matters. Tammy jokingly retorted, saying her pricey lawyers should handle divorce communications, and since Charlie is old enough for Instagram, she’s old enough to have a relationship with Waka that doesn’t involve Tammy. She emphasized, “She ain’t no damn minor.”
Charlie, protective of her mom, shared a photo of Tammy with her new beau, cautioning others to be respectful. She stressed the importance of loyalty to both her parents and mentioned that, as Waka’s daughter, she has a say in his romantic choices. Charlie ended by saying this is why she advised Melanie to tread carefully.
In the days following everything that happened, Waka made it clear that he was ready to move on from his relationship with Tammy. He took a significant step by covering up the tattoo tribute he had dedicated to her. Additionally, he sought a confidentiality order in their ongoing divorce case, arguing that as public figures, their divorce records, including financial details, should be sealed. He also requested that all parties involved refrain from discussing the proceedings in any form of media, including social platforms. As of now, the outcome of his request remains uncertain, indicating that their divorce is still pending.
Since the backlash he faced for moving on, Waka hasn’t shared any more pictures of Melanie on his Instagram. On the other hand, Tammy and her boyfriend seem to be going strong, although she hasn’t revealed his identity yet. The question on everyone’s mind is whether Tammy and Waka will reconcile as they’ve done numerous times before, or if it’s finally time for them to let go of their toxic romance for good.