Reality Recap: Feud edition

The Real Housewives of Atlanta reunion looks are here and the girls are stunning. 

The second coming of Jax Taylor

Over on Next Gen: NYC, my theory that Charlie is reminiscent of none other than Jax Taylor himself is ringing true. As he started out his apology tour for his insanely racist comments to Riley last week, we also got a deeper look into his strained relationship with his dad.

After being invited over to spend the day by the pool by his dad’s girlfriend, he decides to make it a group activity and extends the invite to the rest of the group. But with Georgia knowing just about every intimate detail there is to know about Charlie, including the dynamic with his dad, she helps lift the veil on why he is the way that he is.

According to Georgia, she says Charlie’s dad has “given up” on him. And according to Charlie himself, he doesn’t feel he can live in peace until his dad dies. It’s a brutally honest remark to make, and there are tons of people who share that same sentiment about their own parents. But having been well-versed in TV villains, it doesn’t garner him any sympathy in my mind.

At one point, Charlie and Ava have a conversation, and I have had an inkling that Ava has the hots for Charlie. There are a few reasons that’s problematic. First, Charlie is an asshole. But second, he’s racist. And Ava is Black. But if my suspicions are correct, it pads the case for Ava having a tiff with Ariana, because Charlie didn’t hold back in letting Ava know that Ariana is growing on him and that he might even try to sleep with her (despite the fact that she quite literally has a boyfriend who, too, is on the cast). Again, very Jax-like.

At a separate event, Ava gets wind that Ariana is starting a clothing line and that she’s an aspiring fashion designer. And Ava, with her fashion designer mom and having been a model herself, turns her nose up at it, calling the information “surprising” in the shadiest way possible. 

But luckily for Ariana, Emira – Bravo’s first ever trans cast member, came to the rescue and called Ava out immediately, saying:

“I had friends in high school and college that would say things like that. It’s not classy.” Before adding later on in a confessional, “Be a good f-cking person, bitch.” 

It makes sense that Emira would stick up for Ariana. Emira is a true girl’s girl, unlike Ava, who, despite having Riley’s back during her spat with Charlie last episode, is now picking an unnecessary beef with Ariana, likely over Charlie. Ew.

But this is where the divide between the kids of the Housewives and…the others, is becoming very clear. Despite Ava being the daughter of the Dame Dash, founder of Roc-a-fella records and Roc-a-Wear, she probably feels threatened, or just above kids like Riley, Brooks and Ariana.

Personally, I’ve really been proven wrong about Ariana. Not knowing much about her, it's nice to see her using her own voice, being honest and showing vulnerability as she recounts her parents divorce and financial struggles and openly admitting the following:

“I just want a stupid little streetwear brand that I can build off of until I have the money. My parents didn’t pay for everything.” 

It’s obviously a direct shot at Ava, and a fair one if you ask me. Because Ava benefitted from a little nepotism, too. 

Miami feuds

The Real Housewives of Miami are continuing on with a very fiery season. This week, we had yet another jam-packed episode that juggled a ton of storylines and temperaments – Steve and Marysol tying the knot, Lisa’s dad passing away, Kiki working on mending things with her dad and of course – the feud between Julia and Guerdy finally coming to a head. 

Steve and Marysol got married on their terms. I mean, putting on their Sunday best and hopping on a motorcycle, jetting to the courthouse and making out with each other after a 15 minute ceremony? Genius. And it was so nice to see Marysol be vulnerable as she reflected not only on her love for Steve but also on her decision to finally get hitched. In her confessional, she said getting married was a decision equally inspired by the love her parents shared until their death and the fact that she has remained childless. Her mom was a legend on the show before she passed – so the flashbacks were a nice touch.

What was not nice, though, was the feud brewing between Guerdy and Julia finally coming to a head at Steve and Marysol’s celebration. Imagine waiting that long to get married and having it be spoiled by a cat fight?

Julia started that conversation off heated. I’m trying to understand the depth of the issue, which I assumed was about Guerdy not being able to connect to the call where she announced she and Martina had adopted two children. But during this heated exchange, Julia revealed that she was upset with Guerdy about her behaviour on a cruise she invited her to after Martina had a “health scare” and wasn’t able to join her anymore. Calling Guerdy out over this when Julia still decided to go on a cruise despite her partner’s ailing health is…odd, to say the least. 

I was impressed by Guerdy’s ability to keep her cool before finally telling her to be quiet, at which point Julia tossed a drink on her. Even at that point, Guerdy did a lot less than a lot of other housewives (read: Teresa Giudice) might have done in that moment. 

It could be because of what happened last week with the microaggressions that Kandi Burruss’ daughter, Riley, was subjected to by a white cast mate, but I couldn’t help but look at this situation with race in mind. What is becoming clearer than ever is that the kind of behaviour we see the ones pointing the fingers displaying is typically exactly how they’re accusing Black women of behaving.