Kelli and Shamea aimed to rejuvenate the group following a challenging phase in their lives. They managed to achieve this as the women began to harmonize well, hinting at the hidden strengths of the group. With the ‘pistol-gate’ incident now behind them (during filming; we’ll discuss that lawsuit later) and Drew and Porsha choosing to resolve their differences, it seems like a fresh start. The cast has found a balance in their drama, offering realistic yet absurd disputes, such as debating about taking shots and teasing Drew for resembling Betty Rubble, or giving Brit some constructive feedback on her attitude.
In the second installment of their trip to Grenada, Kelli and Shamea aim to emphasize the “renew” aspect of their theme, even if it’s not about fresh starts as initially intended. Instead, they encounter a new dynamic involving beef between Brit and Kelli, marking a shift in their friendship. This departure from previous seasons, where storylines seemed to drag on endlessly, is a welcome change. With seasoned individuals like Kelli, Angela, Porsha, Drew, and Shamea, who bring maturity and strategic thinking, as well as veterans who understand the ebb and flow of reality television, the group manages to keep things moving forward towards the end of season 16.
Regrettably for Brit, instead of using this chance for a fresh start to show any endearing traits, she confirms that her issues with Kenya are not the only reasons she comes across as unappealing. It’s Shamea who first grows tired of Brit, starting with her charitable contribution of some paper towels (it feels like, come on girl, I could have donated that, and I live in a studio apartment) and $250. Although Shamea will later address Brit about it during dinner, the tension between them increases throughout the day as everyone notices Shamea’s subtle jabs and Brit’s constant defensiveness. When the women divide into two groups, with newcomers going to a cooking class and original members visiting a waterfall, Shamea shares her negative feelings towards Brit that she has developed.
As part of the lively waterfall group, which includes the charming Porsha, the vivacious Cynthia, the radiant Shamea (whose two-piece looked stunning on her! I could sense her insecurity, but to me, she radiated confidence), and the spirited Phaedra, we danced and laughed like old friends in the Caribbean. We serve as a reminder of the high standards we expect from our Housewives. As Shamea shares her frustration with Brit, the veterans express their collective displeasure over the insufficient donations. Shamea wisely notes to us ladies, “You can’t arrive in a Rolls-Royce wearing a Birkin bag and a small gift box.” Phaedra, in particular, is taken aback by the $250 CashApp donation, expressing her belief that, given Brit’s lifestyle, a minimum of $1,000 should have been contributed.
The problem is clear – Brit’s personality and lifestyle are not fitting for a Housewife. She embodies a new kind of wealth in Atlanta, with her veneers, fancy car, and designer clothes. However, this contrasts sharply with the original group of women who were more connected to Jack and Jill than strip clubs and plastic surgery. Even though times have changed since 2008, as shown by Phaedra and Porsha’s style evolutions, there are still certain social expectations and class symbols these high-class women adhere to. Charity is one area where they take things very seriously.
In different words: The difference between new and old wealth, and how it influences social behaviors, is intriguing in all the Housewives cities, but Atlanta has a distinct and racially charged connection with class. I’ve pointed out earlier that although wealth is becoming more attainable for Black people, the racial divide remains significant, and learning to navigate affluent circles doesn’t happen quickly. It seems to me that this was what Kelli was referring to during dinner when she said, “Brit is in a position where she’s unsure about how much to give or what to do… If we aim to be ‘That Girl,’ we need to be ‘That Girl’ in every aspect of our lives.” I believe Brit is trying to project an image of having more money than she truly does, and if her failed country club event didn’t reveal that, then her lack of sophistication certainly did. She wants to associate with a specific social group — notice how she criticized taking shots as “hood-rat behavior,” yet she was the one talking about guns — but struggles to behave accordingly.
