Well now that the trailer for I Dream Of NeNe has premiered and shows NeNe and Tiffany arguing, it's assured that in some capacity Tiffany worked on NeNe's wedding, despite NeNe's claim that Tony Conway was the sole planner responsible! Oh my…
In response, Tiffany is adding a Defamation of Character claim to her suit! Tiffany, who is already seeking $2.5 million in total damages, claims NeNe's comments damaged her business and have affected her livelihood and reputation. "When you Google my name right now, there are 300 pages saying I am a scam artist, among other things. Again, we [Tiffany Cook Events] deal with a high-profile clientele," Tiffany tells Rolling Out.
"She has 1.3 million [Twitter] followers. To say such negative things about me, it can only be devastating," Tiffany exclaims. "Generally, I am all over the Internet for the fantastic things that I do. It is absolutely devastating."
Tiffany maintains this is the only instance in which she has had such a negative experience with a client ("This is the first time in 25 years.") – and she insists that she had a signed contract with NeNe to plan the event.
Tiffany says she was blindsided when she was abruptly replaced, especially since she was referred to NeNe by former client Porsha Stewart. Tiffany planned her lavish nuptials to Kordell. "Porsha and I will always have a relationship," Tiffany says, adding that she is still "grateful" for the referral.
As for what caused the breakdown in her relationship with NeNe, Tiffany isn't sure. "I wasn’t aware that there was a tipping point or a breakdown," she recalls. "The only breakdown is that I continued communicating with them and there was a complete cease on her part with communication."
"Quite honestly, I just assumed, since many of my clients are in her type of business, that she was busy filming," she adds.
Interestingly, Tiffany claims that Tony Conway was actually someone she brought to the event as a vendor so she is not sure how he ended up planning the affair! "Tony Conway was a client," Tiffany reveals. "He was actually the first vendor that I brought in to do her wedding while I was planning. I brought him in to do flowers and possibly for catering because of the fantastic relationship that we had."
"We can’t say what Tony Conway did or did not do," Tiffany's attorney Reginald Greene adds. "We’re going to prove what our client did do. Tiffany Cook certainly performed as agreed under the contract and she was contracted to be the wedding planner and [as the décor designer].”
"My client, Tiffany Cook, was contracted to plan the wedding and she performed as agreed under the contract," he adds. In light of NeNe's comments, Tiffany decided to amend her suit. \
"We filed an amended complaint to add claims for libel, defamation of character, invasion of privacy – false light, and punitive damages, specifically against NeNe Leakes, for [statements] that were directed at my client after the lawsuit was filed," Tiffany's attorney explained.
Tiffany says she simply wants the monies "to be paid for my services and clearly erase this damage this has caused."
"I want my life and my business back." She also says she is not doing this for publicity.
As for NeNe, Tiffany says she has received a response from her. NeNe announced on twitter her intentions to file counter-suit against Tiffany.
Here's what I think, NeNe was trying to drum up drama for her spinoff and a mid-wedding planning firing would just about do the trick! Unfortunately Tiffany got caught in the crossfire of a reality TV stunt.