Hi, I'm Megan Segura. And I'm Eric J. Mack. And this is the Daily Dish, Bravo's official podcast.
Okay. So last week was a pretty big week in Bravo news. Most importantly, I think Bronwyn Windmill Burke coming out as a lesbian. Yes.
So we got a statement from her via her Instagram, and it says, it feels so good to finally be living my truth. I'm a lesbian. At 43 years old, I've finally been able to accept this part of myself, and I've realized there are no rules about when someone should come out. This is my time.
Yes. I mean, it's so important, I think, for her to say that. That there is no good time to do it. It's whenever you are really ready.
And, you know, so many people do get that chance earlier in life to have that experience of coming out and then being able to live their adult life free and out and happy and proud. But it's something that isn't so easy. It doesn't come so easy for a lot of people. So I'm just.
I hope that Bronwyn then inspires other people who might be struggling, who might be a little bit older, and maybe they're married or maybe they have kids, and they just don't really know. You know, they can tell something is different inside of them, and they haven't been able to address it. Can I ask you, when did you come out? Well, I came out, you know, I think for me, it was definitely in stages, right?
Like, it was like, first I came out to a handful of my close friends as bisexual. Right? Like, I tested the waters, and that was probably, like, end of high school. Not to say that other people didn't suspect that I was gay before that, because they certainly did.
But I think I tested the waters at first, and it was really in between high school and college that I was like, okay, well, I'm gonna go away to school. You know, Ithaca. It's gonna be a new chapter for me. It's a new way of living.
I'm just gonna be out and proud going into college. So that's really where I just took advantage of being able to be a whole new person, you know, in a new place. That's amazing. Thank you.
When did you come out, Megan? I came out is strictly dipli. No, I'm just k. Like, pretty early in life.
Well, cheers to you, Bronwyn, and, you know, congratulations. And I'm excited to hopefully meet her girlfriend. She posted about her on Instagram once. I think so far, there was an Instagram story where we got a picture of her.
Her name is Chris, but hopefully we'll get a chance to meet her down the road. I know her family has met her, a lot of her friends, the kids, so it's only fair that we get to meet her too. Wow, wow, wow. Besides that, it's a big week.
This week. We have to recap the Real Housewives of Atlanta premiere, the Real Houses Potomac finale, and we're talking about Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. Plus, we have interviews with Madison lacroix, Southern Charm, and Kamar Basaraj, who is one of the executive producers on Potomac. And you interviewed him, and there was a lot of juicy behind the scenes stuff related to Potomac in that interview.
So I'm super excited to hear that. Yeah, he's honestly probably one of my favorite Daily Dish interviews to date. He's so fantastic. And you hear him a lot, actually, on the show.
Anytime there's like, interview and then you can hear the producer asking a question, it's typically Kamar. So he knows these ladies inside. Now, should we start with Atlanta? Please.
We wait so long for this premiere, and it's finally here. I know. It just feels right. Like, when these women are back on my tv, it just feels like everything is okay again.
Yes. You know, it was interesting to sort of start off with the footage of the women in the masks, first of all, you know, but also to show all of the protests surrounding George Floyd and Portia's participation in those protests and sort of the women's reactions to it all. And I just want to say that I was very happy that they showed footage of George Floyd in his last moments. You know, I think that it's been so long since that all started happening.
And it's not that you forget, but you sort of lose sight of what a horrendous thing that was. And I liked the reminder. Yeah, no, it's so important. And I think, you know, there are different pieces of that footage that have been used in the media since it happened in June, and some of it is far more graphic than others.
And I appreciated that they didn't push the boundaries too far because there was a fine line, right, between glorifying violence in some senses, but and also showing the importance of, like, you need to see this, and we need to see the reality of what is happening to black people in America. So I appreciate that they used it, but they didn't try to glorify it or really showcase too much that might have turned people off, but it needed to be There it needed to be a reminder of, like, this is why Portia then went to Kentucky to, you know, protest what happened with Breonna Taylor. And we see Portia get arrested. You know, this is their storyline, and this is far more real in some ways than some of the other things that we've seen on the show over the years.
Yeah, I'm sorry, I just caught. I just caught sight of your notes. And it starts with titty scent. Here we go.
Titty scent. My notes start a little differently than your notes because I just really was, like, watching Cynthia and Candy and Marlo hang out outside Cynthia's house. And, like, I don't know, Cynthia, by now she's a model. She should know about double sided tape.
