REAL Housewives of Beverly Hills star Erika Jayne “refused” to watch the historic four-part reunion, as she claimed she did not want to relive the traumatic emotions she experienced while filming.
Host Andy Cohen, 53, skeptically grilled Erika, 50, about ongoing allegations that her ex-husband and lawyer Tom Girardi, 82, stole money intended for orphans of family members who passed away in the 2018 Air Flight 610 crash in Indonesia.
Sources reported to TMZ that the star has no plans to watch the reunion live, as experiencing the “emotional rollercoaster” first hand was “grueling enough.”
During Part 1 of Wednesday’s reunion, around 1.5 million viewers tuned in to watch Erika in the hot seat.
Andy said: “I’m going to put you on a skewer and fire up the barbeque.”
The RHOBH host relentlessly came down on Erika, accusing her of not leaving Tom sooner despite having knowledge of his multiple affairs and not feeling financially secure in her salary on the show.
He also accused the Beverly Hills housewife of Tom placing the stolen $20 million into her bank account.
Andy asked the housewives gathered at the reunion: “Who believes Erika did not know anything about what Tom was doing?”
To which Erika broke down with a reply in distress: “Can someone please back me the f*** up on what I’m saying.”
After Andy additionally accused her of manipulating the narrative, the star went silent and began to tear up.
WHAT DID ERIKA SAY?
Right off the bat the mother-of-one was asked by Andy if her attorneys advised her to quit RHOBH due to being wrapped up in her estranged husband’s legal scandal.
When Andy begged the question, the Pretty Mess singer responded: “They did. And I said no because I have nothing to hide.
“And they said, ‘this s**t will be twisted around’ and could be used against you. I’ve thought about it but I’m not a quitter.
“I didn’t want to run away from everything that’s coming at me. So I stayed.”
She then publicly addressed the victims for the first time since the case first became news back in November 2020.
When the Bravo boss asked what the biggest misconception people have of her is, Erika insisted: “That I’m cold and have no sympathy.
“But I’m in an almost impossible situation. And anyone who has been wronged, I want them to be made whole.
“I’m talking about the alleged victims of the alleged wrongdoings from Tom and it’s important people hear that from me.”
Not only were people furious that Erika took nearly a year to address the people involved in the case, but viewers were also outraged she kept referring to them as “alleged” victims.
BODY TALK
And understandably so, because body language expert Judi James claimed Erika came off a little rough.
Interpreting her statement, James said: “Erika says ‘It’s important that people hear that from me’ although exactly what they should hear isn’t made clear.
“In this short clip, her body language doesn’t define an apology and it doesn’t make her look submissive or humble. She tells us that she does have empathy but empathy is a show-don’t-tell quality and she is not showing any obvious signs of it here.
“It could be that the emotional displays came later but this clip shows what looks like masking. What she might be masking in terms of emotions is not revealed before the clip ends.
“It could be bravado or it could be arrogance in the face of what she might see as unfair attacks. She says she has been described as cold but this clip fails to show any softer emotions.”
She continued: “Erika sits upright and consciously groomed. Her brows raise as she talks and this and her head baton give a look of righteousness and a hint of disapproval in terms of the ‘ladies’ who maybe didn’t meet her ask for patience.
“Her raised chin suggests confidence and even high status and her gaze looks both direct and lingering as she looks around at her audience.
“She uses both hands to gesticulate, suggesting full belief in her message and she corrects the host, adding the word ‘alleged’ twice, first to the ‘alleged’ victims and then to her husband’s ‘alleged’ misdoings, with her eye-roll suggesting some impatience.”
TRAUMA DOLLAR BILLS
Sources from TMZ reported that producers are looking to capitalize on Erika’s trauma as an insider confirmed with The Celeb Report that: “Erika is on board for the new season and production will begin in coming days.
“It was a no-brainer. She’s the most bankable star at the moment, and producers don’t want to miss a minute of this scandal – which continues to unfold day by day.”
“Erika still has supporters, despite her legal issues, and even those who hate her are tuning in to see this all play out on screen.”
Though production usually doesn’t resume for months after a season wraps, Bravo is picking right back up so they don’t miss a piece of the action, the source explained.
Erika doesn’t want the show to fully focus on her drama, but she “doesn’t want to shy away from it” either – and hopes some of the ladies will have her back more in Season 12.
The insider said: “She hopes everything will be resolved, and people will finally start to believe her story that she’s innocent in all of this.”
FIRING BACK
Erika recently hit back at critics who called for her to be fired from the Bravo series, blasting: “Why should I be fired? Why are you presuming I’ve done something? Why aren’t we letting the legal process play out?
“Give me a chance to defend myself. I’m ready for the challenge, watch me do it.”
She admitted to Andy after losing her estranged husband’s income, Real Housewives is now her main job.
WHAT YOU MISSED
Erika and Tom, 82, have been accused of stealing settlement funds intended for the families of victims killed in a 2018 plane crash.
Court papers seen by The Celeb Report show Erika’s company was allegedly given more than $25million by her ex’s legal firm, which has now filed for bankruptcy, and she is being asked to pay it back.
She has continuously denied knowing anything about her husband’s finances during their marriage and said the money was not for her.
