Welcome to the recap for Real Housewives of Potomac Season 9, Episode 18. In the finale, we learn that Ashley’s divorce is almost over, and Keiarna decides not to live with Greg anymore. Wendy scored big when she interviewed the Press Secretary at the White House. However, the real drama was Stacey’s confrontation with Karen. When Karen tried to ice her out for taking Mia’s side, Stacey said not today … She told the group all the tea Karen had said about them. But that wasn’t all. Fast forward several months later and Karen was found guilty of DUI. Will the Grande Dame speak her piece at the reunion? Here’s exactly what went down in RHOP Season 9, Episode 18: “Reunion, Part 1.”
What happened in Real Housewives of Potomac Season 9, Episode 18?
The Grande Dame did indeed appear at the reunion via video message and photograph. The group wanted her there but understood her recovery came first. But Wendy had no love for Karen and announced their friendship was over. She also spilled some tea to Stacey regarding what Karen had said about her. However, the reunion took a detour when Stacey brought up some drama with Mia that happened off camera. Stacey accused Mia of being a liar and had the receipts to prove it. Mia apologized, but would Stacey forgive her?
Karen says “do as I say, not as I do”
We kicked off with Karen giving an update on her guilty verdict. She said, “This is very frightening, but I accept full responsibility with everything that went on with my car accident.” A tearful Karen was worried about her family and how they would handle her upcoming sentencing. She told viewers, “Do as I say, not as I do.”
A few weeks later, it was time to film the reunion. It didn’t take long for everyone to see that Karen’s name was missing from one of the dressing rooms. Then the ladies all gathered, looking fab on their Panama-themed set. Andy called out the elephant in the room; Karen was not there. He shared she had “checked herself into a private recovery center.” Most were supportive, but Wendy said, “I do find it’s interesting she’s doing it before her sentencing.”
Ashley whipped out a photo of The Grande Dame and put it beside her so she would be there in spirit. Andy then played a message from Karen to the group. Karen named Gizelle and Keiarna for standing by her, as well as a “special someone,” Andy. The editors kept cutting to Wendy, who seemed hopeful for a shoutout but never received one. Wendy rightfully concluded, “That’s not my friend.”
Gizelle and Wendy were in the friend zone of their frenemy relationship
Gizelle was flummoxed about why Wendy was surprised Karen didn’t mention her name. Cut to all the times she warned Wendy about what Karen was saying about her. Wendy shared Karen was the only one who stood up for her mom when she was going through the mud last season. Andy found it interesting that Karen said she would come back as “Karen” and not The Grande Dame. Gizelle said Karen was amazing off-camera. So, who exactly is the real Karen?
But it was back to Wendy. Andy covered her new friendship with Gizelle, resigning from her job, and her White House interview. Gizelle peppered Wendy with compliments and said they had a long conversation, which helped them get on the same page. Wendy responded deadpan about Gizelle, “She’s funny.” And that was all she was going to get.
Andy asked how her Happy Eddie business was doing and she said it was booming. This prompted Stacey to jump in and exclaim what a fan she was of their gummies. Gizelle quickly interjected that Stacey was going around town trying to start a similar business. She warned Wendy not to be surprised if “Happy Stacey” suddenly popped up. Or perhaps Stacey will one-up Karen and do a four-wick candle instead?
Wendy dropped a bomb on Stacey
Gizelle did not let her foot off the pedal. She explained that Stacey told people they should partner with her in this business endeavor because she was a “celebrity.” Stacey denied it, but something seemed off.
Andy then asked Wendy about her kids’ trust fund. She explained that getting their master’s or learning Igbo were incentives to bonus money in their trust. Everyone, including Andy, loved that idea and immediately wanted to redo their kid’s trusts. Wendy didn’t have four degrees for nothing.
Andy then brought up Wendy bringing Karen to the White House and asked if she regretted it. With no hesitation, Wendy responded, “Yes, I wish I didn’t.” She also fully believed Stacey when she told her Karen said she was “self-absorbed” and not a “girl’s girl.” But Wendy had news of her own.
She told Stacey that Karen had said to be wary of her. She stated, “Karen told me be careful of the woman that’s coming into the group because she’s really smart and she’s really educated.” Gizelle quipped, “Is she?” Looks like Stacey’s season-long mission to find Gizelle’s warm and fuzzy side failed.
Keiarna jumped in and said she was never taken aside by Karen and told tea about the group. She had felt that Karen “made it her business to personally take care of me.” Wendy said that was Karen’s M.O. She loves you if she can take care of you, but the minute you didn’t need her, you were out of the group. Or as in Stacey’s case, demoted to an “associate.”
Andy wrapped up Wendy’s segment with one final “Happy Birthday,” which inadvertently brought up some secret birthday drama with Mia. Do tell.
Stacey and Mia have a falling out
Next up was Jassi. Andy got right to it with one of the shadiest viewer questions ever. He asked, “It appears to me you were the side chick who made the dude leave his family. Mia, you were a side chick. What’s your professional side chick take?” Spits out drink. Jassi denied the accusation, and that was pretty much it. They really gave her the short end of the stick this season, didn’t they?
After a brief question to see if Ashley was still getting a divorce, the Mia birthday drama came up. According to Stacey, Mia had invited her and Jassi to her birthday party in Miami. But when they arrived, Mia was nowhere to be found. Stacey had the receipts, proof, timeline, and showed Andy the texts. Mia turned on the waterworks, and Wendy said, “You start crying to seek sympathy. And Mia, as your friend, I’m sorry, but this stops today.”
The drama continued in their dressing rooms when they went on break. Mia apologized to Stacey and Jassi for not being a good friend. Unfortunately, Stacey was done. She said, “It just doesn’t feel genuine.” Mia stormed off, threatening to leave. In the preview for next week, it looks like Mia makes that same threat again.
Real Housewives of Potomac continues Sundays at 8/7c on Bravo.
TELL US – WHAT DID YOU THINK OF REAL HOUSEWIVES OF POTOMAC SEASON 9, EPISODE 18? WHAT DID YOU THINK OF KAREN’S MESSAGE? WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE JASSI BACK NEXT SEASON? ARE YOU SURPRISED STACEY AND MIA ARE ON THE OUTS?
