Two billboards calling an Oracle exec the eternal soul mate of a woman who is not his wife have been taken down in Atlanta.
One of the billboards at the corner of North Avenue and Piedmont Avenue was up most of the week and taken down sometime between Thursday evening and Friday morning.
That same message was taken down from a Times Square billboard, too. It's not known whether others put up in New York and San Francisco remain, but it's clear the scorned mistress of Charles Phillips, reportedly returning to his wife, got her message across.
"You are my soul mate forever -- cep. Charles and YaVaughnie," read the giant ad that also displayed a picture of Phillips with YaVaughnie Wilkins.
A second Atlanta-area billboard was up most of the week at Camp Creek Parkway and Washington Road, in East Point near Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
It, too, was blank on Friday.
Sarah Martin, who drives an airport shuttle along Camp Creek every day, said the sign initially made her sentimental.
"That's what I say about my husband, Martin said of the "soul mate forever" statement.
But when she learned the apparent story behind the billboard, she was disappointed and a bit amused.
"Nooooo!" Martin said. "I cannot believe this. That's funny, but that's gotta be one vindictive person."
In a statement released Thursday to NBC Bay Area News in San Francisco, where tech giant Oracle is based, and where both Phillips and Wilkins live, Phillips admitted to the long-time affair.
“I had an 8½ year serious relationship with YaVaughnie Wilkins," the statement said. "My divorce proceedings began in 2008. The relationship with Ms. Wilkins has since ended and we both wish each other well."
Several media outlets reported that Wilkins paid for the billboards after she became angry over Phillips' decision to reconcile with his wife. The New York Post put the story on its cover with the headline "Ad As Hell."
Attempts to reach Clear Channel, which leases the billboard space, were unsuccessful early today.
Joe Moss, who works near the Midtown ad, said he thought the use of the billboards was juvenile.
"If you're having a discreet relationship with someone, why not have a discreet breakup?" Moss questioned. "It would've been more mature to just approach the wife."
He said the amount of money spent on the billboards -- estimated by the New York Post to be as much as $50,000 each -- was misdirected, considering current events.
"That could've been a small business loan for someone ... or a whole lot of perishable goods to go to Haiti," Moss said.
The billboards also displayed the URL of a Web site chronicling their lives together. The Web site, which was online Friday morning, has been on- and offline throughout the day.
In addition to being co-president for Oracle, Phillips was appointed to President Barack Obama's Economic Recovery advisory board.
Return to AJC.com for more updates.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
