The Real Housewives of New York City Recap: Thank God for Planned Parenthood

As I sat here, engrossed in the captivating narrative unfolding before me, it struck me like a bolt of lightning – the raw courage and vulnerability displayed by Erin Mew Mew Lichy left me utterly awestruck! Growing up in the heartland of America, I’ve seen women grapple with similar struggles, often in silence and solitude. But here was Erin, sharing her story, breaking down barriers, and inspiring a generation.

In previous instances and likely future ones, I’ve expressed my disapproval towards Erin Mew Mew Lichy. However, this episode showcased a change in her behavior that, while it didn’t endear her to me, certainly earned my admiration.

Let’s dive deep into explaining why I get upset with her during this dispute over The Prank at Ubah’s Pigeon Picnic. It seems crucial to address this issue because Erin rarely receives feedback, and she seldom acknowledges being in the wrong. In a way, I am stepping in to correct a universal imbalance (and before moving on to the second part of this discussion where I will present a different perspective).

Following Brynn’s antics involving the peculiar lollipops shaped like male and female anatomy, they initiated a rather pointless discussion circulating the whispers about each lady on the cast. In the midst of this chatter, Racquel queries Erin about why she hadn’t shared that Brynn was privy to the joke regarding Becky Minkoff’s pregnancy with another man. Erin firmly refutes any involvement by Brynn in the prank.

After having drinks with Jessel, Erin confided in Brynn that Becky was pregnant, but added that the part about the baby not being from another man was untrue. Brynn claims that she then told Erin she intended to take her joke a step further, but Erin denies this. Given Brynn’s penchant for exaggeration, similar to Donald Trump overstating his crowd sizes, I suspect that Erin informed Brynn the story about the unknown father was fabricated, not that Brynn planned to enhance Erin’s prank as she stated.

In the confessional, Erin points out that this entire incident provides an insight into Brynn’s tendency to alter her stories. Contrary to popular belief, it wasn’t because Brynn intentionally fabricated or exaggerated parts of the story under the assumption she had some sort of authority to sensationalize the situation for amusement. Instead, Brynn was mirroring Erin’s actions, concocting a scandalous tale and spreading it as a kind of joke. If Brynn is at fault, then so is Erin. The two are aboard a notoriously wretched ship and must face the consequences together.

Erin yells at everyone to shut up so she can speak. WRONG! This is not how you treat people, period, and it is also not how you treat a group you are trying to get on your side. Erin tells them that Brynn wasn’t in on the prank because she only knew the part about the fake father, but she didn’t know the pregnancy wasn’t real. WRONG! The whole prank is about the mysterious father. If the news was just that Becky was pregnant, that’s good news, that’s nice news, that’s news that you congratulate her on and share because it’s a blessing. Without the part about the fake father then there is no prank, therefore Brynn was in on the prank. Jenna also agrees, saying in confessional, “That Erin says Brynn wasn’t in on the prank because she knew one part but didn’t know the other makes no sense to me.” See, Erin. WRONG!

In a different manner of speaking: Later on, Erin informs the gathering, “I wasn’t aware that dodgeball would be the subject of our discussion.” A more reasonable question to ask might be why she started the prank if she didn’t expect it to be the topic. If she wanted to keep this story under wraps, she should have spread a much less interesting rumor instead, like “Did you know Becky shops for her underwear at Target?

In a different phrasing: Erin acknowledges her mistake in participating in the prank on Brynn, but expresses anger towards Racquel for revealing it. However, if Erin’s actions warranted an apology to Brynn, then Racquel was justified in bringing the issue to light. Erin should not be upset with Racquel for exposing the truth.

In summary, it appears that Erin was mistaken on this occasion, and her continued defense seems to be prolonging the issue unnecessarily. I wish she would acknowledge her mistake, apologize, and allow everyone to move past this prank. Unfortunately, it seems we may still be discussing this matter during the reunion, and I hope for everyone’s sake, there will only be two parts to the reunion.

