Former ‘Real Housewives’ Lisa Wu Hartwell separates from husband
Lisa Wu Hartwell rehearses "Stripped" with Dorsey Levens, who plays a former NFL player struggling to adjust to life after the fame and fortune. Hartwell plays Brooklyn, the resentful wife. This was shot at Whole World Theatre on July 23, four days before the play's debut at the Ferst Center. CREDIT: Rodney Ho/rho@ajc.com
Lisa Wu Hartwell, formerly a cast member of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” has separated from her husband and former NFL player Ed Hartwell, she Tweeted over the weekend. She deleted the Tweet (@1LisaWu) at about 3:30 p.m. Monday.
Sadly.We r seperated but wld NEVER b over money. That is so far frm the truth. Wish ppl cld respect ppl’s privacy during times like these
Her publicist Jonell Whitt, in an email, said Hartwell didn’t want to talk about it.
The couple married in 2005 and have a three-year-old son Ed Jr. Wu was previously married to R&B star Keith Sweat and also has two sons with him. (Sweat declined to appear on the show or allow the kids to be on air either.)
Hartwell’s Tweet references financial issues. Hartwell filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection in 2007, and the couple lost their home to foreclosure in 2009.
Hartwell was on “Real Housewives of Atlanta” for the first two seasons in 2008 and 2009 but in 2010, said she quit because the show wanted to delve into storylines she wasn’t comfortable with. Plus, she wanted to pursue a serious acting career.
In a case of art imitating life, Hartwell last month had a starring role in a play called “Stripped” at the Ferst Center on the Georgia Tech campus. She played the wife of a former NFL player struggling to adjust to life after fame and fortune fades away. In the play, she is on the verge of divorcing him but at the end, the couple attempts to reconcile.
When I interviewed her last month, she did not talk about her marital issues but then again, I didn’t ask. Ed actually shows up in the play but only on video. He played a football player who had died so he’s in flashback videos.
Ed played for the Baltimore Ravens and Atlanta Falcons as a linebacker from 2001 to 2006. He also ran a recording studio for a time. He played for the Las Vegas Locomotives in the United Football League last year and as of June, 2011, was still on the roster.
Why did Lisa Wu Hartwell even tweet this? Someone had gone on Ed Hartwell’s Facebook page and the public portion at the time said he was separated. (He has since deleted that.) The fan asked StraightFromtheA.com to confirm. The blogger Tweeted Hartwell, who then responded above. Mediatakeout.com claimed to be the first to break the story on Saturday but StraightFromtheA did. (There’s a reason why she calls that other site “Mediafakeout.”) StraightFromtheA had seen Hartwell last Thursday at a party and noticed she was not wearing her ring.
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By Rodney Ho, rho@ajc.com, AJCRadioTV blog
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97 comments Add your comment
Seriously?
August 22nd, 2011
7:17 pm
Who? This is a show that real people actually watch? Really?
Should Have Known
August 22nd, 2011
7:58 pm
Another Stupid Football Player just like the stupid NBA players don’t have enough sense to manage a dollar. The White man giveth to him and the white man taketh it back away and used him like a cheap toy!!! lmao.
Justin
August 22nd, 2011
8:04 pm
@ Marcus Bachmann
You’ve got me cracking up dude! LOL
Man I bet she got that fire!
August 22nd, 2011
8:09 pm
A ninja got a breeze card and 350 worth of stamps, whatzup LiWu? Holla at ya boy.
JJ Johnson
August 22nd, 2011
8:59 pm
Did anyone notice that when Lisa was on RHOA, in the intro she said,”if it doesn’t make me money, then I ain’t doing it”, I guess that meant marrying men, too.
Julia Sugarbaker
August 22nd, 2011
9:12 pm
Marcus Bachmann, I’m surprised you have time to peruse the AJC with all the gay boys you’re supposedly curing. Of course one must wonder how well you’re doing in that regard especially since “the cure” obviously didn’t take with YOU.
Renee'
August 22nd, 2011
9:25 pm
And THIS is a secret? NOT!!!!!
Honey Hush
August 22nd, 2011
10:00 pm
@Fan Man…tell that crap to Tiger Woods.
Shawn
August 22nd, 2011
10:25 pm
It’s all about the money. Whatever happened to for better or worse.
TK
August 22nd, 2011
10:28 pm
She probably has her eye on another baller. (Dorsey, watch out! Don’t do it!)
She is so transparent.
Wait a minute
August 22nd, 2011
11:58 pm
Tiger,
Are you really “black?” You are more than half Asian (from Thai mother and father who had some Asian lineage)…why do you call yourself a black athlete? Actually, think you call yourself Cablasian (have some Caucasian in there, too). A real melting pot.
Sorry, felt need to talk about something other than this non-story. Hmm, money runs out and money grubbing spouse leaves…news?
FYI!
