Wife Of Fantasia Barrino’s On-Off Boyfriend Speaks Out

Fantasia Barrino may be recovering after an overdose last week, but she is not the only one in pain. Paula Cook, the woman whose husband, Antwaun Cook, is alleged to have had an affair with the former “American Idol” winner (something Barrino denies) is now speaking out through her attorney about the end of her marriage.

“She is saddened and disheartened by the end of her marriage,” divorce attorney Tamela Wallace told People. “She’s embarrassed, and humiliated and distressed by the lack of respect that was shown for her marriage by Ms. Barrino.”

Just days after Barrino was released from the hospital following her overdose, she was spotted meeting up with Cook. Cameras were present at the meeting, reportedly filming for the singer’s VH1 reality show, “Fantasia for Real.”

Wallace told People that the meet-up news was difficult for her client.

“It’s that kind of brazen behavior that Mrs. Cook has had to endure for the last 11 months, until June of this year,” the lawyer told the mag. “This is something that has caused her emotional distress, pain, anguish.”

Last week, Barrino’s rep issued a statement to Access Hollywood, where the rep claimed Antwaun told Barrino that he had separated from his wife when he engaged in a relationship with the singer.

“Fantasia believed Mr. Cook when he told her he was not happy in his marriage and his heart was not in it. She believed him when he told her he and Mrs. Cook separated in the late summer of 2009,” the statement to Access read. “She believed Mr. Cook when he told her he lived elsewhere. He even took her there. One of Mr. Cook’s most redeeming qualities was his complete devotion to his children. Fantasia fell in love with Mr. Cook and believed that he loved her.”

Wallace would not confirm to People whether Paula plans to sue Barrino (under North Carolina‘s alienation of affection law), but she did tell the mag that Paula is “weighing her options.” She also claimed Paula is a private citizen who didn’t ask for her marital problems to be made public.

As for Barrino’s lawyer, she put blame on Paula for the divorce details being made public.

“Paula Cook intentionally chose to turn her private legal matter into a public spectacle by pleading in a tabloid manner,” Barrino’s lawyer told People. “None of the allegations against Fantasia were factually necessary to support Mrs. Cook’s claims against Mr. Cook. Mrs. Cook could have elected to resolve her case out of the public eye.”