To start our conversation about Erin’s argument, let us take a brief aside and address the misconceptions about Scientology held by Becky Minkoff. When participating in Brynn’s game of spreading rumors, she mentions Scientology as just “courses and counseling,” but fails to acknowledge the controversies surrounding its use of members’ confessions for blackmail and intimidation.

Despite my preference for chatting about Jenna and Racquel’s flirtatious dynamics and the prospect of a lesbian love affair among the Housewives, it’s essential we focus on Erin’s point, which I find quite challenging. Over lunch with Jenna, Erin disclosed her friendship with the editor of Glamour magazine and shared her personal story about abortion. This happened shortly after Roe V. Wade was overturned. At 18-years-old, Erin was a college freshman who felt isolated without friends. She discovered she was pregnant, sought help from Planned Parenthood, and underwent an abortion without any support. Her tale is both heartrending and distressing.

I wholeheartedly agree with this perspective. To truly normalize and eliminate the stigma surrounding unplanned pregnancies, like what happened to Erin, it’s essential that women everywhere openly share their experiences. By treating it as a common medical procedure, we can help future generations of women not feel ashamed or guilty about such situations. Incidentally, when one woman shares her story, it encourages others to do the same, as demonstrated in the episode when Erin’s tale inspires other women to share their own experiences.

At midday, Jenna, who is generally as closed as a Sunday post office, confides in Erin about her past abortion. Fresh off the boat in New York City, starting her career, and financially strapped, she knew she couldn’t care for a child. She sought help at Planned Parenthood, expressing gratitude that both women had easy access to their services without needing to travel to another state or worry about transportation costs for lodging, a bus ticket, and potentially uncovered medical expenses. It’s disheartening that in many parts of the United States, this basic right isn’t guaranteed by law. (However, I reside in England, so I do live in a country where it is, but not everyone in America does.)

Sharing their experiences openly, not just between themselves, but with the world, is truly inspiring, yet potentially risky. One can never predict the response they might receive, but as Jenna rightly points out, for every person who criticizes them or threatens them with condemnation, there are likely ten more who need to hear their message, who will support them and affirm that what they’re doing is right. Even I, not being a woman, can see this is the correct path. In her interview, Erin eloquently expresses, “I simply cannot carry on with my day knowing there is an 18-year-old girl who is terrified and alone with nowhere to turn. That’s where I draw the line.” Honestly, watching Erin Mew Mew Lichy evoke real tears from me while sitting comfortably at home on my couch is something I don’t particularly enjoy, but at the same time, I am deeply moved by it, and I’m grateful to RHONY for taking this unexpected turn.

In the closing moments of the episode, Erin confronts her father in a heartfelt discussion about an event from 18 years ago – her decision to have an abortion. This poignant scene, which could have been omitted or filmed off-camera, was not only real and powerful but also showcased Erin’s courage and strength. Her actions deserve our respect and admiration, making us reconsider our previous opinions of her character.

Again, as soon as she tells her father, not only does she get his support, but he shares that he once got a woman pregnant, and she had an abortion. So many people have gone through this, either personally or supporting someone who has, that it makes no sense we haven’t talked about this before. We’re nearly 20 years into Housewives and this is the first time it’s coming up and I am more proud to be a Bravo fan than ever.

Four months after the filming, we discover that Erin’s father, who appeared unwell during shooting, had sadly passed away. In those final moments, he was there for his daughter, offering comfort, love, and support when she least expected it. He shared personal stories, making the difficult situation a little more bearable for everyone involved. These were moments that would be particularly valuable to anyone facing similar procedures in the future. What an incredible legacy he left for Erin, her family, and the show! And finally, it seems Erin made the right choice by being there for him during his final days.

2024-11-27 07:54

The Real Housewives of New York City Recap: Thank God for Planned Parenthood

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