Being a housewife offers an opportunity to adapt to a different social and economic environment, yet Brit seems too haughty to embrace this learning experience from her fellow housewives. This overconfidence also extends to her attempts to fit into the group as a fresh cast member on a long-running TV show. Both Phaedra and Porsha had offered guidance, with Phaedra teaching her the art of giving back graciously and Porsha initiating a conversation about why Brit feels unappreciated. However, according to Porsha, Brit failed to forge deeper relationships within the group, apart from Kelli. Furthermore, continuing to film with Brit after the ‘pistol-gate’ incident and not advocating for Kenya’s reinstatement could be seen as an immense show of support in my view.
The team finds it challenging to discuss their problems with Brit or understand why her donation was inappropriate, as Brit becomes uncomfortable when under scrutiny. This trait makes her an unsuitable Housewife. Instead of listening to comprehend, she seems to listen only to respond, and her words often come across as hurtful while the women attempt to maintain a constructive dialogue. Phaedra insightfully observes this, commenting that Brit is harming herself by always being ready for conflict. She advises Brit to be more amicable when joining such groups, suggesting, “If someone wants to visit your home, you should prepare a cheese and charcuterie platter, along with a glass of champagne.” At last, someone’s showing her the ropes of being a Housewife!
At the evening meal, Shamea eventually surrenders her attempt to convince others about the donations, but Porsha, who chose to participate at the last moment in this season’s events, queries what Brit meant during her gathering when she stated she didn’t feel backed up. Brit’s pride resurfaces as she admits to harboring a grudge due to Porsha not saving her phone number. As they exchange words like immature school kids, amusingly mentioning each other’s names, the strikingly attractive (everyone on that island is good-looking) prime minister of Grenada arrives as a dinner guest, temporarily halting the argument. After he departs, the women unveil a cake to honor Angela’s anniversary, providing a sweet relief from the quarrels and symbolizing the strengthening bond between the cast members.
The idea of sisterhood persists throughout the subsequent part of the show, as the female characters unite first in support of Angela, who’s grappling with Charles’s chilly indifference during their FaceTime call. Later, it’s Shamea’s turn, as her husband shares that their youngest child, Shiloh, has come down with a fever due to being neglected by the nanny in a cold room. This news is particularly distressing because Shiloh has compromised immunity, making even minor temperature fluctuations significant—the difference between a peaceful night and a hospital visit. Overwhelmed by her distance from home while her daughter is ill, Shamea’s predicament serves as a stark reminder of the importance of their bond for the other women.
Upon returning to the villa, I found myself enveloped in a heartfelt display of empathy as the group rallied around Shamea, offering comforting words and physical touch. Porsha even went so far as to let Shamea rest her head on her ample bosom, while Angela gently blew air from her portable fan. Eventually, we managed to bring a smile to the distraught mother’s face.
Feeling the need to assert herself after our heated exchange in the car with Phaedra, Brit delivered an impassioned speech, vowing to stand by Shamea no matter what. Her emotions ran high, causing her to shed tears and speak rather forcefully. Though it was a bit awkward for the rest of us to witness, we appreciated her efforts to shift the mood.
In a surprising turn of events, Brit, who has been criticizing Shamea all day for pressuring her into drinking, decided to extend an olive branch by pouring shots of tequila for everyone. She downed hers quickly and with confidence before running around the room, bare-chested. For once, it seemed that she had made the right decision!
Peach Tea To-Go
In a somewhat insincere attempt to gain popularity online, Phaedra’s remarks proved amusing. Her observations about Kelli’s wardrobe malfunction (I must admit I didn’t see it coming) and Drew’s Temu fashion choices were particularly humorous. However, her comment that most men are crazy and this contributes to marital problems was both accurate and hilarious.
Tonight’s episode is dealing with some big issues that are like elephants in the room: Brit’s lawsuit against Bravo and her decision not to attend the reunion. She claims that pictures on a poster board were not hers, and she’s suing for $20 million in damages. This is odd because it seems she waited quite a while to speak up about this. Moreover, production refused to show her the pictures, which is causing a lot of confusion (if this is true, someone really should be held accountable). The situation has become so complex that it’s hard to know what’s fact and what’s fiction, but one thing is certain: we likely won’t see Brit in the next season. Frankly, I’m not sad about it because her presence seems to stifle the current cast.
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2025-06-09 22:56