Andy Cohen Responds To ‘RHOP’ Reunion Backlash: ‘I Was Pushing for This To Be Four Parts’

A year after Monique Samuels and Candiace Dillard got into a physical altercation, all the RHOP housewives sat down with Andy Cohen to recap the season. Following the three-part reunion, many fans called out the host for not maintaining a neutral position when discussing the events. He responded to the backlash during an episode of Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, noting he wished four parts of the reunion aired.

Fans divided over Monique Samuels and Candiace Dillard following the fight

During season 5 of The Real Housewives of Potomac, former friends Monique Samuels and Candiace Dillard got into a physical altercation that resulted in second-degree assault charges against both of them.

Even though the judge eventually dropped the cases, it divided the housewives and fans who held strong opinions about the situation.

Gizelle Bryant and Dillard outright refused to film with Samuels moving forward, and Robyn Dixon and Wendy Osefo wanted her to fix things with Dillard before they all hung out together again.

While most viewers agreed the Not For Lazy Moms owner got physical first, some felt Dillard still served as the instigator by provoking the altercation. Others disagreed with the podcast host getting violent, regardless of what Dillard said, and thought Samuels should have gotten fired for it. 

Many fans felt Andy Cohen sided more with Dillard during ‘RHOP’ reunion

While discussing the altercation, executive producer and host Andy Cohen seemingly sided with Dillard by dismissing how Samuels remembered it. The podcast host claimed she felt “triggered” by the former Miss United States putting her hands in her face, and Cohen, along with the other housewives, denied it.

However, camera footage aired backing up Samuels’ story. The host also repeatedly asked why the Not For Lazy Moms owner appeared stoic a year after the fight.

Following the reunion, several fans called out Cohen for seeming biased and not holding Dillard accountable for her part in the altercation. They also felt the executive producer failed to call out the former Miss United States for frequently interrupting.

Samuels noted she wished he had the “same energy” for her former friend, whereas Dillard called the host “objective.” 

Cohen responded to the backlash, says conversations were edited out

A few weeks after the three-part reunion aired, Cohen responded to the backlash during his first Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen episode of 2021.

He asked The Bachelorette star and fan of RHOP, Rachel Lindsay, her feelings on if he seemed biased during the reunion. Lindsay admitted she thought he favored Dillard’s side and held Samuels’ “feet to the fire” more.

The host explained he pushed for a four-part reunion because he talked to Dillard about her “role” in the altercation and why many viewers felt she instigated it.

Additionally, he noted they spoke about how it related to The Real Housewives of Atlanta reunion fight between Porsha Williams and Kenya Moore.

However, Cohen pointed out that those conversations they had during the 11-hour taping of the reunion didn’t make it into any of the parts.

Samuels has since quit the show, noting she felt the network didn’t hold the other housewives accountable the way it did her.