In a devastating week for Los Angeles residents, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Bozoma Saint John revealed in an Instagram post that she lost the home she ‘prayed for’, her ‘EFF YOU I’m here house’ in the wildfires raging through Los Angeles. Former Vanderpump Rules cast member Laura-Leigh is opening up about the bullying she endured at the hands of Stassi Schroeder. Jennifer Aydin is telling women to listen to their husbands after sharing the experience she had at Jersey Mike’s on social media backfired. And Craig Conover is finally speaking out after his split from Paige DeSorbo was confirmed.
Britani bares it all (to avoid crucifixion)
On her debut season of Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, Britani Bateman has certainly made an impression, if we can call it that. She is unabashedly aloof, a hopeless romantic and self-centered in both the best and worst ways possible. And this week’s episode highlighted all of the qualities we’ve come to know her for.
While the group is on vacation in a sprinter van in Puerto Vallarta, on their way to go ATVing after a very tense night (because ATVing, of all things, is what came up when Lisa Barlow looked up ‘luxurious experiences’), Britani began secretly recording the heated argument going on the van. Angie K. caught on to what she was doing and immediately informed the group, causing all hell to break loose.
If you’re asking yourself what the big deal about her recording the conversation is, you clearly never saw one of the most talked-about episodes of Real Housewives, or you never read my 2024 wrap up of my top three reality stories of 2024, both of which are absolutely, positively unacceptable. But with 2025 being my year of forgiveness, I will extend you the courtesy of explaining why the group had such a fiery reaction to Britani recording the group.
Last season, the women had a real-life infiltrator be cast on the show. Unknowingly, they were building a relationship with Monica Garcia, the person behind an Instagram troll account called Reality Von Tease which posted awful things about the women, their marriages, their businesses and perhaps most importantly – their bodies, *gasp*.
So needless to say, the women were very triggered and highly suspicious of what Britani’s intentions were with her recording – and Meredith Marks even grew concerned there may be a recording device in her room. When the group pressed her about what she was doing and why, she offered a very fickle excuse, saying that she was trying to send something to her daughter. But the recording lasted over a minute long and captured some pretty intense remarks which could have easily been sold or leaked to blog accounts for scoops.
After Britani got the third degree from just about every woman on the van, they arrived to their excursion, went ATVing and sat down for a meal. It was there that rather than address the dumpster fire of the recording fiasco, Britani revealed a deep dark secret instead…that she had been in a physical relationship with Jared Osmond after all. Again, *gasp*.
The women are sick and tired of hearing about Britani’s love life. But in this case, some women took the time to let her know they appreciated her vulnerability and the significance of what she was admitting.
Whether her relationship with the men she was dating was physical has been a point of contention this season because the women felt she was being hypocritical for partaking in secular activities like alcohol. So it was a meaningful revelation, considering she is a “devout Mormon”, where the fact that she’s been married twice is bad enough. Now she’s admitting on national TV that she’s been having pre-marital sex with a D-list celebrity? She’s going to get excommunicated if she doesn’t shut up, FFS. But this is what Britani brings to the show - some Ramona Singer-esque cluelessness, a little bit of mess, a little bit of humor, and just the right balance of vulnerability.
Karen Huger skips Real Housewives of Potomac reunion
When Bravo released the highly anticipated seating chart for the RHOP reunion, rather than obsess over who had the first chairs, people obsessed over a glaring omission – the absence of Karen Thee Grand Dame Huger.
Prior to the latest season of the show premiering in October, rumours swirled over what exactly transpired during her DUI, which she was arrested for months prior in March. In the comment section of the post with the seating arrangement, fans and other network stars alike voiced their frustration – and rightfully so.
Over the holidays, video footage from the night of Karen’s arrest surfaced and it was…damning, to say the least. Throughout the ordeal, she called herself “Thomas Jefferson’s concubine”, admitted to being drunk, and was filmed telling the officer that Andy Cohen “coined” her moniker, Grand Dame.
The story Karen’s behaviour on footage told was completely contradictory to her laissez faire attitude and disposition as it pertained to her arrest and pending trial all season long. She constantly urged her castmates to wait until she had her day in court. But when the footage was released, the question on everyone’s mind was why on earth she would let the case go to trial knowing this catastrophic footage would inevitably come out. And having officially been found guilty and facing up to two years in prison, people have questions.
But unfortunately, we won’t be getting any answers any time soon. A rep of hers made a statement to PEOPLE, explaining the cause of her absence, saying:
"Karen made the important decision to enter a private recovery program, so was unable to attend the reunion taping today. She was fully supported in this choice. We stand behind Karen as she embarks on this meaningful journey and are proud of her for taking such a significant step forward in her personal growth."
It’s fantastic that Karen has entered a rehab program. But so many fans, myself included, are wondering whether she is going to rehab because she recognizes she needs help, or whether she’s doing it because she recognizes she needs an escape from the firestorm of questions from fans, castmates and Andy if she had a seat on that chart. And if it’s the latter, which most of us believe (read: know) to be the case, it’s safe to say that Karen is ever so conveniently pleading the fifth, outside of the legal system this time.
The divide between Kyle and Dorit continues to swell
After a heated holiday episode of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills where Dorit boldly called Camille Grammer a c*** (and not for the first time), Boz and Dorit sit down to revisit what took place at the dinner. Boz seemed kind of impressed that Dorit had that in her, and to be honest, I was kind of impressed too.
Boz questions why Kyle, a “long-time” friend of Dorit, would invite Camille knowing the tumultuous history between the women, something Dorit appears to be questioning herself. And Dorit reveals that even worse than merely inviting Camille, Kyle didn’t bother to give Dorit a heads up she’d be coming.
The strain between the two friends this season is one of the main storylines. And while I didn’t quite understand the severity of why it was such a big story, episode after episode I’m starting to understand why Dorit is so over Kyle and her bullsh-t.
But when it’s revealed that Kyle and Dorit’s estranged husband, PK, still text, it’s then that any viewers not entirely convinced that Kyle is a terrible friend get the full understanding of just how vile Kyle is really being.
While Kyle is adamant that their texting is innocent and the pair did have a friendship while his marriage to Dorit was in a better place, circumstances have changed, and Kyle should know this is wildly inappropriate. She knows damn well she’s not in a good enough place with Dorit to be texting her estranged husband.
It’s this level of self-awareness that Kyle lacks. The ability to recognize what she would and would not be okay with – particularly with Kyle’s history of being so territorial over her friends and family members. I wasn’t initially Team Dorit but after her hurling the c-word across the table at Camille, I’m kind of invested in her reclamation era and wouldn’t mind seeing her do it again.
