I tuned into the Season 3 premiere episode of Real Housewives of Potomac dying to know what went down behind the scenes with Karen Huger’s financial situation, her husband Ray Huger’s $3 million dollar tax debt, and their sudden move to Great Falls after two seasons of bragging about being the self-proclaimed “Grand Dame of Potomac.”
Karen’s delusions of grandeur- and not knowing what a blog is- gave me the entertainment that I expected, but we were also hit with some raw emotions watching Ashley Darby pack up her apartment to move back in with her estranged husband Michael Darby. The realness of Ashley and Michael trying to salvage their marriage was in stark contrast to the Huger family fakery.
In her first Bravo blog post of the season, Ashley discussed her separation period from Michael. She shared, “I never considered how much happens in six months until a time clock was placed on my relationship. We had begun that necessary time for separation before divorce, living apart in separate homes, and I experienced a different side of life. For many years I’d been in love and committed to a relationship with another person, meaning I thought of myself as a part of a unit. All of a sudden I felt like Forrest Gump without Bubba, and it was a foreign feeling.” Aaaww.
Ashley continued, “During my soul searching and time of reflection, I realized that I deeply love Michael. Stripping away the factors like family, the restaurant, and our egos I saw a pure love between us. We have been through so much and I didn’t want to throw it away. In my heart I felt it was worth it to give it another try, and thankfully Michael was on the same page.”
One of the major issues that the couple faces is Ashley’s insistence on financially supporting her mother. Ashley admitted, “Of course, it gets a little challenging for us, but being family isn’t always easy. We are living proof of that, and I’m always going to keep trying. It’s not easy for me to be in the middle of these two powerful personalities – at times it is pretty difficult – and it’s forced me to find my own voice louder than I ever have before. It hasn’t been an easy road for me at all, but to find a loving balance between my mom and husband is a tightrope I am willing to walk.”
Of course Ashley had to address Karen and Ray’s tax debt and their move to Great Falls. Ashley shared, “I was in Ibiza when the news of the Huger Tax debacle broke, and I was instantly shocked – like, literally reading the article with my mouth wide open. It was surprising because Karen can front and deflect with the best of ’em, and while I’ve tried to give her the benefit of the doubt, it is clear that Karen and Ray can’t be taken at face value.” Sad, but true. Even with reality TV cameras recording their every move and reputable news outlets sharing their tax records, they refuse to acknowledge the truth, and continue deflecting.
Ashley wrote, “Just as we all suspected, the abrupt hustle to Great Falls was a calculated move that had ulterior motives. If anything, I hope Karen and Ray can get on the same page about whether or not Karen had any knowledge about the potential tax issues for legality’s sake.” Shade thrown, but also a very valid point.
Karen opened up to Robyn Dixon about her financial troubles and she invited her out to lunch so she could thank her listening during a time of need, but that didn’t go well. Obviously. Karen was upset that Robyn told Monique Samuels and Charrisse Jackson-Jordan that they spoke on the phone about her family’s financial problems. Robyn didn’t really reveal any specific information and she didn’t have to. All of the specific information was splashed all over the Washington Post and various websites.
Plus, it’s not like they just randomly asked her about it. This is a reality TV show. They are required to discuss what is going on their lives and their cast mate’s lives. They were probably prompted to start that conversation by someone behind the scenes.
Karen has much bigger problems than Monique and Charrisse having knowledge of a very public situation. Ashley admitted, “While Robyn and I don’t always see eye to eye, I don’t understand why Karen got upset that Charrisse and Monique learned about the phone conversation.” She also said, “While it’s understandable that Karen is sensitive about her situation, she has to take an assessment of when she is being overly sensitive.” Agreed completely.
The best part about that conversation with Robyn is that she claimed to know what a blog was. Really? She has been writing a Bravo blog post for the past two seasons, yet she “doesn’t know” what a blog is.
Ashley said, “All I heard was Karen backpedaling, as she has so often done. As far as I hope, Karen hasn’t been living under a rock so she knows what a blog is. I’m sure that when the Washington Post was mentioning her name for attending a charity gala or two, Karen was a huge fan of the Post. Now that her family’s missteps were highlighted it’s convenient to throw shade at a credible newspaper that I’m sure she once praised.” Shade. Thrown.
[Photo Credit: Bravo]
