Phaedra Parks spent more than two years letting The Traitors fans wonder whether anything real would ever happen between her and Chris “CT” Tamburello. She finally gave them an answer.
During a Sept. 4 appearance on Jeff Lewis Live, Parks revealed that she will attend the Creative Arts Emmys with Tamburello and made clear that their relationship is not platonic. When Lewis asked whether the pair were dating, Parks confirmed they had already been out together and said she would be attending the awards as Tamburello’s date, according to Just Jared.
The confirmation follows weeks of conspicuous Instagram flirting. Tamburello publicly asked Parks to be his Emmy plus-one in August, she replied that she was already his, and later exchanges included Parks referring to him as “my man” and saying he was “claimed.”
The timing gives their old Traitors chemistry a very different ending. Tamburello insisted after season two that “nothing real happened” between them while filming. Parks is not claiming they secretly dated for years afterward, but she has kept the new relationship’s exact start vague.
Parks Finally Said Their Relationship Is Not Platonic
Jeff Lewis went directly at the question fans had been asking. After hearing that Parks was attending the Emmys with Tamburello, he asked whether the arrangement was platonic. “No, it’s not,” Parks replied.
She also confirmed that she and Tamburello had already been out together, although she declined to say how many dates they had gone on. TV Insider reported that Parks would only say the romance began sometime since her previous visit to Los Angeles.
Tamburello was close by during the interview. Lewis noted that he could see him outside the studio, while Tamburello later posted that he was about to pick up “bae” and shared footage of Parks with him afterward. Parks also said the two plan to travel to New York together following the Emmy weekend for one of her work commitments on Fire Island.
The Emmy Invitation Made the Flirting Hard to Miss
The public buildup began on Aug. 9, when Tamburello posted a photograph of Parks from the Real Housewives of Atlanta reunion and joked that he was still searching for an Emmy plus-one. He asked followers to put in a good word for him and added, “A man can dream.”
Parks answered, “Baby I’m already yours.” Days later, Tamburello posted another video announcing that “she said yes,” while Parks replied, “It’s a date.” Subsequent social-media exchanges became even less subtle as she referred to Tamburello as “my man” and described him as “claimed.” What had still been plausible flirting is now a confirmed date.
Their Chemistry Started Inside ‘The Traitors’ Castle
Parks and Tamburello met while filming season two of Peacock’s The Traitors in Scotland in 2023. She secretly competed as a Traitor while he played as a Faithful, but their opposing roles did little to stop a running flirtation that viewers quickly noticed.
Tamburello helped Parks through physical challenges, the two held hands around the castle and Parks memorably referred to him as her “Castle Daddy.” Their dynamic became one of the season’s recurring lighter storylines even as Tamburello eventually helped banish Parks after becoming convinced she was a Traitor.
Parks remained enthusiastic about him after filming. In a March 2024 interview with Extra, she called Tamburello “salt of the earth,” a great guy and a gentleman, adding that she would happily work with him again.
CT Once Said ‘Nothing Real Happened’ Between Them
Tamburello’s description of their relationship in 2024 was considerably more cautious. He told Entertainment Weekly that there had been sincerity and fun between them but that “nothing real happened” romantically while they were filming.
He also said he respected Parks too much to manufacture a romance simply because viewers enjoyed their chemistry. When the game ultimately forced him to choose, he voted to banish her and went on to win the season alongside Trishelle Cannatella.