Cynthia Bailey on Kenya Moore's Split from Marc Daly: "I Knew There Were Some Issues"
"I know what it feels like to be in something and not have peace," the RHOA model said.
Kenya Moore and Marc Daly shocked the world when they announced their decision to separate in September. However, Kenya's longtime friend Cynthia Bailey said she was aware that the couple had been going through some challenges.
“I knew there were some issues. I’m not going to lie about that,” she recently told Us Weekly. “She shared a lot with me, but I didn’t think it was anything that couldn’t be fixed. I just was really rooting for them, especially since they have this new beautiful daughter [Brooklyn] together."
As someone who has found love again after divorce, Cynthia noted that moving on can sometimes be what's best. "I want her to be happy because I know what it feels like to be in something and not have peace," she shared.
But Cynthia said she is still holding out hope that Kenya and Marc can get their marriage back on track. “This is her first marriage. I think she went into it for all the right reasons. She is still very much in love with her husband, and who knows? Maybe they can still work it out in the end,” Cynthia said. “I think they both deserve to be happy whether they’re together or not, and I’m not the kind of mom or parent that thinks that you have to be with the father of your child to be able to be good parents to your children. I personally don’t think that because you have a kid with somebody is the only reason to stay with that person.”
Cynthia is, of course, speaking from experience. She and her ex, Leon Robinson, have been successfully co-parenting daughter Noelle Robinson since they ended their relationship.
It's Kenya's new life as a mom to daughter Brooklyn, who turns 1 on November 4, that Cynthia said she is most excited for fans to see in the new season of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, which premieres Sunday, November 3 at 8/7c.
“I love that Kenya’s back. I always thought Kenya was great for the show. She just gets in there, she stirs the pot. She’s my friend. She’s in an amazing place. Brooklyn is amazing. I can’t wait for the fans to fall in love with her. Kenya Moore has the happiest baby I think I’ve ever seen in my life,” Cynthia told Us Weekly. “I love that the fans are going to see Kenya be a mom because it just changes everything. It just changes everything about her dynamic. … She’s very hands-on, to say the least.”
Kenya spoke out on her divorce for the first time in an interview with PEOPLE earlier this week, saying that she is "hopeful" that she and Marc can work out their issues, although he "doesn’t seem to be there."
“I didn’t get married to quit,” she said. “I love my husband. I don’t doubt that he loves me. Let me be clear, I took my vows seriously. I believe in for better and for worse and I believe in trying it all before you walk away, especially when we do have a child and we are a family.”
Kenya also told PEOPLE that no matter what happens, she will "always want Marc to be in Brooklyn’s life."
She also recently praised Marc's parenting in the above video first shared exclusively with Bravo Insider members. "Marc is a phenomenal dad to Brooklyn. He is completely and absolutely in love with her. He has been spoiling her and I really just can't stand that part, but the good part is that he's a really loving and doting dad," Kenya shared. "If he's not there, he's FaceTiming her several times a day. It's just a really beautiful thing to see. To have wanted this for so long and for it to actually be my reality, is really kind of beautiful."
Check out a sneak peek of Cynthia and Kenya in the RHOA Season 12 premiere, below.