August 23rd, 2011
12:22 am
FOR EVERYONE COMMENTING TO MARCUS – please notice the alias names. The wife, “Michele Bachmann” is a 2012 presidential candidate and Marcus Bachmann is her husband. Marcus’ sexuality has been questioned and joked about because of his “female tendancies” in interviews and on the campaign trail. IF this Marcus is actually living a double life, then he needs to be exposed. That’s putting his wife in danger.
Duh
August 23rd, 2011
1:55 am
It’s really obvious how many people do NOT read the rest of the ajc if they are giving “marcus bachmann” advice….I guess they don’t know who he is pretending to be. However, these same people know all about the RHO… names’ and spouses’ names….
No wonder we are in the straits that we are in this country!
mike scott
August 23rd, 2011
6:32 am
ditto that
Card
August 23rd, 2011
7:33 am
You are on a reality show and you expect privacy? Really?
justin
August 23rd, 2011
7:47 am
Dont play into Marcus post. Michele Bachmann is a running for President on the repubician ticket, this is some fool playing games.
Sanjeev
August 23rd, 2011
8:21 am
It’s not about the money? Let’s see 1st hubby a famous singer, 2nd hubby a former NFL player, and 3rd will be some other rich fool who thinks she loves him for him, and not his multi-million dollar contract. That’s got to be some nice fat alimony and child support payments.
Stonethrower
August 23rd, 2011
8:23 am
Basketball (not) wives and Real (not) wives have everything in common. It’s these former ball players who were too stupid to see they were being taken.
deegee
August 23rd, 2011
8:31 am
Did anyone know that Lisa Wu is in a play or is trying to be an actress before now? She is from LA and knows how to draw attention to herself. Let it go.
WTF?
August 23rd, 2011
8:51 am
If the moron wanted privacy what’s she doing tweeting about her separation? Too bad her brain can’t be discharged in that chapter 7 bankruptcy so she can start over with a fresh brain
Mike
August 23rd, 2011
8:57 am
Wait – she’s NOT EVEN on the show any more? And why would we care?
Realist
August 23rd, 2011
9:10 am
WHO GIVES A FLY FK!!! Really these shows Atlanta Housewifes, basketball wives depict the most foul and discusting parts of a African American woman that doesnt accurately represent who REAL BLACK WOMEN ARE!!!. These money hungry hoes are the worst example of women period. Its trash tv and its shameful anyone of color would support such negative depictions of women of color. I guess we still dont get it…
I also believe that what an individual finds as entertainment on television describes your actually beliefs and behaviors of thier own personality. SOrry but my mom always said who you hang around is the makeup of your own character, that goes double to what we watch and find amusing in entertainment
indiansummer
August 23rd, 2011
9:15 am
Who the hell cares about Lisa Wu Hartwell?
BayBay Williams
August 23rd, 2011
9:18 am
This trick ain’t nothing but a gold digger. The old saying goes you can’t turn a whole into a housewife. I am finding that to be so true. First it was Keith Sweat, his career started going down then she is off and running away. Now Ed Hartwell career is going down now she is running again. So, hell you tell me what it is damn it.
ATLDelta
August 23rd, 2011
9:29 am
@Fan Man and his accountant, they all run at the demise of the big bucks…race doesn’t matter. There are good, strong, loving, down for their dude type chics of all races. Don’t hate on the brown skinned women. Gold digging is gold digging and the truth of the matter is women of other races do it better. *ijs
ATLDelta
August 23rd, 2011
9:34 am
@Marcus Bachman…you are hilarious dude/chic.
@FYI! and justin, it’s too funny you all felt the need to tell everyone. What idiot actually believe it, I don’t know? I didn’t think anyone was that stupid. Hahahahahahahahaha
KimZ'sPackage
August 23rd, 2011
9:44 am
The Media HOE wants privacy? AHHAHAH I don’t want you or your Girlz in the media anymore either.
Greg
August 23rd, 2011
9:53 am
“I aint saying she no gold digger, but she aint messin with no broke n****!”
Greg
August 23rd, 2011
9:55 am
Athletes pay attention, you are the reason we have all these ex- wives tv shows in circulation, instead of playing, you idiots are being played, and it’s on to the next one for the ex.
Lisa Wu Money Ho
August 23rd, 2011
10:10 am
On the Rickey Smiley Morning Show, they are saying that Lisa Wu dumped Ed for MALCOLM JAMAL WARNER, who is in ATL taping a TV show. Malcolm is supposed to be with Regina King; would Malcolm jack a woman from Ed?
Baptist Preacher
August 23rd, 2011
10:10 am
Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm. No. This IS about the MONEY. And anyone taking bets she has another (rich) baby-daddy this time next year?