But she was just like, those nipples were flying out left and right, both of them, the whole time. And you could sort of see Cynthia, like, look up at the cameraman or the producers being like, oh, God, I gotta fix this. But just titty scent. I mean, every play on words I can get with the Cynthia scent, you know, with all of those 50 cents, like, it's just too fun.
It's just too enjoyable for me. But, you know, you bring up the double sided tape, but really, she's getting used to her new body, and so is Kenya, you know, And Candy said something to all about the. The weight they've gained since the pandemic. Right.
Which I'm glad they talked about because it is so relatable. I mean, so many people have struggled with that, are struggling with that, because what else are you gonna do when you're just inside all the time to eat your feelings? Well, right. And especially if you are being emotionally affected by this, as we all have been.
It seems like Kenya, more than anybody else, is really feeling this isolation because of what she's going through with Mark. You know, sure, Cynthia gains a little bit away, but she's, like, quarantined, you know, with Mike Hill and all the kids and, like, kind of having a good time. It's stressful, but it's a different kind of stress than what Kenya's going through. So I think she really was using food as a coping mechanism for the who she was going through.
Aside from not being able to zip up my dress and I'm wearing a minimizer bra, and I still can't get the dress closed. Passing my boobs. The pandemic feels like it's a burden to be stuck in your own home. And I was eating nonstop, hence why I gained 30 pounds.
I think I sort of missed And I'm glad they showed it. But at the reunion last season, her saying to Andy that things had gotten better with Mark, I didn't realize that they were at any point trying to work things out. I don't think I did either. And maybe that's not necessarily.
I don't know. But it was news to me that she's just now filing for divorce. Yeah. It seems like Kandy and Cynthia are on the same page.
And I think collectively, as an audience, we are also on that page. And that is that Kenya needs to walk away from this situation with Mark. There's no way it can improve from here at this point. I mean, right.
Like, what. Where you go from here, except away from one another. Yeah. I was really impressed with the attorney, Kenny's attorney, being like, what are you doing?
Yeah, you need to stop being down on yourself. Not just because you know you shouldn't, but because you are a role model. People look to you. You need to stop this.
Right. Like, you know, be strong. Be stronger than you think you are because people are looking at you. I mean, that's a lot of pressure.
But I just thought it was really poignant advice from him. Can you guys stop being self deprecating? I'm not. You really beat yourself up because of this dude.
I know black women want, especially black women celebrities, because you have to do everything for your career. And then you go. You say, I'll go get this family. Right?
His failures. His failures. His failure. Yeah, I'm working on it.
I'm here, right? Yeah. Yeah. And it definitely seems like, you know, Cameron's like, okay, we got this scene and whatever.
And they kind of left the room. And that's when he really spoke to her in a way that was like, this is what you got to do, Kenya. Like, I know this. I've seen this before.
Here's how you can protect yourself and your family going forward. I thought that was just a really, like, poignant moment. It's always Kenny at talking to Brandon in the car. Do you remember?
I mean, I don't know if we saw him last season, but Brandon has been a fixture on Real Housewives of Atlanta. And I just thought to myself, oh, it's been a minute since I've seen him. Yeah. Unless I missed it and we did see him last season.
I don't think so. I think it's been a while. Yeah, I missed her. She was talking to her first.
You look away for one second, you missed that lower third. And I was like, who's she even talking to? I'm going to clarify that. Yep, yep, yep, yep.
Okay. So I also just speaking of Kenya, need to point out this beautiful African peacock confessional look that is just next level. My reaction was, oh, because, you know, like you said, you look away for one second. As I was looking at my phone, I looked up.
Oh, oh. It's just a lot of look. It's a lot of look. But, you know, I think Kenya was feeling herself because we do see at the start of this season, you know, she has put on weight.
I feel like she is going through a lot. She's feeling depressed. I think this look was her way of being like, I'm reclaiming Kenya and I am coming through with a look you are not going to forget. Right.
And she nailed it. We also got something very important, and that is Blaze Tucker's Real Housewives of Atlanta debut. Blaze looks just like Ace. Yeah.
Friggin cute. I mean, right? They're twins. Yeah, they're both so cute.
I was happy we got to finally meet her. I mean, we met her on social media and everything, but it was like, it's like real when it's on camera. Well, when we do finally get to meet Blaze, there's also this important conversation that Candy is having with Riley. And I think we've seen Riley really mature a lot in the last couple of years.
She's tried in the past to reconnect with her dad, and he seems to have this ego that they just can't break through. He's also not paying child support, according to Candy. So basically, I'm kind of team Riley in that, you know, I have two parents. Doesn't matter how much Candy's making.
Like, he needs to come through and help support and pay for her college. Like, that's only fair. She has two parents. It shouldn't all be up to Candy.
