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It’s never surprising to hear that the Real Housewives are guilty of diva behavior. It’s to be expected. Of course, there’s a time, place, and threshold. While it’s a Housewife’s job to stir up drama, it should be within the confines of the show.
But fame can go to one’s head, and if Courtney Rhodes can be trusted, then Kenya Moore might be fame’s latest victim. Many Real Housewives of Atlanta fans love Kenya because they know she’s playing a character, or so they believe.
But with that love comes frustration. Many viewers feel Kenya’s been done dirty more than once by production’s edits. And Kenya might be just as unsatisfied with production. Not to mention the rest of the crew.
Did Kenya blow up at RHOA staff?
On Friday, August 4, Courtney went onto David Yontef’s podcast, Behind the Velvet Rope, to discuss her costar’s behavior. “Kenya is a lot more delusional than people realize,” she said, “and when she wants to do something and have a story in a narrative, she’s just going to run with it.”
In particular, she referenced a Season 15 spat aftermath. “It was obvious that Kenya was okay because what you didn’t see was she was cursing production out. The way she speaks to production — it just makes me uncomfortable. On the Alabama trip, the lighting wasn’t bright enough for her, and she just tore into this young lady on production. I was just mortified.”
She continued, “That was so inappropriate, and that’s not right. I don’t like that. That sh*t is not cool. You are not above anybody. I wasn’t really paying attention to everybody’s reaction. But for me personally, I was like, my friends don’t do that. You don’t treat people like that. People have rights. Bullying is not cool. Like, come on, stop. It’s not okay.”
Courtney concluded with a poignant takeaway. “It doesn’t matter if it’s someone sweeping the floor. It does not matter. We’re all humans. It’s so gross and disrespectful. I lost a lot of respect for her at that moment and seeing that a couple of times — we are oil and water.” During a time when essential workers are so highlighted, Courtney couldn’t be more correct.
The Real Housewives of Atlanta continues Sundays at 8/7c on Bravo.
TELL US – DO YOU BELIEVE COURTNEY’S ACCOUNT? OR DO YOU THINK THESE STORIES DON’T FIT KENYA?
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As viewers recently learned, Vanderpump Rules was coming to its end after Season 10 due to losing central cast members two seasons prior, the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down L.A. restaurants, and a decline in ratings. Viewers found it hard to get behind some of the storylines. The finale even showed Lisa Vanderpump giving a tearful goodbye. However, the series was saved by Scandoval. The cheating scandal breathed fresh new life into the series, giving it one last hurrah.
Everyone Was Single
(Photo by: Nicole Weingart/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
For the first time in many years, almost everyone on the cast was single and ready to mingle. Katie Maloney and Tom Schwartz were navigating their lives alone, Lala Kent was getting back on the horse, and Rachel ‘Raquel’ Leviss was going through her fu*k girl era. In early seasons, the cast was highly incestual, as they all were hot SUR servers who often fought about infidelity. However, Season 8 showed some cast members, like Stassi Schroeder and Kristen Doute, maturing and having kids.
Season 10 started off with what viewers thought would be three main storylines—Katie and Tom divorcing, Lala and Randall Emmett‘s news-breaking split, and James Kennedy and Rachel ending their engagement. Before Scandoval even broke, there was drama in the works.
Scheana Got Married
(Photo by Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
Season 10 showed Scheana Shay finally finding the man of her dreams in Brock Davies, with the two planning a big wedding in Mexico. Who doesn’t love watching a Bridezilla, especially one trying to erase the memories of her first crop top wedding dress? The wedding was gorgeous, and Scheana looked stunning. However, shortly before they said “I do,” Scheana revealed that she and Brock had been married for a year prior but kept the news a secret from their friends. The news didn’t phase many people who understood why they had made the choice to elope.
By Scheana’s side stood Ariana Madix and Rachel, which would become its own drama. Katie was uninvited, but wouldn’t give up her hotel room. She creepily watched the ceremony from high above on her balcony. The white party was also where Tom Schwartz and Rachel snuck a kiss, which we now know was a coverup for her affair with Tom Sandoval.
James Got Back on the Horse
(Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for MTV)
James was only single for what felt like a second. Still, fans were happy to see him introduce his new girlfriend, Ally Lewber, to the group during Season 10.
James was famous for dating multiple women and not being too kind to them when they broke up. Thankfully, Ally was a perfect addition to the friend circle and seemed to really ground James and his tantrums, especially since he had returned to drinking.
Scandoval Gave Season 1 Vibes
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Like it or not, Scandoval brought Vanderpump Rules back to its Season 1 roots, making sure not to leave out a dramatic monologue or face slap. The entire premise of the show was about filming the couples at the time—Stassi and Jax, Katie and Tom, and Kristen and Tom—as they went through what most 20-something-year-olds did.