Aha
August 23rd, 2011
10:17 am
Some of you ppl SOUND sooo STUPID! Who stays together forever anymore! No one in hollywood stay married anymore better yet NEVER. Kim Kadashian will be divorce in 3-6 months. Hey Kim, you could hav helped alot of homeless ppl out with those millions of dollars advertisers spent on your 2nd or 3rd wedding. Be strong Lisa. Have a grrreat day everyone!
KevinM
August 23rd, 2011
10:29 am
Aha said, “No one in hollywood stay married anymore better yet NEVER”…uh, don’t you have to get to H’wood 1st to be on that list?
When Lisa ‘dumped’ their mansion here in Duluth, it was only a matter of time….they bought at a peak and now its worth 1/3 of that value…Ed should have known better, but didn’t surround himself with the right people.
All I see is bad decision after bad decision…..how do you make it up?
Go coach kids, Ed! Get back to what you know!
More rewarding than what you’ve ended up with so far!
Lisa Wu spiraling downward as its about me! The curse of the RHOA!
1baddman
August 23rd, 2011
12:00 pm
In other REAL entertainment news;the music world is mourning the loss of Nick Ashford a singer/songwriter of one of the best duos in the music business; and had one of the best marriages in the music business as well (nearly 40 yrs) i’m sure they had their problems and went thru hell before acheving their success and never separate over anything if they did you never heard anything about it;that’s the problem with marriages today as long as everything’s good you’re standing by but as soon as the bad stuff happens….the finances get messy or serious illness or whatever nobody can’t handle it .
Monica
August 23rd, 2011
12:03 pm
@1baddman. At last, a post that I can appreciate. Thank you.
Former ‘Real Housewives’ Lisa Wu Hartwell separates from husband | Radio & TV Talk « THE LOWE DOWN
August 23rd, 2011
3:26 pm
[...] via Former ‘Real Housewives’ Lisa Wu Hartwell separates from husband | Radio & TV Talk. [...]
TrishaDishaWarEagle
August 23rd, 2011
4:54 pm
stories like this make me pause, reflect, and wonder why the fck I should care..
mike scott
August 24th, 2011
6:41 am
atldelta….. get back to smashin bags moron
Will
August 28th, 2011
9:12 am
Lisa and Ed, please try to work the marriage out according to God’s plan. If no one is violently abusive or committing adultery, then you have no grounds for divorce Biblically. If you leave this marriage and marry someone else, then you are committing adultery. Look up marriage and divorce in the Bible. Too many couples are divorcing over nonsense. Remember the vows. Also Lisa, it’s not about just you but your son also. If you and Ed have to live in an apartment in Decatur or East Point, then alright, but the marriage needs to continue. I am tired of all of these celebrities and none celebrities divorcing over superficia; reasons. Money and status is not a good reason for seperating or divorcing. if that was the case, then look at impoverished places in Africa and India. Work the marriage out and get sound Biblical counseling. A lot of pastors have great lessons on marriage from Creflo Dollar to Tony Evans. You can’t divide a covenant between yourselves and God over materialism and attitudes. Being physically beautiful is not important, being willing and unselfish is important. Please stop thinking of yourselves and get it together.
Tree
August 31st, 2011
12:46 pm
Marcus Bachmann…I take it you’re gay!!!?? And married??!?!?!? What the…
Tree
August 31st, 2011
12:47 pm
@ Marcus…and does your WIFE know you’re gay?
Vivelena
September 7th, 2011
4:34 pm
When people get on television showing off where they live and what they have, and who they are married to — Well, this is usually the outcome!!
sandra
September 10th, 2011
10:37 am
who surprise by this she is a gold digger she stayed with keith sweat as long as he was on top when he fell off so did she. she said herself “if it dont make her money…she dont do it” eds not making money and she not doing him. sorry ed you seemed sincere
A
September 10th, 2011
3:06 pm
Hey Marcus, you know her husband is a man right? and are you a Man?
mase
September 11th, 2011
7:57 am
Thats what the Gold diggers do…. The money is gone, now u got all sorts of problems….. ed was too dumb, probably didn’t pre-nup, and now he is broke playing for pennies…. ewf sings it best ” after the love is gone” ” what used to be right is wrong”
artjazz54
September 20th, 2011
10:45 am
Back@JJ Johson, I’m see your point, in-fact, on the one episode, where the girl who sang with escape( not a big fan of the show), what’s her name, asked Lisa had she and Ed prepared for life after the NFL, financially; all one had to do was see that look in her eyes, and you would know that she was contemplating leaving Ed, or or next move. Don’t get me wrong, I have no problems with Gold-Diggers per say, however, as long as the ultimate goal is love, companionship, and shared sacrifices.
Steve
September 20th, 2011
2:17 pm
What an absolute GOLD-DIGGIN’ HOE!!! These chicks are amazing…it absolutely makes me want to puke!! Hey Lisa..look over there!!! I think that guy has money…why don’t you go have kids with him, maybe he’ll even marry your idiot-ass!! Truly sad…