Can you imagine if the judge does say, you have to pay up this $100,000? Like, of course he should have been paying this whole time. And now, I mean, it's going to really affect him if that happens. Well, it sounds like he just needs to sell one of his Bentleys and then he'll be all good and he can help support.
Oh, yeah, that's right. I forgot she said that. Yeah, Him. It's just, you know, and it's one of those things where I think Candy is so rich that she's just sort of like, I don't need to ch down for this 100 grand.
But it's the principle of it, right? It's really, you have to show that you can't just get away with that. That's not fair. He has other kids that he's supporting.
Why isn't he supporting Riley in a sense of, like, helping further her education at least? Right. Also, I can't tell if I feel bad for college kids right now or not, because on one hand I'm like, ugh. To be.
To be going into your freshman year of college during this pandemic is terrible because classes are canceled. You're not really getting that experience. But on the other hand, if you're someone like Riley who's still going to go to New York even though classes are just virtual, you're really living the dream. Yeah, that is true.
That is true. I think a lot of people are not in Riley's situation, but I think there are a lot of schools, I believe, that are still open and allowing students to be there on campus. The classes are still virtual, but they are allowed to live in the dorms and have a sliver of that college experience. You know, I do feel bad for more of the, like, high school, first couple years of college age kids because those are some, like, crucial growing up moments that are, I think, important to, like, your development as an adult.
Like middle school. I'm like, you're not missing out on anything. Like, it's fine to be virtual. Like, nobody cares about middle school.
But high school and college age kids, you know, like, I do feel bad for them. Okay. Do you think Cynthia is being selfish with this whole wedding thing? Yes, I do a bit.
And I've talked about this in the past with some of my friends, especially through the couple of years I had a few years back. And you probably remember too, where there was just like, I had wedding after wedding after wedding after wedding. So many weddings. Yes.
And I have another round coming up in 2021. Another wedding that I'm actually in the bridal party, which I'm super excited about. I really am. But it is this idea, and Mike brings it up to Cynthia, you know, do you want a marriage or do you want a wedding?
And I do feel like the focus gets placed on the event itself and that one day and how important that is versus what you're actually looking to get out of the relationship in the long run. And there are, you know, legal benefits to being in a marriage. There are all sorts of amazing things about being in a marriage. But it does seem like Cynthia wants her cake and to eat it too, a little bit, and it's just not the right time for that.
There's a pandemic. It's just like, rearrange a few things, you know? You know, Robin is doing that with Juan on Potomac. So it's not.
It's not that unreasonable. Right, Right. I mean, I guess I did understand where she was coming from when she talked about how her other wedding. Her wedding with Peter was, you know, not the best.
It was. There's a lot of financial strain around it. There was no familial support on her side. It wasn't a great day.
And so she's hoping to sort of have that experience for the first time. And I will say that there's a million ways to celebrate a marriage, But I do think that it's nice to celebrate life's moments during a pandemic. Maybe not so much, but it's just, like, you don't want it to be like, just any other day. Yeah.
You have to celebrate these moments and make a big deal out of them. Definitely. And it's not to say she doesn't deserve it, because I think she does. But I'm also more on board with what Mike's saying, and that's.
Why don't we do 10, 10, 20. An actual, you know, ceremony with just the minister, us, maybe our kids, people that we've been quarantining with, whatever, and plan something bigger for when it's safer for everybody. I mean, at this point, in retrospect, we know what happens, and that is that she does hold a wedding and they have the celebration. But I kind of see where Mike's coming from more than anything else, and I appreciate that he's sort of like, I just.
I only care about being with you. I just want to marry you. That's what I want. But I do also understand, you know, Cynthia wants the whole thing.
One final thought on Atlanta and just something that makes me think, like, what is wrong with Mark? When Kenya says, mark never wanted a pool, so I decided to build one. Who doesn't want a pool in their backyard? Okay.
I think maybe if you have little kids, it's a very scary. Well, he could have these other reasons, which is, like, when people are like, oh, the maintenance. But, like, good for Kenya. It's like her breakup pool.
I just think Mark doesn't like fun. Okay. And you know what? Brooklyn will be fine.
She has her own play gym that's being built on the hill away from the pool. So Kenya can be in the pool. Brooklyn can be in her little plaything with the nanny. Whatever.
I'm just glad Kenya's getting pool. She Deserves it. I got the chance to talk to my crush, Madison Lacroix. We talked all about how this season was such a whirlwind, so different from last season, the upcoming reunion, what she predicts will happen, plus, where things stand with Austin.
