Keke Wyatt Gets Real About Marriage And Overcoming Domestic Abuse

Keke Wyatt is getting more up close and personal than ever with the public about her love life.

Aside from the Oct. 21 deluxe release of her album, “Rated Love,” the singer alongside her husband-manager Michael Ford are currently starring in the latest season of WE TV’s “Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars.”

Despite their past appearance on reality show “R&B Divas: Atlanta,” the married couple of six years were initially apprehensive about starring on the relationship-based show and declined an offer from the show’s producer.

After receiving a second pitch from producers, the pair decided to explore the show’s Christian-based counseling program, in addition to being a catalyst for other couples experiencing challenges.

“Being that we’re a young African-American couple, we just wanted to show the world that even though we’ve been on TV, we still have everyday issues,” Ford said during an interview with The Huffington Post. “We wanted to show everybody that this marriage thing is not perfect and not easy. But if you work at it, and you keep God first you can make it happen.”

To underscore her husband’s thoughts, Wyatt added that their current television endeavor is a stark contrast from “R&B Divas.”

“It’s different as far as it’s just myself and my husband and other couples, versus me and a whole bunch of other chicks that I can’t deal with,” she said. “It’s a little easier, but at the same time it’s a little more aggravating because you have to dig deep within and it’s really personal.”

The couple added that in addition to the overwhelming intersection between co-existing as marriage and business partners and raising eight children, ultimately the deciding factor to join “Marriage Boot Camp” was to “try to” resolve any outlining issues in their relationship.

While the pair still endures the vast challenges of any relationship, Wyatt maintains the relationship is healthier than her previous marriage ― which was plagued with domestic abuse. The singer’s previous encounters dealing with domestic violence became public in 2001 when she stabbed her ex-husband, Rahmat Morton, which she later explained on a 2012 episode of “R&B Divas” was in self-defense.

The incident resulted in Wyatt being indicted on one count of second-degree assault, and later the 2009 divorce from Morton.

Now, a spokesperson of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and a activist of the Saving Our Daughters organization, Wyatt ― whose best friend died due to domestic violence ― advocates for the women and men who are victims of domestic violence.

She says her experiences dealing with violent abuse from Morton has made her “very strong” in her current marriage.

“I can be aggressive sometimes, now, because of being hurt physically and the fear to where you keep a wall up,” she said. “But it also helped open my eyes as to seek God more and make sure I let him pair me with the right person so that I don’t have to worry about somebody putting their hands on me.”

Ford adds that he has made a concerted effort to being more passive within the relationship.

“The last situation she was in was overly aggressive. So I know I have to dilute that part of me to help her come along and grow into this beautiful person she is today,” he said. “And it’s very inspiring in seeing people come up to her and tell her [that] seeing her come through that situation and now be in another marriage. And even though we have issues like every marriage that we’re sticking them out, and we’re working on it.”

As for her advice to women who are currently in abusive relationships, Wyatt encourages them to distance themselves from such situations:

“It’s hard if you don’t wanna leave, but if you really wanna get out of it you can get out of it.’”

“Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars” airs Fridays at 9 p.m./EST on WE TV. Check out the premiere of Keke Wyatt’s new video “Jodeci” below.

Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for the National Domestic Violence Hotline.