The Real Housewives of Atlanta Recap: Declassing The Show

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It’s hard to believe we’re nearly at the end of this season of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” and Brit Eady still appears unaware she’s on Bravo. When critics liken the show’s focus on twerking and parties to “Love and Hip Hop,” I often dismiss it as typical criticism of modern-day Atlanta, but even I have to acknowledge that Brit Eady’s confrontational style is more fitting for a lower-tier reality TV series (it’s no secret that Bravo is considered classy in the realm of reality television). Gratuitous dancing and drinking are one thing, but public shaming over abortion? That crosses a line — maybe it’s time for her to move on to VH1. Or better yet, let’s avoid such behavior altogether!

It’s too bad that after Phaedra’s guidance in Grenada, Brit had a chance to improve her terrible first season (or at least salvage what was left) towards the end. For a brief moment, when she finally invited some of the women into her home, it seemed like she was preparing to give her all and maybe let us see another side of her beyond the Kenya drama. She put on a good show by being friendly and playful with a touch of chaos (although her attempt to rekindle the argument between Shamea and Porsha felt awkward and unsuccessful, like everything else she does). However, her attempts at damage control only lasted for one scene because by the end of the episode, when the words “Unless you want to discuss the abortions you had while married” slipped out so easily from her mouth, Brit Eady effectively sealed her own fate.

Instead of Brit consistently displaying inappropriate behavior as she has throughout the season, the rest of the cast adheres to the task by maintaining an acceptable level of drama and advancing the plot in what was a fantastic episode overall. Phaedra offers us a heartfelt update on her youngest son, Dylan, who is popularly known as Mr. President. This 11-year-old boy is stepping into dreams and aspirations beyond avoiding the dentist and playing with his sibling, which is remarkable to watch. Like his brother, Dylan belongs to the exclusive group of Housewife children whose growth we’ve witnessed since their first breath; Phaedra’s eldest son, Ayden, had a storyline even before he was born, thanks to his mother’s now legendary lie about his due date.

Phaedra’s enduring popularity, emotional bond with fans, and innate charisma are her key strengths. Witnessing Dylan’s admiration, mirrored by the audience, while he unveils his custom-made trousers for Phaedra’s Black Glove event at The Vault makes Phaedra endearing. However, I’m not entirely convinced of the necessity for her permanent presence and tagline, but it’s heartening to see her bond with Ayden and Dylan. Shamea maintains the family affection by visiting Shiloh’s doctor, assuring us that the child is healthy, free from the aftermath of his mother’s post-vacation strep throat. This moment is wholesome, and Shamea’s confessional about why her children are always “slathered with Vaseline,” reminds me of my own childhood memories standing by the door as my mom applied petroleum jelly to my face before sending me off to school.

In the family-oriented storylines, Phaedra and Shamea keep things running smoothly. Meanwhile, Angela adds an element of mystery following Kelli’s Williams Sonoma-backed cooking competition with Charles. The tension between Charles and Angela seemed uncomfortable enough already after his chilly calls from Grenada, but at the cook-off, a spectator unexpectedly shares some information about Charles that Angela wasn’t aware of. Does this situation remind you of ‘Married to Medicine’? Not only because of the Sweet Tea appearance at Phaedra’s event, but also due to the similarities with when a “fan” confronted Quad in public about Lisa Nicole’s husband. Fortunately, things didn’t escalate as they did on ‘M2M’, where the stranger claimed to be Charles’ boyfriend, but the situation was just as oddly staged.

Initially, an individual who seemed to be attending the gathering as a spectator introduces himself as Marcus and requests to speak privately with Angela. She dismisses him, saying something along the lines of “Who has the authority to approach me like this?” However, Marcus persists. When they all gathered for a toast following the waffle competition, he suggested the group should cheer if Angela’s husband was cheating on her, which led to his immediate ejection from the event by Kelli’s security team. It’s worth noting that Charles was nearby but either didn’t hear or chose to disregard the situation. Angela, relieved that her protective husband didn’t cause trouble, maintained her composure as the competition ended, but it was evident she wasn’t letting it go. When they reconvened for Phaedra’s Black Glove shopping event, it was clear that she was still upset about the incident.