Here's the interview. Madison, hi. Hello. Welcome back to the daily Dish podcast.
It's nice to talk to you again. I know. Long time no see. So you made a splash last season with you?
Sure about that? Around the world. And fans clamored to have you back, and you came back. And then this season was just sort of crazy, right?
I mean, the pandemic, half the cast was on. I mean, a lot has changed this season. I know it's been like. I mean, thank goodness it's going by pretty fast, but it has been completely different.
How would you say this season compared to last season's experience? I would say that this season is a little more unhinged. I want to say that before, everyone was. I felt like more tiptoeing around maybe their feelings, how they felt.
It was just. Now it's just everyone's partying and kind of getting drunk. Now I'll say that maybe has something to do with quarantine and everybody's just kind of losing it. But, yeah, definitely different.
You know, this week we see you and Austin have this very tearful breakup, which I'm sure is not great to have to relive. Horrible to relive, considering it happened so long ago. Yeah. And to see that, like, I'm a little emotional watching that, and I'll probably be emotional when I have other people chime in on it.
But, yeah, it's a hard. It's a hard thing to go through. I think this is a question a lot of couples are going to be asking themselves for years to come. But I'll go ahead and ask you, do you think the breakup would have happened if Covid had never happened?
I really don't know. I mean, I would hope not. I think that for me, it just made me realize, like, what really mattered to me. And it was just sad to see because Austin was kind of doing his thing, and I was kind of having, like, a mental breakdown emotionally just because of my business and, you know, worry about, you know, I have someone to take care of.
Like, you know, I have to pay my bills, I have to put food on the table and, like, all these things. So for me, you know, he doesn't have any responsibility. So it made it very clear, considering I had a lot more time on my hands this last year than I've ever had in my life and put that in perspective, that I needed something a little bit more than a banger. I mean, today I was scrolling through Instagram and saw that you left a comment on Comics by Bravo and said, austin is still reaching out to you.
He literally just texted me a minute ago. So, yeah, I. I try to avoid him in a sense, just because it's like. Like we talk here and there and, you know, we've seen each other.
Yeah, there's nothing like that romantically happening right now. We can't get along. And it's unfortunate because I think there is passion there. Well, I know that last year you described him as your twin flame.
Yeah, it's just one of those things you. No one can tell you to be done. And as my girlfriend, she said it in a good way. So you're gonna love people throughout your whole entire life, but you're gonna love everyone differently, and that's okay.
You know, often served a purpose for you. I mean, I was such a young mom. I didn't really get to go out and have fun and have that. That nightlife scene or, you know, even the dinners and the bottles of wine every night, like, all that.
And Austin showed me that. That side of me. But I definitely have got to. I gotta have a little bit of both.
You know, fans have noticed that Patricia has a lot to say in terms of your relationship with Austin. And, you know, that maybe she was meddling. Do you feel like she contributed to the breakup at all? Well, Patricia, everything that she tells me, people don't understand that I have known her for 12 years, that she's coming from a different place.
You know, she. She does care about me. She does love me. She does, you know, want the best for me.
And it's just like your friends, right? You don't tell your friends the good things that a guy does for you because nobody wants to hear that. They're like, oh, great, you bought you a flower and read your car. You know, I tell her the things where I need advice.
And maybe I. I did vent her a few times too many, but, like, that's what girlfriends are for. And so I know that bottom of her heart, like, she does want the best for me. And I think that she knows that maybe in a sense, that I was kind of falling back instead of moving forward in certain things.
And, yeah, she's gonna let me know for sure. What are you looking for in a guy now? I am looking for someone that can be an equal who has, like, the Same values in life. Like.
Like, I want someone that either works or has something going on during the day to where they're not bothering me and I can get what I need to get done. And then when we meet up later, then that's that. But I can't have someone texting me 247 while I'm at work. Ask me, you know, why have I not been in touch or anything like that.
I can't, you know, I have to do that with Hudson. I'm checking in with him. I'm not sitting here calling a grown man. And I just want someone that I respect and also has respect for me, I think is a good one.
And someone that is trustworthy, I would say. Well, with that in mind, I'm. I don't know. Have you made out with John Pringle yet?
I will tell you this. I am the only single girl on this season that does not make out with Pringle. Why not? You know, I know.
Listen, I. I would lie if I said I didn't find, you know, Pringle attractive and funny, because he is, but he's just not. He's not for me. You know, I don't look at him and I don't feel that connection that.
That needs to be there. But Pringle, definitely, he's still trying. I hope he never stops. It's so funny.
