The Unfiltered Truth: 5 Reasons Why Porsha Williams And Dennis McKinley Never Said 'I Do'

The question of whether Porsha Williams and Dennis McKinley ever officially tied the knot is one of the most enduring mysteries for fans of The Real Housewives of Atlanta (RHOA). As of late 2025, the definitive answer is no—Porsha Williams and Dennis McKinley were never legally married, despite a whirlwind romance, a dramatic engagement, and the birth of their daughter. Their journey was a televised rollercoaster of love, betrayal, reconciliation, and ultimately, a permanent split that left the wedding plans abandoned.

Their high-profile, on-again, off-again relationship played out across multiple seasons of the Bravo reality series, capturing the attention of millions. While they share a beautiful daughter and maintain an amicable co-parenting relationship today, the wedding that was once highly anticipated never materialized, leading Porsha down a completely different path to her second marriage—which itself is now ending in a high-profile divorce from Simon Guobadia.

Porsha Williams and Dennis McKinley: A Full Relationship Profile

The relationship between Porsha Williams and Atlanta businessman Dennis McKinley was a fast-paced, high-stakes affair that began in 2018 and quickly became a central storyline on RHOA.

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• Porsha Williams (Porsha Dyanne Williams)
  • Born: June 22, 1981 (Age 44 in 2025)
  • Occupation: Television personality, actress, model, singer, activist.
  • Known For: The Real Housewives of Atlanta (RHOA), Porsha's Family Matters, *Dish Nation*.
  • Previous Marriage: Kordell Stewart (m. 2011; div. 2013).
  • Ex-Fiancé: Dennis McKinley (Engaged 2018, Split 2020).
  • Current Marital Status: Filed for divorce from Simon Guobadia (m. 2022; div. filed 2024).
• Dennis McKinley
  • Occupation: Entrepreneur, businessman, investor.
  • Known For: Founder of the successful restaurant franchise, The Original Hot Dog Factory.
  • Relationship with Porsha: Ex-Fiancé and father of her only child.
• Child Together: Pilar Jhena "PJ" McKinley, born March 22, 2019.

The Whirlwind Romance and The First Engagement

Porsha and Dennis's relationship moved at breakneck speed, a dynamic that was thrilling for reality TV but perhaps challenging for a lasting partnership. They began dating in 2018, and within a few short months, Porsha announced she was pregnant with her first child.

Just two months after the pregnancy reveal, in September 2018, Dennis proposed to Porsha. The lavish engagement, complete with a massive diamond ring, signaled a new chapter for the reality star, who had long expressed a desire for marriage and a family following her divorce from former NFL player Kordell Stewart. The couple was planning a grand wedding, with details often discussed on RHOA, leading many fans to assume the marriage was a certainty.

The Cheating Scandal, Breakup, and Second Chance

The first major crack in the relationship appeared shortly after the birth of their daughter, Pilar Jhena McKinley, in March 2019. While Porsha was pregnant, Dennis admitted to cheating on her, a devastating revelation that was documented on the Bravo series and Porsha's spin-off, Porsha's Family Matters.

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This betrayal led to their first public breakup, and the wedding plans were immediately put on hold. The emotional fallout was a major storyline, as Porsha grappled with the infidelity while navigating new motherhood. Despite the pain, the couple attempted to reconcile, driven by a desire to keep their family unit intact for Pilar Jhena.

• First Engagement: September 2018 (Ended after cheating admission).
• Daughter Born: March 22, 2019 (Pilar Jhena "PJ" McKinley).
• Re-Engagement: They reconciled and became "re-engaged" in late 2019, with Porsha confirming they were back on track and planning the wedding once more.

However, the reconciliation was short-lived. By mid-2020, the couple had split for good. The trust issues, combined with the pressures of reality television and co-parenting, proved to be too much to overcome. The second engagement quietly dissolved, and all talks of a marriage between Porsha Williams and Dennis McKinley ceased.

Dennis McKinley: The Entrepreneur Behind The Drama

While often portrayed solely as Porsha’s fiancé on RHOA, Dennis McKinley is a successful entrepreneur in his own right, which adds another layer of complexity to their relationship dynamic. His business ventures provided a financial foundation that was often showcased, but also a source of his frequent travel and absence, which was sometimes cited as a strain on the relationship.

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• The Original Hot Dog Factory: McKinley is the founder of this popular casual eatery, which started in Smyrna, Greater Atlanta, in 2010.
• Franchise Growth: After rebranding in 2015, the business began franchising in 2018, expanding its footprint across the United States.
• Business Entity: His success in the franchise world established him as a significant business entity in Atlanta, separate from his reality TV fame.

The pressures of maintaining a rapidly growing franchise while being a new father and a reality TV personality likely contributed to the struggles that ultimately prevented him and Porsha from reaching the altar. Their relationship was a constant blend of personal milestones and public scrutiny, a challenge many reality TV couples face.

The Current Co-Parenting Dynamic in 2025

Despite the dramatic history, Porsha Williams and Dennis McKinley have successfully transitioned into an amicable and effective co-parenting partnership for their daughter, Pilar Jhena. This positive co-parenting relationship is a key LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) entity for fans searching for updates on the former couple.

Porsha has given positive updates on their dynamic, often sharing that they prioritize their daughter and work together seamlessly. Interestingly, Porsha has stated that her relationship with Dennis improved "drastically" after she married Simon Guobadia in 2022. This suggests that the finality of their romantic split, coupled with Porsha moving on to a new marriage, allowed them to establish healthier, boundary-respecting co-parenting roles.

However, the current landscape is once again shifting. Porsha filed for divorce from her second husband, Simon Guobadia, in early 2024, a split that is expected to be finalized in 2025. This new development puts Porsha's personal life back under the spotlight, though her co-parenting arrangement with Dennis remains a stable factor.

The Final Verdict: Why the Wedding Never Happened

To definitively answer the question, "Did Porsha marry Dennis?" the answer is a resounding no. The reasons for the non-marriage are multifaceted and deeply rooted in the events that unfolded on and off-screen:

1. Infidelity and Broken Trust: Dennis's cheating while Porsha was pregnant was the initial catalyst that derailed the first wedding plans and created a trust deficit that was ultimately irreparable.
2. The Pressure of Reality TV: Their entire relationship was filmed for *The Real Housewives of Atlanta* and its spin-offs, adding immense public scrutiny to their private struggles.
3. Failed Reconciliation: While they did attempt to reconcile and were "re-engaged," they could not move past their foundational issues, leading to the quiet dissolution of the second engagement.
4. Divergent Paths: Porsha ultimately moved on quickly, finding love and marrying Simon Guobadia, which cemented the end of her romantic relationship with Dennis.
5. Co-Parenting Focus: Their mutual commitment to their daughter, Pilar Jhena, became the priority, superseding the need to force a marriage that was clearly not working.

While the marriage was never realized, Porsha Williams and Dennis McKinley’s relationship remains one of the most talked-about storylines in RHOA history. Today, they are a testament to the fact that a couple can fail at romance but succeed at co-parenting, maintaining a healthy dynamic for their daughter, Pilar Jhena McKinley, even as Porsha navigates her latest high-profile divorce proceedings.