At Phaedra’s shared fashion showroom, Angela confides in her group that a person who holds them close revealed that Marcus was employed by Williams-Sonoma to deliver the tea. She hints that this source has a detailed account of the individual who paid Marcus, making it sound like an intricate mystery, causing production to question if she’s connected to organized crime. Angela promises to disclose more details later. However, Brit’s dramatic entrance and argument with Kelli overshadow Angela’s revelation. Throughout the episode, the bond between Brit and Kelli has been strained, with each revealing small grievances against the other. Although valid reasons such as unprofessional behavior from the glam squads and Kelli missing Brit’s divorce hearing provide a basis for Kelli to pull away, the deep-seated animosity between them (neither made eye contact upon meeting) suggests a larger issue at play.

To put it simply, it seems to me that Kelli’s sudden change of stance towards Brit, especially now when the Kenya issue is still fresh, appears to be more about convenience rather than sincerity. It suggests that Kelli may have realized that standing by Brit during the controversy wasn’t beneficial for her image. Adding to this, Brit’s defensive posture, lack of support, and the questionable Grenada donation further solidified Kelli’s decision to leave the alliance. As if on cue, Brit steps into the scene, aiming to provoke Kelli in response to the frosty welcome from her former best friend. The tension between them begins with subtle, passive-aggressive jabs, such as Kelli suggesting that perhaps Brit was the one who hired Marcus and expressing surprise at Brit’s invitation to the ladies. However, things quickly escalate, leading to Cynthia stepping in to physically separate the two women.

In a short while, Kelli’s voice rises noticeably after Brit accuses her of insecurity, leading her to reveal the drama within the glam team. As they argue, with Phaedra declaring it more exciting than the Wimbledon championship, and the tension escalating significantly, Kelli accusingly labels Brit a drug user (more details needed at the reunion). This incident transforms what could have been a top-tier episode into a downward spiral. In her private thoughts, Brit expresses that since she no longer respects Kelli, all boundaries are gone and she’ll expose everything (apparently, she didn’t heed the warning about gun references). As Kelli leaves angrily, Brit shouts a disrespectful comment about Kelli’s past abortions, followed by a derogatory remark about her resembling a hobbit. The other women instinctively gasp, recognizing how devastating such remarks can be.

Let’s make this absolutely clear: No woman should face criticism for decisions regarding her reproductive health, especially in today’s political environment (a nod to Phaedra for humorously suggesting we may lose access to birth control soon). By exploiting Kelli’s medical history, Brit has revealed herself as unsupportive and likely judgmental. Shama quickly recognizes the similarities between this situation and Kenya’s past actions, but Brit refuses to back down, demonstrating she’s not a true friend to women. A genuine woman would never use another woman’s abortion against her. Kelli wisely walks away, and the rest of the women agree in their private thoughts that Brit overstepped a line. As NeNe once said about Phaedra and Porsha, Brit, you’re bringing down the quality of the show!

Although Brit’s inappropriate behavior marred the episode, I must admit I found it quite engaging. The cast dynamics have developed into a captivating flow, and it was heartwarming to witness the solidarity shown towards Porsha and her late cousin at the event’s conclusion. The demise of Londie was indeed a significant blow for Porsha and her kin; Londie was a cherished part of Porsha’s spin-off, offering a soothing perspective to her cousin — she will be sorely missed. As I express my sympathies to them, my thoughts are with Porsha and her family during this difficult time. Although I am saddened that the season concludes next week, there is a silver lining: hopefully, we can look forward to fewer instances of Brit disrupting the show’s positive momentum!

Peach Tea To-Go

As a movie enthusiast, let me tell you that I never expected Drew to be such a source of laughter during season 16! This might just be her best season yet, and even though she didn’t have a major role tonight, the scene of her being locked out of the warehouse, chatting with a random security guard over chicken wings, was pure, hilarious chaos.

In the world of The Real Housewives, it’s unusual to find NBA legend Charles Oakley competing in a waffle-making contest against a petite, feisty woman who barely reached his elbow while wearing heels. It’s endearing to witness this side of ‘The Enforcer’, as he playfully supports his wife during the show’s filming. Regarding the allegations about infidelity, I can’t vouch for their truthfulness, but it’s heartwarming to see him wholeheartedly backing Angela in his distinctive, stern manner.

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2025-06-23 05:54