He goes, we talk on the phone and we're like talking about upcoming plans and stuff for the group. And I was like, yeah, I think, you know, we're sitting beside each other and all this stuff. And they messaged me afterwards. And he goes, I think I'm falling for you.
And I was like, single. And I said, I think you had too many beers. And he goes, there's no such thing. So I will say this.
When I watched the episode of him and his ex wife, I love her. I thought that she was awesome. It was kind of funny because we look similar to each other. I don't know that, but you can tell that she kind of cracks the whip, like on the, you know, the strict one.
And I love that because I'm like, I relate. I relate. You know, we have the Disney dad over here, and then we have the mom is. I don't know.
It was just sweet. It was sweet to see that. So I'm happy for him that he has that support system because that's very, very important for your children. Now the reunion is coming up, Right?
Right. Is it in person or virtual? No, it's in person. Okay.
Well, notoriously, the Reunion has been where cast members sort of find strength in one another. I mean, I don't. I don't know if that's the place where you and Austin have reconciled last season, but Katherine and Thomas, for sure, a couple of times. Yeah.
Well, not for. I mean, no, I need to not. I need to just stay focused. I need to just not get back into that situation because I think that if I were to give that a shot, it was just.
It would just keep happening and keep happening, and here I would be five years later thinking, wow, I just. I've known for a while that I probably should have let this go. I don't know. I think maybe we should talk to someone about it to get through it, but I think we're on the other side now.
Well, how are you feeling about the reunion? Are you nervous at all? You know, I'm always nervous when it comes to a reunion. Nobody wants to be put on a couch and packed and have people say things that aren't true and you have to defend yourself and.
And it's tv, right? So it's kind of. Some people show out and. Yeah, I am nervous, but I know that I can hold my own and I know that I'm a realist when it comes to everything.
So I'm going to. Yeah, I'm going to speak the truth, and I just hope that everyone does the same and is nice because I have something to say about everything. But, yeah, I'm gonna be nice. I'm gonna.
I'm gonna see what happens. I mean, do you. Aside from. Because I don't really think it'll be you.
Who do you think will be in the hot seat this season? I mean, I don't. I would probably say Catherine would probably be in the hot seat just because I think Leva has some things to say that maybe didn't get resolved and maybe Danny. I'm not sure.
I think after watch what Happens live, Craig's gonna have something to say to me, but. Because you know what's crazy about that is we already talked about everything. So then when I said that, I didn't. I wasn't trying to hurt anyone.
It was just a known thing, so I'll probably have to hear him come after me. That's okay. It's fine. I know he didn't think that was going to go unnoticed.
Well, he has had a lot to say about your Nelson's relationship. Not just this season, but last season two. Do you have anything to say about his new relationship? I have too much to say.
And Personally, it's none of my business, because I don't care. I don't care who he dates. I don't care what he does. That's up to him.
I know that he'll always love Naomi, so I think he needs to have a little bit more respect and a little more remorseful for what Austin I are going through, because I think that him and we fought as hard as Austin and I have, so that's kind of sad to see that to him have so much to say about two people that care about each other. And I know that his new girlfriend has a past with Austin, or at least a past connection. Not necessarily a past. Yeah.
Yeah, she does. But at this point, I'm kind of like, who doesn't? You know? And I will say Austin.
Austin told me, you know, he was open. He told me him and I weren't together. So I'm not gonna sit there and. And be mad about that.
I just. I think it's crazy that Craig didn't think that. That that was ever going to come out, considering that she had been with two of the people that are on the show. I mean, give me a break.
Like, you're here on TV and so is he, and you're on the same show together, and you bring her on. Like, you not think that that was going to be talked about. And then also, what are your thoughts on Chef's new relationship? It's not so new now, but newer.
I think Shep hit the jackpot, and I think that, you know, just like his redemption year. Yeah, I think we're on his tour, and, you know, it's him being so good, and I'm like, God, what therapist have you gone to? And, like, can you give me the contact information? Because I think I need to go see them.
But, yeah, he. He's doing well, I think. I think he does love her. I think she loves him.
You know, I've hung out with them together, and I can see that. And she's such a chill girl that I see why it's working. You know, she loves Shefford the way he is, and that's. She's gonna have to compromise to be with him.
I don't think he'll do the same for her, but I think that. Yeah, I think that it'll be good for them. I hope he doesn't mess it up. Yeah, I guess we'll see.
Yeah. Time will tell. Lastly, any predictions for the reunion? Do you think anyone's gonna come out closer?
Further apart? Do you think it's Gonna be a time of healing. You know? Bottom line is, I just think that the world is crazy.
