The on-again/off-again friendship/rivalry between Karen Huger and Gizelle Bryant is, in many ways, the core relationship of Real Housewives of Potomac. It’s been a fixture since the very first episode and is responsible for so many of the show’s very best moments.
Of all the RHOP cast members, Karen and Gizelle have known each other the longest. And to say they’ve had ups and downs over the years is an understatement. In recent seasons, they’ve been on good terms, even as Karen still fought with Gizelle’s fellow green-eyed bandit Robyn Dixon.
In the Season 9 premiere, Gizelle got emotional about their long friendship when speaking about Karen’s DUI. And she threw Karen a “hattitude” birthday party. She also tried to get to the bottom of things and named a nonalcoholic drink “Grand Dame,” which bothered Karen. While this may test their friendship, we have the rest of the season to see how things go down. And as we know, these two have been through it all. Whether they’re enemies or besties, Karen and Gizelle are always a dynamic duo, and here are a few of our favorite moments to prove it.
Real Housewives of Potomac kicks off with Karen Huger schooling Gizelle Bryant on etiquette
This feud was on fire from the start! The Real Housewives of Potomac’s very first episode centered around a fight between Karen and Gizelle. In true Grand Dame fashion, Karen was offended that Gizelle sat in her “birthday seat,” aka in the center. Karen is still bothered about it all these years later, as she referenced when Gizelle threw her another birthday party in the Season 9 premiere.
At the time, she took it upon herself to teach her frenemy about etiquette. Karen, of course, made an over-the-top gesture to prove her point. Not only did she give Gizelle a list of etiquette rules for attending a birthday party, but she also included a mirror, so Gizelle could look at herself while reading them. Gizelle challenged the rules and threw shade at Karen in a confessional. “I have a legacy and a pedigree,” Gizelle said, adding of Karen, “You grew up on a farm.”
Karen Huger and Gizelle Bryant fight in front of a mime
Personally speaking, this is probably my pick for best Real Housewives moment ever. In Season 3, Karen and Gizelle fought about the latter’s love life, a frequent point of contention. This time, however, the argument was interrupted by a mime sent by Monique Samuels to invite them to the cast trip. When Karen called Gizelle a clown, the Reasonably Shady podcaster gestured at the man crashing their lunch, and deadpanned, “No, that’s the clown.”
Karen, who was convinced the mime just wanted camera time, called for security. Gizelle burst out laughing before screaming “No sir!” when the mime approached her. “Now you want security, don’t you, Gizelle?” Karen said as she walked away. Gizelle declared that their fight wasn’t over. Indeed, they would continue to clash on the trip, with no mimes to interrupt them.
Gizelle makes a statement at Karen’s press conference with no press
The feud was really on another level during Season 3. Gizelle showed up to Karen’s press conference (with no press) in a tee shirt that said #GODBLESSTHEHUGERS. Karen called the conference to, presumably, answer questions about her and husband Ray Huger’s tax problems. In typical Karen fashion, it was a lot of deflection, denial, and “I can’t answer that” responses. Previously, when Robyn brought up the rumors and news stories, Karen defensively shouted, “You have to make millions to owe millions!”
Fed up with Karen’s non-answer answers, Gizelle pushed back and then decided she had enough. As she walked out of the conference, Gizelle revealed the back of her shirt, which read, #FREEKAREN, #FREEUNCLEBEN, and #TAXREFORM. Karen was not impressed. “Gizelle, you tacky as hell,” Karen iconically responded, adding, “You didn’t come as a friend at all.”
Karen drags Gizelle’s style
Gizelle’s infamous fashion sense has been ripped apart by fans, but no one dragged her wardrobe harder than Karen. When Gizelle and Monique were briefly getting along, Karen’s main concern was that Gizelle would be a bad fashion influence.
In a confessional, Karen quipped, “Thank god Gizelle is a good-looking woman, because goddamn she can’t dress at all.” She continued, “I’m ashamed to be seen with her sometimes, to be honest.” She even said that thinking about Gizelle’s outfits gives her a headache.
Karen stood by her shade at the Season 5 reunion, declaring Gizelle’s style “a hot mess,” but also “her trademark.” Karen even said that making fun of Gizelle’s outfits was “very therapeutic in quarantine.” Regardless, Karen’s quips didn’t stop Gizelle from creating a clothing line with Ashley Darby.
Gizelle wants Ray Huger to live!
Season 6 began with a party at Wendy Osefo’s. While it was ostensive to celebrate Wendy’s boob job (complete with boob cupcakes), Karen and Gizelle’s feud took center stage. The two fired extremely graphic and low-blow insults and accusations about each other’s relationships and sex lives (or lack thereof).
On the first cast trip of the season, Gizelle was looking for an apology from Karen, to no avail. Instead, Karen wanted an apology for a shady confessional from four years ago, which she interpreted as Gizelle wishing death on Ray. Gizelle emphatically denied doing so, and to prove it, she uttered one of her most hilarious lines ever: “I want Ray to live! I want him to pay his bills!”
The kids bring Karen and Gizelle back together
A lot of people on the show were wary when Gizelle rekindled things with ex-husband Jamal Bryant. Including her dad, who was caught on a hot mic sharing how he really felt about his former son-in-law. Her three daughters were also visibly not thrilled by their parents’ reconciliation. Karen, of course, didn’t hold back her feelings either. This caused a lot of brutal arguments between her and Gizelle. By the Season 6 reunion, Gizelle was finally done with Jamal. While she and Karen still exchanged words, they left on much better terms.
Andy Cohen, who is one of the biggest cheerleaders of Gizelle and Karen’s friendship, asked them to say something nice about each other. Gizelle got emotional remembering how, even when their feud was at its worst, Karen made sure to hug her three daughters. “That shows the level of deepness of a relationship that we have,” Gizelle said through tears. “You’ve seen my kids grow up,” she added, making Karen tear up as well.
This seemed to be a turning point for their friendship. Not that they stopped being shady towards each other, of course. And we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Real Housewives of Potomac can be streamed on Peacock.
