In past seasons, the gossiping and unsolicited advice tended to be from the "Real Housewives of Atlanta" cast members themselves. You know - Sheree, Kim, NeNe and the like.
But this year, the men are really getting in on the act. Are the producers goading them?
Peter Thomas, Cynthia Bailey's husband, just "happens" to get in touch with Kordell Stewart so Kordell can explain his side of the divorce story with Porsha Williams. (While they hadn't finalized the divorce when this episode was taped, they are officially divorced now.)
Clearly, Kordell wanted to make this single appearance to help clear up his image, an image he knew even at the time of the taping was taking a beating (though it had more to do with him seeming like he was controlling, not gay.) The producers must have gotten Peter to visit Kordell so they can film something, knowing this could only induce more juice.
Kordell starts from a sympathetic standpoint, saying it's difficult to be a single parent to his 10-year-old son from a previous relationship. Then he complains how Porsha's family really annoyed him by spending so much time in his house, his castle. He says whenever she got mad, she'd go to her mom's house, as if that were a bad thing. He's not so sympathetic now.
In fact, he is totally in the "blame Porsha" mode, taking no responsibility for whatever he did wrong in the relationship. And he says Porsha asked him to file for divorce for three months before it actually happened. So she should not have been blindsided, he says. He feels she has taken on this victim role that is unwarranted. He is also annoyed by Porsha's irresponsible financial decisions (including not paying her taxes on her condo). So he didn't put her name on any of his assets.
"I can't let a knucklehead destroy what I've established," Kordell says. "I love her enough to let her go. I have peace in my heart."
During the Mexico trip Kenya set up, Peter decides to inform Porsha about his conversation with Kordell because if he didn't, there'd be no show! Porsha is not thrilled. Later, Cynthia says she hopes Peter's intrusion didn't impact their relationship. Porsha is okay with her. She vows not to mud sling while hearing Kordell is badmouthing her via third parties (and in court papers.).
But Peter and Gregg Leakes (NeNe's hubby) later bring the subject up again, as if they were in a Dr. Phil episode. Gregg questions whether Porsha tried hard enough to avoid the divorce. "I feel he has another life. I'm trying to start another life," she says. "I agreed to be his wife and stay home and take care of our son. However, within that first year, some things have changed. If he changes his role in what he's doing providing wise, I have to make an adjustment. Then it's me being a gold-digger." (Is that why she didn't sign a pre-nup?)
Peter tries to convey what Kordell had said, which led Porsha to say she respects his opinions. She says she chose to go on this show and make their relationship public 'by my choice.""My plan was to be this ideal couple," she says. "Whatever was in his past that hurt him, all those rumors, I would help him erase that. I did that for him." Those rumors were about being gay, rumors he has refuted in a statement last fall, then in an interview with Ryan Cameron on V-103.
Peter practically snorts, saying Porsha sounds like she was running a PR campaign. (Indeed, she was painting a "picture perfect" marriage her first season.)
Kenya has to throw in her two cents: " You signed on to be his beard basically."
Porsha rightfully says Kenya doesn't know the relationship in totality, only in bits and pieces. "It pisses me off!"(Then again, she didn't totally deny Kenya's assertion either.)
"If that's not what you meant [meaning the PR campaign,] that's what you projected," Peter says.
Kenya later says snarkily: "Porsha is like a broke-down Olivia Pope. This is a broke-down scandal. The truth will set you free."
Gregg defends Porsha, coming from the viewpoint of having divorced NeNe for a time.
Kenya then changes the subject but Porsha still looks seriously peeved.
In other storylines:
- Kenya in the end managed to get everyone to show up on her trip to Mexico, which involved visiting a fancy resort. Who's paying for this? It's not said because it's obvious Bravo is footing the bill, as they do on those other big trips. And the producers certainly encourage the cast to show up to such trips, whether they want to or not since they are getting paid to be ON the show.
- NeNe is so over Marlo Hampton. In a tweet tonight, she thinks Marlo strategically latched onto Kenya so she could get some airtime on the show. Mission accomplished. NeNe, since Marlo joined the dark side, wants nothing to do with her and shuts down a conversation when Cynthia Bailey brings her up. She is bitter. Very bitter. Marlo is later seen talking with Kenya about it. Marlo theorizes that NeNe's general anger issues are related to her losing "The New Normal." "She thought she'd leave everybody behind in Atlanta," Marlo says, accurately.
Oddly, in this case, neither Marlo nor Kenya seem to be the problem that NeNe thinks they are. NeNe is the problem in this case of pettiness.
- Phaedra Parks is not a fan of this trip to Mexico Kenya has set up. She throws serious shade toward Kenya, using words like "Kenya Whore Moore" or "Kenya Moore Whore" and later using my last name in reference to her. She is also reluctant to go with Apollo Nida given the fact Kenya has the hots for him and he didn't shut it down. "I'm not in the mood for more stupidity putting limitations on my life," she tells Apollo.
But in the end, they do show up, setting the stage for next week.
MOST DISTURBING MOMENT: Gregg Leakes on a bed thrusting his bum in the air doggie style. Thank goodness he had his clothes on!
TRAILER
Apollo talks to Kenya to explain why they never hooked up. Then Phaedra finds out they are even talking and is not pleased. Kenya now says Porsha had an "arranged" marriage with Kordell. On the trip, they see a snake and take part in some sort of fertility ritual.
RATINGS
The show drew 4.04 million viewers two weeks ago. (It skipped the Oscars.) This continues this season's incredible run, its best yet, with the show averaging 3.8 million viewers, up from 3.1 million season five.
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