And all these little arguments and disagreements that we all have, like, it's not life threatening. This is not that serious. Everyone needs to, like, worry about themselves and what they have going on and quit worrying what everybody else is doing. And I think that we can all be on the same page and just, I don't know, maybe, like, a little more supportive or.
Yeah. I hope. I hope it goes well. I hope it's not nasty.
I'm just not in the mood for that. Thank you so much. It was so nice talking to you. Nice to talk to you.
Hopefully I can get to New York soon. I know I can't wait. Here's hoping. Potomac.
Okay. I mean, where we begin? Okay, let's start with Michael Darby hearing from Ashley that one's gonna propose to Robin. And Michael being like, he'll never propose.
And her being like, what? And then him being like, based on things he said, he'll never propose. Which, coming off the heels of what Karen said last week, which is, you don't want to know what Juan says when he's been drinking. Right.
What has Juan been saying? Oh, God. Speaking of Juan, Giselle told me Juan is playing to propose. Get out of.
Yeah. Show me the ring. Yeah. It's not possible.
Something pointing like, does. That man will not do that. Why not? This is something I know is.
No way. Honey, what are you saying? What do you know? I've said too much.
I don't know. I mean, this is strike two, right? Like, what you're saying. Karen mentioned something last week.
Now Michael is saying something. There's some kind of cryptic thing that we allegedly don't know at this point. Ashley seems very confused and blindsided by it. She talks about it after she says, I have no idea what he's talking about.
I've never heard anything like this before. It is weird because it doesn't seem so unreasonable. And for Michael to be so firm about it, like, there's no possible way. Well, there is a possible way.
The two of them are divorced, but have lived together this whole time with their two kids, like they own property together. Like, it's not that unreasonable, Michael. So what do you know that we don't know? Okay.
Unless she's just pestering him off camera. How does Ashley let him get away with that? With him just saying, I was that too much? I would be wringing his neck.
Like, tell me, what do you know? What do you know? Oh, yeah. The second the cameraman left, I'd be like, okay, now you need to tell me, because.
What are you talking about? Because it's also just. He also mentions later on the party, we have a special relationship. And there's just all these strange things that Michael says and does that you're just sort of like, what are you talk about?
And maybe it's just a little bit all in his head, this idea that, like, he knows Juan better than anybody else. And this bromance that they have, I don't know. It's all very, very suspicious. Yeah, agreed.
So I want to talk a little bit, too. We see Monique go to her therapist, Esther, and get very emotional talking about what happened in her upbringing. And there's this really fantastic clip in the after show. It was a moment that I think was my favorite moment from being a part of it.
And it was when I was talking to Monique about her bullying and what she went through as a child, going from being the only black girl at a white school and people being like, well, we can't play with you because you're black. And then she went to an all black school where the people there were like, well, you act like a white girl, like, we're not gonna play with you. So Monique has always kind of had this mentality, I think, of people not being interested in getting to know her, people bullying her. I think her defenses just, even as an adult are up because of what she went through.
I mean, just being young, just kind of be a bully. Going from a predominantly white area. Me and my sister being only black girls, nobody would play with me because I'm black. Then I transferred here to a school where it's predominantly black.
And then my sister speaks so properly that they call us the white girls. So it's like I went from one moment of alienation to another. And she kind of makes this interesting point of, Candace went through something very similar as a child being the only black girl at a white school. And Monique kind of has this moment of clarity where she's like, I think Candace was her as a child.
I was her as a child. And as adult, we, for whatever reason, became close and then couldn't stop hurting each other. And that's how we ended up where we are today. I was like, damn, that makes a lot of sense.
Yeah. I mean, does it for you excuse the behavior? I don't think it excuses it. I think it adds more context.
And it's tough because we see Monique in this episode, in her interview, say, you know, I'm remorseful for what I did, but I'm not sorry for defending myself when I thought that I needed to. So it's like, if she didn't say that, but part, you know, it would have been like, okay, great, let's just, like, end it there. Period. Done.
Don't say anymore. Because it still seems like she's just defending something that maybe she doesn't have to anymore, you know, like, just let it go. And I think from what we've seen in the preview of the reunion with the binder that she comes. I think she comes ready to have to defend everything that's happened, and maybe she's not coming with the vulnerability that we need to see from her, that the women need to see from her and that we need to see from her, and that could end up not looking very good for her by the end of the reunion.
Well, because she's not really in this episode, I can jump ahead to the end with her. And it is interesting. That sort of evil laugh. They kind of slow down at the end.
Yeah. I was like, whoa. You know, because they also, a bit, gave Candace the last word, which at the end of the day, yes, Candace was the victim of the altercation. That is true.
