Fantasia's Future Could Include Million-Dollar 'Home Wrecker' Lawsuit
Aug. 12, 2010— -- Fantasia Barrino's troubles could just be starting.
The 2004 "American Idol" winner was released from the hospital Wednesday, two days after an accidental overdose of aspirin and sleep medication.
"She has been lifted up by the outpouring of love and support from her fans," manager Brian Dickens said in a statement Wednesday. "She is more committed than ever to her daughter and her work because they are her heart, her soul and inspiration."
But Barrino could also be facing a potential million-dollar lawsuit as a "home-wrecker."
Barrino has been accused by Paula Cook of Charlotte, North Carolina of having an adulterous affair with Antwaun Cook, her husband, and the father of their two young sons, ages 6 and 2. Paula, who has filed for divorce from Antwaun, named Barrino in a complaint filed last week seeking custody of the boys, along with alimony, child support, the family home and a 2000 Lexus.
Paula Cook's attorney, Tamela Wallace, declined to comment on the custody case or the recent turn of events involving Barrino. According to Barrino's attorney, Gena Morris, the singer has already been named as a witness in the Cooks' custody case.
"For the sake of everybody involved, I hope she is not sued because she did not break up the Cooks' marriage," Morris said Thursday in a letter to ABCNews.com. "However, if Mrs. Cook does make the headline-seeking decision to sue Fantasia ... rest assured we will vigorously defend her."
On Monday, Barrino denied that she was a home-wrecker but confirmed that she had an 11-month relationship with Cook. In a statement, her manager Brian Dickens said the singer is "certain that she is not responsible for the deterioration of the Cooks' marriage."
That evening, Dickens found Barrino almost unconscious from an overdose of aspirin and sleep medication at her Charlotte residence and called 911.
Though he later stressed that Barrino's overdose was accidental, Dickens noted that the singer's mental and emotional state had become frayed because of the stress of the affair.
"Fantasia does not know what to believe now," Dickens said of the child custody lawsuit. "She knows some of the allegations in Mrs. Cook's complaint are totally false. There are others she strongly doubts. There is plenty she does not know. Fantasia is heartbroken. She feels betrayed. She is also sorry for the pain she has caused."
Photos of Barrino and Antwaun together -- walking hand-in-hand and riding on a personal watercraft -- have circulated on the Internet for months. Despite tattooing "Cook" just below her left shoulder, Barrino had always maintained until recently that they were just friends.
