I prefer to imagine that the RHOA gods bestowed a present upon us proper in time for this week’s episode. I’ve completely loved watching that clip from Kandi’s chitlin-circuit musical A Mom’s Love go viral because the BBL ritual song. Increase your hand if “LEGS AND HIPS AND BODY BODY BODY” is consistently enjoying on a loop in your head. As at all times, the web has divine timing, because the girls and their males head to New York Metropolis tonight to observe Kandi’s musical.
In the beginning, I wish to take this time to confess that I initially wrote off Ideas of a Coloured Man as one other random Kandi Burruss enterprise. To not knock Kandi, as a result of I do know that OLG and her sex-toy line are profitable companies, however generally she jogs my memory of my Sims who’ve accomplished their authentic aspirations and are actually doing random ones for enjoyable. I lastly Googled the manufacturing, and it seems it’s the first Broadway play to be written and directed by Black males with a Black man within the lead position. It explores Blackness in America by means of the story of seven males all dwelling in the identical Brooklyn neighborhood. Kudos to Kandi for being part of bringing this mission to the stage! And since Ideas of a Coloured Man is in regards to the Black male expertise in America, it is sensible that the lads are becoming a member of in on the journey. I like seeing the solid exterior of their surroundings and interacting with one another as a bunch.
Kandi, by no means skipping a promotional second, makes use of the journey as a chance to market her Bed room Kandi intercourse toys. Look, I attempted to face up for Kandi final week, however I used to be barely shocked by the invites for the journey being delivered by a half-naked couple handing out “obligatory” vibrating panties. I normally don’t agree with Kenya, however a Playbill would’ve been extra acceptable. I hate that it provides gasoline to the fireplace by way of portray Kandi as a freak, with Marlo going as far as to say she wants remedy (I don’t assume Kandi supposed for the ladies to stroll across the metropolis vibrating in sync with one another), however I recognize that she leans into the stereotype. I personally would really like consent earlier than a person and girl in leather-based bondage present up at my door with intercourse toys, however that is why I don’t reside in Atlanta.
The journey begins easily sufficient, with the {couples} swapping freaky intercourse tales for an opportunity at one of the best room. We study that Sanya and Aaron are part of the mile-high membership and Drew and Ralph (gag) had intercourse within the ocean with whales. Kenya offers us a barely disturbing story about trails of coyote blood and intercourse in caves, successful the room and efficiently weirding us all out.
The group then will get prepared to go to Todd’s New Jersey apartment. I really feel like this apartment story line is being pushed on us. Possibly as a result of I don’t know what it feels prefer to have wealthy folks’s issues (somebody rent me, please), however like, simply maintain it or promote it, who cares. The apartment appears extra like a automobile for exposing the cracks in Kandi and Todd’s relationship. Now that the couple have been collectively for eight years, we’re beginning to see how their dynamic could cause rigidity. Since Todd began relationship Kandi, there have been conversations about the place he suits in concerning her success and wealth. Once more, as a Black girl hustling to maintain up with rising grocery and lease costs, Todd’s ego and Kandi’s pockets aren’t intriguing story traces in my guide.
What’s an intriguing story line is Shereé and Drew’s assistant. Lastly, Sanya mentioned what we’re all considering: “In case you have an assistant who’s being messy with certainly one of your pals, which may imply that you simply’re equally as messy.” As an alternative of reducing him off, Drew put assistant Anthony on “probation” after discovering out final week that he instructed Shereé that Ralph is homosexual. This brings me to a different bone I’ve to select with the Atlanta girls concerning sexuality: Sufficient is sufficient in relation to the homophobia. Whereas the solid members have at all times spoken in regards to the impression “the gays” have on the present, that doesn’t cease the accusations and homophobic remarks from flying. Associates like Dwight, Derek, and Miss Lawrence have been instrumental within the success of the present. The ladies love appropriating homosexual vernacular and parading their homosexual associates to occasions, however when it comes right down to it, they by no means miss a second to remind us that gayness will not be acceptable when it isn’t handy to them.
This isn’t distinctive to RHOA; all of the cities are responsible of it to a point, nevertheless it comes up practically each season on Atlanta in a means that exposes the solid members’ biases. Within the early seasons, numerous the “shade” that was thrown was within the type of transphobic remarks. When Kim had a rendezvous with a feminine DJ, the commentary was ignorant at finest. Marlo’s first season as a buddy will endlessly be tainted by the utilization of a homophobic slur. In the course of the season-eight reunion, Andy addressed the ladies about this habits, because the rumors about then-Housewife Kim Fields’s husband’s sexuality have been a sizzling subject. It was arduous to observe, to say the least, nevertheless it confirmed that traditionally, there’s been a obvious downside with homophobia on the present that the ladies refuse to work on.
For essentially the most half, the problem has been boiled right down to an issue throughout the Black group as a complete, one thing that isn’t unique to 1 circle of associates. However I’m bored with that cop-out. It’s 2022 and all of us must be held accountable for our actions, particularly those that assist dangerous ideologies. Particularly when the present income from queer tradition and has an in depth queer fan base. When Drew flipped out final week saying to not speak about her husband in “that” mild, everyone knows that was coded language. Now that Shereé brings the rumor to Ralph’s consideration at dinner in New York, as soon as once more we see how on this present, and too typically on the planet, homosexuality is demonized and used as a method to humiliate males.
Sadly, Ralph jogs my memory of the kind of straight Black males who thrive on poisonous masculinity, so though we gained’t see his full response to the rumor till subsequent week, I’d guess cash that it’s not going to go down nicely. Earlier than Shereé brings up the homosexual rumor, the highlight was on Drew and Ralph’s relationship. Drew and Ralph are clearly already in a rocky place, and so they’re presently doing a problem assigned by their therapist the place they can’t verbally assault one another for 30 days. Actually, at that time, break up! Any person name Randy Kessler.
I hope that Ralph understands being in comparison with Marc Daly is all-time low. The producers enjoying again scenes of Marc performing like a dick towards Kenya was an amazing reminder to by no means belief a light-skinned man with a nostril stud. I’m bored with Drew and Ralph, actually, however listening to different folks’s views on the 2 is refreshing, and Marlo mentioned it finest: What you permit is what’s going to proceed. Amen.
• Marlo is constructing a brand new residence for her and her nephews, and I can’t recover from the truth that her closet house is 300 sq. ft bigger than her bed room. That is the kind of dwelling that I recognize and attempt for. The scene along with her contractor is attention-grabbing as a result of it exhibits Marlo’s insecurity about the place her cash comes from; in a single breath, cash is what she’s “identified” for, however in one other breath, she blames the women for at all times mentioning her pockets. Choose a lane.
• I see how Kandi feels bizarre in regards to the apartment as a result of Todd shared it with an ex, however after seeing the house, I feel after a renovation it will likely be an amazing property so as to add to their portfolio. Kenya wants a by-product of her renovating folks’s properties and I nominate Gizelle from Potomac as her first consumer. Please assist her.
• One in every of my favourite issues on Housewives is seeing a beginner swap alliances shortly after being introduced on the present. Sanya is aligning herself with Shereé on this assistant drama and is rightfully calling out Drew’s messiness. I choose this to the marginally played-out “ought to we’ve got one other baby” story line.
• I’m curious as to why Shereé and Marlo didn’t get a particular go to from Kandi’s half-naked staff. I came upon that the 2 are solid members of Kandi and the Gang, which I didn’t know as a result of I’ve averted watching on account of my irrational dislike for Don Juan. He actually didn’t do something particular however he will get below my pores and skin each time I see his face. Sorry, Don Juan!