Summer House Fans Are Drinking This Up

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When I got to 74Wythe, the wedding venue in Williamsburg, the line stretched all the way to the next building over. But the atmosphere felt less like a celebration and more like everyone was secretly glad the couple had split up. We were there for the first part of the Summer House reunion – let’s be real, the romance on that show is long gone!

It’s been pretty funny to watch how quickly people have tried to profit from the drama surrounding Amanda Batula and West Wilson’s relationship. Remember when Kyle Cooke said “Carl’s a mess” and it went viral? His company, Loverboy, immediately started selling shirts with the quote. Then, Carl Radke and his ex, Lindsay Hubbard, filmed an Uber Eats ad poking fun at the moment – it became the company’s most popular ad ever. Tonight’s party is another example of this, officially called “Carl’s (Not) a Mess” and sponsored by a dairy milk company, which is tying the promotion to the idea that milk’s nutrients can help with mental wellbeing. Quite a connection!

Carl, with his famously white teeth, arrived right on time at 6:59 p.m. It was a bit surprising to see people wearing “Carl’s a Mess” shirts, considering how polished he looked. The original venue, Radke’s Soft Bar, was too small for all the fans who wanted to join him and the other cast members – Cooke, Jesse Solomon, KJ Dillard, and Mia Calabrese – for the reunion, so they moved to a fancy rooftop with a view of Manhattan. The drinks were interesting – non-alcoholic and all made with milk. My piña colada tasted good at first, but it melted quickly into a messy consistency. There were other milk-based options like the “Carl’s Not a Mess” and “Activated,” but after a while, most people switched to soda.

Just like the last time we all watched Soft Bar – the same night Batula and Wilson made that strange announcement – everyone here is rooting for Ciara. I really tried to find someone, anyone, who supported Amanda, just to understand why, but all I found were people who hoped she was doing okay. One woman, Lindsay, 26, said she felt a little sorry for Amanda, considering how much everyone dislikes her right now. But her friend quickly pointed out that Batula and Wilson are currently enjoying a trip to Rome, which changes things.

Maria, 31, thinks this situation is a real test for Andy Cohen. She wants to see him deliver a compelling show. Like many viewers, she’s eager to learn exactly when the relationship between Batula and Wilson began. Most people she’s spoken to believe they developed feelings for each other last summer, even though Batula was still married to Cooke at the time, and Wilson was openly flirting with – and even kissing – Ciara Miller, his ex. Maria also wants Wilson to address the situation directly. “He needs to step up and take responsibility for his actions,” she says. (Sadly, he doesn’t.) I then asked Maria if she thought Amanda could recover her reputation, considering Tom Sandoval managed to come across as charming on The Traitors. Maria quickly dismissed the idea, saying Amanda doesn’t have the same personality. (She jokingly wonders if Batula has hidden talents, like singing backwards.)

Molly, 25, is hoping the show will address the racial issues at play. She points out that Amanda discussed being an ally and understanding the complexities of the situation, and she’d like to see Amanda and West acknowledge those factors. Others feel Levi Sebree, who was Bailey Taylor’s close friend and constant companion, deserved more screen time – even a single confessional – this season. Some also want to see Radke get his own spin-off show, In the City. Colin, 32, simply wants to know if all the drama was worth it.

Radke and Cooke mostly stayed in the VIP section, which was slightly elevated from the main area, while Dillard spent time taking photos with fans. Dillard admitted he was anxious about how viewers would react to a very personal story he shares on tonight’s episode, explaining that a week-long hospital stay and his diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder were life-changing. He wasn’t sure the reunion resolved the group’s issues, saying he’s still unsettled, particularly by dishonesty. He values honesty and finds it difficult to trust liars, comparing it to the story of the boy who cried wolf. Dillard believes Wilson and Batula’s romantic connection started last summer, which ultimately led to Batula leaving Cooke. He feels that, in retrospect, everything now makes sense. He’s excited about filming again this summer and focusing on his own well-being and relationships, hinting that he’ll be returning for season 11 of Summer House.

New Bravo personality Calabrese is getting rave reviews, and they smartly timed their arrival just before the reunion episode aired, joining the cast – including the very tall Solomon – in the VIP area. My colleague, Maura, briefly thought she spotted former Summer House star Jordan Verroi with them, which was both exciting and alarming, as I was preparing to question him about his date with Erika Kirk from season three. But it turned out to be a case of mistaken identity. Dillard left soon after the show started, and I understand why – several people in the audience cried when he talked about his struggles with mental health. We all sang “Happy Birthday” to Solomon during a commercial break (he’s turning 33 tomorrow!), but most of the cast wasn’t really watching the reunion, since they’d already experienced it, except for Cooke, who was completely engrossed.

The audience was fully engaged. The show started with enthusiastic applause when Miller appeared on screen, and playful groans during a kiss between Wilson and Batula backstage. Surprisingly, Cohen immediately focused on the drama everyone wanted to see, letting a lively argument play out before skillfully changing the subject – which earned both cheers and boos. Meanwhile, the Empire State Building lit up in blue and orange for the Knicks, and I couldn’t help but wonder if making it to the NBA Finals felt as satisfying as hearing Bailey Taylor bluntly tell Ben Waddell what she thought. But the best part was listening to the woman next to me. She yelled, “No you don’t!” when Batula said she had other friends, and when Batula claimed they waited to have sex until after posting a statement, she exclaimed, “You slept with him in June, please! Have you even watched this season?”

After the show, I just had to talk to this woman. She introduced herself as Elsie, 38, and told me she’d driven all the way from New Jersey with her friends, even bringing a roadie along! She was talking about a performer named Ciara and how amazing she was – she said Ciara came in strong and completely nailed it, leaving no room for doubt. Honestly, she was buzzing with the kind of energy you only see in a die-hard Bravo fan during a truly iconic moment. She really wanted another performer, Wilson, to speak up (apparently he has a podcast!), but she’s confident he’ll eventually do something to redeem himself. She’s convinced they’re going to put him on the show Traitors and give him a chance to shine – she says Bravo always gives the guys a redemption arc, and they rarely disappoint.

I’m really worried about Amanda, honestly. Batula thinks she’s going to end up just like Rachel – completely changed and unable to recover. It’s crazy to me, and Batula even joked about Amanda ending up working at a CVS in New Jersey after supposedly finding herself with sound baths in Arizona! Elsie is convinced Bravo should release all ten hours of the reunion footage and she’d happily pay for it. I told her she should just get a job with Bravo, she’s that dedicated!

I left with a tote bag and a baseball cap from Carl’s (Not) a Mess, and I worried about how to explain the phrase to someone who doesn’t watch Bravo. While waiting for my Uber in what seemed like a cute garden area, I realized it was actually full of rats – and that felt strangely similar to how Ciara Miller probably feels. That’s when I realized I was fully immersed in Summer House and it was starting to seriously take over my life. Only two more weeks to go.

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2026-05-28 00:57