That is what everybody has said. You know, Ashley, Darby, Karen, they've all been like, Monique was wrong to do what she. She did. But is that where the story needs to end, or is there still more for the two of them to discuss?
Like, we just need Monique and Candice to be in the same room together and to be able to talk it out or, you know, yell it out, however it may go. That's what we've been waiting for. I think that's what we need at the reunion. So I don't know.
It's just gonna be really interesting to see how. How they walk away from that event. Well, also, you know, this whole Karen situation, I want to get your take on what's happening here, because I think maybe, just maybe Karen honestly just got a little bit confused when it came to the timing, because this is hard to be in the middle, and it's hard to want to support both of your friends and allow both of your friends to support you at something like this WIG launch. But knowing that Monique probably doesn't want to be around Candice, Candace definitely doesn't want to be around Monique.
Monique doesn't want to be around the rest of the women. The rest of the women don't want to be around her. So Karen is really in a tough situation here, and I think just trying to manage the Whole thing. Maybe she just got her times mixed up.
I don't want to be a blind Karen defender, but at the same time, unless there's something happening off camera that I'm not seeing, I don't understand why anyone thinks she's acting maliciously. Right. I mean, like I said last week, I think that even if she was somehow trying to sneak these two at the event at the same time, she probably had a good reason. Like, probably wanted to see the makeup.
I just don't think that she's this terrible, shady person everyone's making her out to be. Yeah. And, you know, Candace, even in the after show, tries to present some receipts. She pulls out her phone in real time, and the receipts sort of technically prove that Karen is right.
But Candace reiterates that over the phone, Karen said to come early. And one of the things I thought was interesting that Candace said is Karen knew that Candace might not want to take her wig off in front of the other women because she was so worried about her wig coming off during the altercation that Karen recognized that might be a moment that would make Candace uncomfortable being on camera, the whole thing. So that's why Karen had actually encouraged Candace to come early to begin with. So it didn't have anything to do with running into Monique.
It had to do with Candace feeling comfortable in the situation that she was about to be in. So I think that speaks to Karen's character in a lot of ways and the fact that she didn't want them to cross paths, but that she was also being very respectful of Candace's trauma in the whole situation. Like, does that make a lot more sense when you hear from that perspective? Again, I don't understand.
Like, clearly Karen's not malicious. Yeah. And I think it's something that was worth Candace bringing up, maybe to the other women. I don't think she felt like she needed to defend Karen because she was feeling a type of way at the time, but she revealed it in an after show, so it was something she was aware of even at this time.
But she still goes off on Karen at Robin and Juan's party, and it's a whole thing. So, you know, I don't know. Sometimes I feel like Karen, she's damned if she does she stand if she doesn't, you know, and it's just a tough position for her to be in. Yeah, absolutely.
Can we get to the real drama? Okay, I get the proposal, but, like, the thing. The proposal was sweet, but I also felt it was overshadowed by Wendy's insane reaction where I'm like, you're not thinking this about you. It's not about you.
Like, Giselle had to physically move her and Candace out of the way. Yes. Yeah. I mean, it's a little bit of, like, okay, Wendy, you're new here, so you better not be taking any of the attention away from Robin, if anybody.
And I really just appreciated Zell being like, we're gonna clear these ladies from the floor, because this is not a time for them to approach Robin, too, because she dropped something or something, and they're, like, going down. Like, it was just too much. Like, they were doing too much. But I'm very happy, for one.
And Robin, like Karen said, Robin doesn't get a lot of moments, you know, let her have this. So shady. I know. So shady.
And not, like, untrue, because, you know, whatever. But Robin has had her moments, and, you know, there's been a lot of other things going on this season, so at least Robin got this finale moment. But not for long. Not for long at all.
No way. Okay, so Karen and Candace are having this intense conversation. Candace is getting a little loud. And Michael Darby, who, you know is feeling a little maybe lubric by the alcohol, goes over to Candace's husband and is like, hey, buddy, you need to go get your wife, because she's making us all look bad.
Which I thought was an interesting thing to say. Right. That prompts Krista Bassett to be like, you need to get out of my face. And then before you know it, these two are at it.
Yeah. And shortly thereafter, Candace and Ashley. Okay, well, so I kind of love. Okay.
Even if I don't agree with what's happening, there is something I love seeing about couples who are very protective of one another. And Ashley didn't see what happened, but Chris, you know, had his finger in Michael's chest, which Michael really took as some sort of physical thing. Yep. Was like, you know, I'm gonna call my lawyers.