Each episode was emotionally charged, as some journeys turned bitter, and others stuck it out. Season 10 once again started to center around relationships, and it felt like old times.
The OGs Weren’t Even Missed
(Photo by: Evans Vestal Ward/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
Vanderpump Rules Season 10 was running on all cylinders since episode 1. It was easy to forget about the show’s former stars like Jax Taylor and Stassi. Gone were the days of Stassi’s mean-girl vibes and Jax’s gross comments. However, Kristen’s return for the last episode was gripping, and it did have fans excited to hear she would be returning to film for Season 11, as Crazy Kristen is always welcome.
Season 11 has a lot to live up to, with many feeling the series may not be able to fulfill its duty. Tom is trying to get back into good graces with his former friends, and Rachel has yet to commit to even filming. This next season could be the final one, as Bravo now has the opportunity to tie all the drama up into a nice, neat bow.
TELL US – WHY DO YOU THINK VANDERPUMP RULES SEASON 10 WAS SO JUICY?
When we last left Below Deck Down Under, poor chef Tzarina was having a nightmare. She had been so focused on one guest’s dietary restrictions, she’d forgotten about a couple of others. It resulted in starters being sent back to the galley, and a last-minute need for change on the main. Would she be able to pull it off and impress Captain Jason? We were about to find out! Here’s everything that happened, and more, in our Below Deck Down Under Season 2, Episode 6 recap.
Putting out fires in the galley
(Photo by: Mark Rogers/Bravo)
“The chef should have this,” Captain Jason interviewed. “Food on the yacht is the most important,” he explained, noting it would often heavily affect the final tip. Thankfully, Tzarina managed to bring it all back around. She included some red snapper with lobster for the guests she finally realized didn’t enjoy red meat.
Once everything had been served – and the primary’s steak had been returned after being left on the heat for a little longer – the guests actually really enjoyed their food. The night was topped off with a birthday cake, which Tzarina had been preparing since 9:30 a.m. So, when the birthday boy’s face was shoved into it … “I’m trying so hard not to cry,” she said.
Would Tzarina’s putting out of the fires in the galley be enough for Jason?
Does Laura have stock in a lime company?
(Photo by: Bravo)
I don’t think there’s a Below Deck Down Under viewer who isn’t sick to the back teeth of Laura, as day two of the latest charter begins. She is one of the worst stews the show has ever seen. Her attitude to her chief stew, Aesha, is appalling. She’s also incapable of taking “no” for an answer, in every aspect of her life.
So, it’s a brilliant moment when we see her struggling to juice a lime. Perhaps if she just used the bottled lime juice, as Aesha had suggested from the start of the charter, she wouldn’t have so much trouble! It’s almost like Aesha is paid the big bucks because she knows what she’s doing…
With terrible weather, Captain Jason makes the difficult decision to return the yacht to the marina. Bosun Luke and the deckhands will distract the guests with drinking games, while Aesha’s team will make sure the alcohol keeps flowing. As the drinks go down, Jason breaks the news to the guests. They take it incredibly well. Meanwhile, poor Adam is struggling with his seasickness. Culver does his best to guide him. This may not be the right line of work for him, but he’s doing his best. And remember, it’s all to provide a better life for his family. You’ve gotta respect that hustle.
A memorial to remember
(Photo by: Mark Rogers/Bravo)
After being asked to create a special dish for tonight’s memorial dinner, requested by the guests, Tzarina is working against the clock. She needs 10 more chicken thighs, but they can only be delivered to the marina. She’ll have around an hour to finish the meal before guests are seated and ready to eat, so the challenges just keep coming. Fortunately, the chicken arrives on time. “Everything’s so last minute, but I might get away with it,” Tzarina says.
And she does. “How do I say ‘enjoy your meal’ in Cuban?” Aesha asks the guests. “Enjoy your meal!” one responds, bursting into laughter. The primary thinks the food is “perfection,” and everybody is happy. He later says a few words in memory of his late mom. She sounds like an incredible woman. It’s a beautiful moment, now shared with the world. Mom would be proud.
Sadly, the good vibes don’t continue. Female Gary King, aka Laura, refuses to stop in her pursuit of Adam. “That f*cking sh*t is scary,” he interviews, after she correctly guesses the exact aftershave he’s wearing. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if she’d been in his room going through his stuff, for that exact moment.
As night time comes, Harry’s back on shift. Laura’s not happy, and wants to rotate. As we’ve come to expect, that’s something she’ll be addressing in the morning.
