‘RHOP’: Gizelle Bryant Says Monique Samuels Never Liked Candiace Dillard
Monique Samuels and Candiace Dillard’s fight marks the first in RHOP history. Cast members are divided into two separate groups, each trying to figure out who’s side to take. But one co-star who makes it clear that she believes Samuels is at fault is Gizelle Bryant.
Bryant not only claims that Samuels is jealous of Dillard; but, she also says despite the ladies being friends at one point, Samuels was never fond of Dillard.
Monique Samuels insists Candiace Dillard provoked her in their fight
Samuels and Dillard’s mounting tension came to a head during episode 9 of RHOP. Leading up to their hair-pulling fight, the two argued tirelessly. Samuels believes Dillard has been disingenuous by aligning herself with former friends of Samuels who she says actively tries to destroy her family.
Dillard denies Samuels’ claims. She says she’s attempted to move forward in a positive direction with Samuels but that Samuels’ anger with her is so deep that she is unable to do so.
Verbal jabs turned into a knockout brawl, leaving Samuels with a bloody lip from a glass being thrown at her – and Dillard’s hair in shambles due to Samuels’ attack on her. Samuels insists that Dillard’s attitude and comments are provoking, explaining to the group that Dillard’s verbal jabs are just as damaging as a physical altercation.
Samuels and Dillard continue to blame one another. Currently, they both admit they wish things did not end the way it did and say the experience serves as a learning lesson for them both.
Gizelle Bryant claims Monique Samuels never liked Candiace Dillard
According to Bryant, the once-close friendship between Samuels and Dillard is one-sided. While Bryant admits to Samuels and Dillard having an on-again-off-again relationship, she says Samuels has not been honest about her true feelings toward Dillard. Bryant recalls allegedly witnessing Samuels ill feelings about Dillard during a cast trip in season 3 in an exclusive Bravo clip.
“I distinctively remember in Nemacolin – that was season 3 – Monique could not stand Candiace from day one,” Bryant alleges. “Would not tell her [Dillard] to her face. She thought that Candiace was fake, she thought that Candiace didn’t belong in the group…Then, I think that their relationship just evolved and they were just buddy-buddy, and then they would fall out and get back together.”
But according to both Samuels and Dillard, they had a genuine love for one another. They lovingly referred to one another as sisters. Samuels took Dillard under her wing and says she tried her best to help her navigate through the group as Samuels was not met with the warmest welcome from some of her co-stars.
“I just felt like a big sister,” Samuels says. “I wanted to look out for her in the way I would want somebody to look out for me.”
Unfortunately, Samuels and Dillard appear to be at a point that appears to be irreversible. Previews for the remainder of season 5 show the casts divide over who’s side to pick in the aftermath of the fight and how Samuels and Dillard struggle to make sense of what happened between them.
RHOP airs every Sunday on Bravo at 9 pm EST.
