As Bozoma Saint John steps into the spotlight as a new cast member on Season 14 of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (RHOBH), she openly shares aspects of her life, including her marriage to her late husband, Peter Saint John. This revelation has sparked curiosity about Peter Saint John and his relationship with the marketing executive and now reality TV star.
Bozoma Saint John was married to Peter Saint John until his passing in 2013. In the Season 14 premiere of RHOBH, Bozoma offered a glimpse into their relationship during a heartfelt conversation with Dorit Kemsley. Discussing Dorit’s marital challenges, Bozoma shared her own experience: “So, I’m widowed,” she explained. “But the reason why I empathize is that 10 years into our marriage, we separated. We never got divorced. But then he got sick and we reconciled. He had cancer and, you know, it’s complicated.” This candid moment highlighted the depth of Bozoma’s personal journey and the significant role Peter Saint John played in her life.
Their initial encounter was far from conventional. Bozoma recounted on Instagram in 2019 how they met in a New York cafeteria where they both worked. “I was ordering breakfast, and, admittedly, taking my time,” she wrote. “He was impatient and also trying to figure out a way to get my attention. He yelled out from the back of the line, ‘You look like royalty, but you don’t own this place. Hurry up and order!’ Well…he succeeded in getting my attention and royally pissing me off.” Despite the rocky start, Peter’s persistence eventually won Bozoma over, and they married in June 2003 in New York City, as reported by Elle.
Their decade-long marriage took a challenging turn when Peter Saint John was diagnosed with cancer in May 2013. Bozoma later reflected on how this period profoundly shifted her perspective on life. In an interview shared on OWN, she emphasized the urgency she now feels to live life to the fullest. “Now, it’s really important that I’m urgent because I understand what it really means to live every day fully,” Bozoma stated. “Now, I don’t wait. You know, if we want to do something, we make sure that we do it… We don’t want to wait for some magical time in the future to make the memories.”
Peter Saint John’s cancer was identified as Burkitt’s lymphoma, according to Essence. He underwent months of chemotherapy, but tragically, doctors later informed him that he had only weeks to live, as mentioned by Joy Online. Peter Saint John passed away in December 2013. Bozoma shared during a Talks at Google in May 2023 the importance of their conversations during his final days. “We had so many conversations, which I’m so thankful for,” she said. “I am thankful. I’m thankful for the moments to talk about life…life becomes very clear when we know the end is coming.”
Together, Bozoma Saint John and Peter Saint John had a daughter named Lael. Lael is now a teenager, and Bozoma frequently expresses her love and pride for her daughter on social media. In a recent Instagram post coinciding with the start of the 2024 school year, Bozoma reflected on motherhood, writing, “It’s been a journey… and time is precious,” and adding, “Somebody Slow Time Down.” Bozoma has also openly shared her past experiences with pregnancy loss, referring to Lael as her “rainbow baby,” a symbol of hope and joy after previous sorrow.
While Peter Saint John’s life was tragically cut short, his impact on Bozoma’s life is undeniable. Bozoma Saint John herself is a highly accomplished marketing executive, recognized by Forbes as the World’s Most Influential CMO. Her career includes leadership roles at major brands like Netflix, Uber, and Apple Music. She is also an author, with her memoir The Urgent Life published in 2023, and the creator of The Badass Workshop. Despite her professional accolades, Bozoma considers being a mother to Lael her greatest achievement. As Bozoma Saint John embarks on this new chapter on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, her story, including her relationship with Peter Saint John, adds depth and poignancy to her public persona.