The charter ends with an incredible tip
(Photo by: Mark Rogers/Bravo via Getty Images)
It’s the final day of charter, and breakfast looks incredible. I’m never not hungry watching Tzarina at work. Laura ruins the good vibes almost immediately, complaining to Aesha about being tired. She wants to swap a night shift with Margot. Aesha refuses, as Margot isn’t yet strong enough on service. That should be the end of it. But this is Laura, and she continues to complain. To the point that she asks Aesha to swap shifts with her. Aesha almost laughs in response. She’s stunned. Laura is a confrontational little brat; the team would be far stronger without her bad energy.
As the guests prepare to leave, Luke is flirting with Margot. “Let’s see if I can get you alone,” he says of the night ahead. It’s some heavy-handed foreshadowing of the sickening events to come. When the guests leave, the primary has two envelopes. The first is the earned tip, and the second will be decided in an arm wrestling contest. He wants to take on the captain – and he wins. Still, he hands over the second envelope. Jason jokes he let the primary win, because that’s what he needed to do for the cash.
At the tip meeting, Laura makes another inappropriate comment to Adam, before Captain Jason arrives. The total tip is a staggering $25,000 USD. That amounts to $2,080 per person. As for the sparkly helmet? That goes to Adam. “Don’t puke in it,” Jason laughs.
Women protecting women
(Photo by: Mark Rogers/Bravo via Getty Images)
Surprisingly, Laura is ready in time for the crew night out. Adam tells Laura that they will “never” get together. He asks, “Why can’t you just be my friend?” Laura’s hearing none of it. Meanwhile, Margot is finding Harry “a little too much.” So much so, that she is later dancing with a shirtless Luke. Harry isn’t happy with the mixed signals, but he does the right thing and takes a step back.
In the car back to the yacht, Margot is passed out across Luke’s lap. “No gobbies for you,” Aesha says. “Later,” Luke responds. “You should not be saying that when she’s that [out of it] … you should be putting her to bed.” Upon the car’s arrival, Aesha recognizes a need to stay with Margot. She is a survivor of sexual assault, and doesn’t want “any drunkenness to be taken advantage of.”
“I just saw the way Luke’s looking at you,” she says to Margot as she’s putting her to bed. “I feel very protective.” She climbs into bed with Margot, lying with her until she falls asleep. Margot says she just wants water, and bed. “No Luke,” she says.
A monster unmasked
(Photo by: Mark Rogers/Bravo via Getty Images)
What happens next is truly disgusting. “Let’s go party upstairs,” Luke says to Laura. He’s completely nude under a white towel. She goes, but he doesn’t follow. Then, there’s a power cut. The whole boat has tripped. As Aesha leaves Margot asleep in her bunk, Luke sees his opportunity. He enters Margot’s room, and climbs into her bed. Producers are forced to intervene. They tell him to get out immediately, and he refuses. “Can you f*ck off for a second?” he rages, before slamming the door. Production immediately move to get the door back open. Luke then finally leaves the room, and the episode ends.
Below Deck Down Under continues Mondays at 8/7c on Bravo.
No means no. Every single time. National hotlines can help connect victims, survivors, and their support networks connect with local resources. For more information and resources, you can visit: https://victimconnect.org/resources/national-hotlines/
TELL US – WERE YOU SHOCKED BY THE ENDING OF THIS EPISODE? CAN YOU REMEMBER AN EPISODE IN BRAVO HISTORY LIKE IT?
Kate Chastain is out here taking shots once again. But let’s be honest, it can’t be helped. From her beginnings on Below Deck, Kate has always been known to speak her mind. And her mind is not usually too kind.
Moreover, with her upcoming Bravo show, it’s now become her job to talk about reality TV. And some of the biggest news shaking the reality TV world is Bethenny Frankel’s push for reality TV workers to join the ongoing writers’ and actors’ strike in Hollywood.
The Real Housewives of New York alum pointed out that, just like writers and actors, reality TV stars hardly see a dime when it comes to residuals. And the issue with residuals was only exacerbated by streaming, as many have pointed out. Well, Kate had some thoughts on Bethenny’s push.
Kate calls Bethenny a hypocrite on Twitter
I can’t wait to watch the Netflix documentary about the exploitation of Skinnygirl
On Monday, August 7, Kate tweeted, “I can’t wait to watch the Netflix documentary about the exploitation of Skinnygirl.” While there was slight confusion as to what Kate meant, most interpreted the tweet as a jab at Bethenny’s strike proposal. The idea is that Bethenny profits off vodka as she profited off reality TV, so she’ll claim exploitation there as well in the future.
Most everyone who replied to Kate’s tweet seemed to be on board with that logic. One user wrote, “And how Bravo and reality tv was so bad she only had 3 separate spin offs.” Another expressed confusion: “It’s baffling that she milked the Bravo teat for everything it was worth, made her own fortune off of it, and is now coming after them.”