You're going down. You're going to jail, buddy. Like, okay. And Ashley hears him say, he put his hands on me.
And then it was like a flip was switched. Nope. It was like. It was like a switch was flipped in her, and she just, like, left him and was like, oh, Candace, it's okay for.
For your husband to do anything, but when it comes to Monique, that's a problem. Yeah. Right. Fun fact.
Ashley says she does not remember cursing out Candace. She says, yeah, she had been drinking, but her adrenaline was so high in that moment that she totally. She totally doesn't remember confronting Candace at all. She knows that it happened, whatever.
And then she remembers what came afterwards, but totally blacked out in the moment where she was just like cursing out Candace. She was in defense mode. And especially because it's not just Michael, her husband anymore, it's Michael, the father of her kids. So she's immediately like, no way I'm going to protection, though.
And, you know, the thing about it is Michael was totally out of line to approach Chris the way he did. But he's not totally wrong about Candace, like, getting all loud and yelling and all this. And we've seen that happen so many times. And it doesn't always end very well for everybody when she gets to that point, you know, it's not right for him to approach Chris and be like, go get your woman.
Like, that's inappropriate completely. But he kind of has point. I just feel like it could have ended there and been fine, but nope, it was like, then Michael was then taking it out on production, and I don't know what he was trying to do or what they were stopping him from doing. That was intense.
Yeah. I mean, he took it way too far approaching production. It was completely unresponsive. It was completely unprofessional and disrespectful to Ashley because this is Ashley's job.
This is what Ashley does. And of course, Michael probably felt a type of way because of everything that happened last season. Like, maybe he's just been building up this rage against producers because of how everything has played out. But they're only putting out there what you have given them to put out there in so many ways.
So it just seemed like you said he was feeling a little liquid courage. He was at this point worked up from the confrontation with Chris. But to take it out on those people, like, inappropriate and just not. Not right.
It's not right. Kamar and Josh Brown, they both talk about it in the after show, why they felt it was important to include that. What did they say? Basically, they only like to break the fourth wall when it helps tell the full story.
And I think they wanted to show that, yeah, you know, Michael did this and then Chris put his hands on him, but didn' get any more violent than that. Whatever. But just to add more to the full picture of, well, it didn't end there. And it even went so far as for Michael to burst into the production room and start cursing out these people, you know, like, it wasn't this isolated incident.
It was so much bigger than that. And it was especially hard for me to watch Ashley's reaction to the whole thing because for her to confront Candace, of course that's going to happen. The two of them have been butty heads forever. But then to see her react the way she did to Michael and his behavior, I don't know.
I think it really helped to complete the story of their relationship and kind of the struggles that they are still going through, whether it's because of the show or not, I don't know. But it just made me feel for her just how embarrassed she was for the way he was behaving. I'm really excited for them to dig into that at the reunion. Yeah, absolutely.
So, as you guys know, I interviewed Kamar Basaraj a while ago. He is the executive producer on Real Housewives of Potomac. Part of the interview we saved for now because we couldn't spoil it. But he talked about the finale party and about Michael yelling at production and what Michael claims to know about Juan.
Very interesting what Kamar had to say. Here's the interview. Okay, well, I need to press you for a little tea because. And I'm sure you won't share, but I still have to ask, what is Michael referring to when he is talking about Juan and saying there's no way Juan will propose to Robin again based on what I know.
Can I be honest? Yeah. Michael won't share with anyone. He won't.
I don't even think Ashley knows. But we. That's why we all need to ask him at the reunion. That's why everyone needs a turn in and the three is we need to know.
Like, I need to know. I keep asking. And Ashley's like, I don't know. And I was like, I don't know either.
Like, no one knows. So I wish that. Honestly, that's the tea. I wish I knew I could really still.
Because I keep asking. But Ashley's like, Michael won't tell me and Michael won't tell me. And so hopefully you'll tell Andy. I hope.
God, I hope that finale party was also epic. Were you there? Yes. Were you part of the call me Michael down team?
Let's just say that final event was. If I could script anything, I would literally make a movie and go be rich and live in Hollywood. Like, I could not. I could not have scripted that.
I was like, this is like her. It started out okay. Karen literally. Karen sent us all.
Like, I know you saw it in the show where the ladies. Karen's text message about me stuck in the airport and the video, she literally did not only send it to the lady, she Sent it to all of us. So we all were aware that Karen was stuck at the airport. That's so funny.
I was on the phone with her. Everybody was on the phone trying to get Karen, like, trying to figure out, how is Karen gonna get here. When Juan proposed, we all started crying. I started crying.