And look, while Bethenny certainly is worthy of criticism in many respects, there’s something we should make clear. When actors like Jason Sudeikis strike, it’s not because they’re unsatisfied with their millions of dollars. Actors like Jason strike for all other actors.
When Bethenny calls for a reality TV workers’ strike, it’s not strictly for her benefit. She even said that she is the exception when it comes to reality TV success. When she calls for a strike, she’s doing it for the little guy — for those who are just starting on reality TV and don’t know what they’re getting into.
Of course, Kate just enjoys being provocative whether she believes what she’s saying or not. More and more reality stars are voicing support for a strike. Where Kate truly stands has yet to be seen.
TELL US – WHAT DO YOU THINK OF KATE’S DIG AT BETHENNY? DO YOU THINK BETHENNY TRULY IS HYPOCRITICAL?
(Photo by Fatih Aktas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
There’s a reason Time included Bella Hadid on their 2023 list of the 100 most influential people. She’s grown so far beyond the status of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills daughter.
And that’s not to discredit Yolanda Hadid’s role in her fame (or excuse nepotism on the whole). But Bella makes waves no matter what she does, often drawing just as much criticism and speculation as support.
In 2013, Bella was diagnosed with Lyme disease, beginning holistic treatment from then on out. And it looks like that treatment did exactly what the Hadids hoped.
On August 6, Bella made a post on Instagram showcasing her battle with various health complications. The post included multiple records detailing her “medical problems,” including constant illness for 18 months, depression, exhaustion, and issues of memory. Moreover, another record indicated “Severely High tissue toxicity of 16.”
In her caption, Bella wrote, “the little me that suffered would be so proud of grown me for not giving up on myself??” She stated, “I am okay and you do not have to worry,” also adding, “If I had to go through all of this again, to get here … finally healthy, I would do it all again. It made me who I am today.”
Bella also made sure to thank Yolanda specifically. “Thankful to my mommy for keeping all of my medical records, sticking by me, never leaving my side, protecting, supporting, but most of all, believing me through all of this.” And Yolanda stepped up. There seems to be a subconscious inclination to brush women’s health issues aside.
Is Bella worthy of criticism?
And to that point, many in the comments were skeptical about all of Bella’s claimed sufferings. But while claims such as those are silly, others criticized her based on her privilege. Bella acknowledged her privilege, and how confusing it was to have such intense physical and mental ailments despite her support system.
That rubbed some users the wrong way. As one commenter wrote, “For the people who go through this that aren’t millionaires, what advice do you have?” Of course, we could count that more as a failure of the healthcare system than Bella herself.
And she had plenty of support just as well from friends and fans alike. One fan even shared their own struggles with “Lyme, co-infections, and chronic autoimmune diseases,” and thanked Bella for bringing awareness to the illness, calling her “inspiring” and “a warrior.” And on a personal level, no one knows what Bella went through except her.
TELL US – WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON BELLA’S STRUGGLES? DO YOU THINK THERE’S ANYTHING TO CRITICIZE, OR DO PEOPLE CREATE CONTROVERSY?
Pick any current Housewife at random and odds are they are in the middle of at least one legal dispute. It’s the price of fame. The more money and notoriety one amasses, the more likely they are to find themselves in legal trouble. But it looks like Garcelle Beauvais just got herself out of a tight spot.
In May this year, photographer John Carta sued Garcelle for using pictures that he took of her without permission or payment. She posted the photos on her Facebook page. The photos showcased Garcelle walking around New York in 2022. According to Carta, he had the copyright on these photos.
Carta further argued that by posting them on her Facebook page, the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star benefited from their use. “The Account is monetized in that it contains endorsements and promotes [Garcelle’s] celebrity profile and upon information and belief, [Garcelle] profits from these activities.” Carta planned to sell the photos.
Garcelle is in the clear over Facebook pics
But now Carta has dropped all the charges. RadarOnline obtained court documents wherein Carta informed a federal court judge that he was dismissing all claims against Garcelle. Moreover, he was dismissing the claims with prejudice, meaning he cannot refile these claims again.
As to why Carta dropped the suit, it’s unclear. But there were always things that seemed off about this case. It was never clear if Carta had permission from Garcelle to take the photos. Granted, taking photos of someone in a public space is technically legal. But it would make Carta look like a bit of a hypocrite for getting upset over a lack of permission.
Of course, copyright law is a beast unto itself. And Carta explained the effort that goes into his work. He expended energy determining the “subject matter, timing, lighting, angle, perspective, depth, lens, and camera equipment used to capture the image.” All in all, it’s a complicated case, but ultimately, one with no consequences.
TELL US – WHAT DO YOU THINK MIGHT’VE HAPPENED HERE? WHY DO YOU THINK THE CLAIMS ARE BEING DROPPED?
