‘RHOP’ Star Gizelle Bryant Wants Her Bestie Robyn Dixon To Return To The Show

Gizelle Bryant is everyone’s favorite this season on The Real Housewives Of Potomac, and it’s about time. 

As one of the Bravo franchise’s OG, Bryant has survived (and thrived) through cast changes, toxic drama, bad relationships, and the like. With all three daughters out of the house—Grace and the twins Angel and Adore—Bryant is focusing on herself and her endeavors, but is always a mom first. “I worked really hard for the past 18 years,” said Bryant of motherhood. “Now I just get to have [my daughters] FaceTime me around the clock.” While she loves that they “still want [her] in their lives,” Bryant made it clear that now “Gizelle is doing Gizelle.” With her increase of free time, Bryant is able to focus on GnA, the athleisure line she created with cast mate Ashley Darby. “I’m really happy that GnA has really dived into health and wellness.”

Without her fellow OG and Reasonably Shady podcast co-host Robyn Dixon—who departed the show last season—Bryant is forming new friendships and nurturing old bonds. Bryant was the first cast member to sit down with fellow OG Karen Huger after she was arrested and cited for a DUI and other traffic violations. “Karen had an incident recently, and that caused her to do a lot of self-reflection,” said Bryant. “When she realized that I was coming to her in a caring way, she was okay to let her guard down a little bit.”

Bryant is also enjoying a rekindled bond with Dr. Wendy Osefo, with whom she had verbally spared in the not-too-distant past. “We had a ridiculous reunion coming out of season eight,” said Bryant bluntly. “I wanted to figure out where we went wrong and how we can move forward if we can.” As a “leader in the group,” Bryant knew it was her responsibility to start the conversation with Osefo. Now the two are back on good terms. Bryant happily declared, “everybody wants to be my friend.”

Bryant recently came to the DECIDER studio to talk about the new season, her opinions on the show’s newbies, and why Mia Thornton will have the most to answer for come reunion time.

GIZELLE BRYANT: Yes, I am. I worked hard for the past 18 years, and now I just get to have them FaceTime me around the clock, which they do. They feel like my time is their time. They never want me to get off the phone. They’re always screaming, “Mommy, you’re doing nothing so just talk to us.” [Laughs] I love that because I appreciate that they still want me in their lives. But Gizelle is doing Gizelle! I’m happy to be free.

No, no, no. My daughters have never watched the show. They’ve maybe watched their parts, but they think of the show as Mom’s job. They’re over it [laughs].

This is season nine. The viewers are very much aware of who I am as a person. In years past, some felt like I was so messy and into everybody’s business and causing drama. Well, no, I was just making a show. I was just allowing the fans to get to know me in that way, and now they love me that way. I feel like RHOP has drama and shadiness, but it’s not toxic. It’s fun. That’s who and what I am.

Growing? [laughs] Yeah, she’s evolving. Karen is evolving. Karen had an incident recently, and that caused her to do a lot of self-reflection. People didn’t give her grace this season, and she’s fighting for her life. But it is what it is. If it was somebody else, she’d be coming for them.

GB: Both. Karen definitely wanted to get a pulse on whether “Gizelle going to be shady in this moment” or whether “Gizelle is going to be like a good friend and care about my well-being in this moment.” Initially, it was a temperature check on her part. When she realized that I was coming to her in a caring way, she was okay to let her guard down a little bit. But for the rest of her life, Karen will be in damage control.

We had a ridiculous reunion coming out of season eight. With a new group coming back, I felt like we needed a fresh start. I wanted to figure out where we went wrong and figure out how we can move forward, if we can. That was my position. The group needed to gel a bit. I’m an OG; I’m a leader in this group. It was on me to try to figure that out. I was happy to see if Miss Wendy would be willing to start with a clean slate.

So far, so good!

Of course. Everybody wants to be my friend.

There’s more to come. The cocktail hour we hosted was mainly to help raise awareness and allow guests to give to the National Brain Tumor Society. I partnered with them in honor of my father. Later in the season, we will hold an event to highlight and help benefit the organization’s work. Along those lines, I’m really happy that GnA has taken a shift and really dived into health and wellness. That has been great for me and Ashley. There was some drama at the cocktail event. Maybe I started it, [laughs], but it’s okay. We’re still doing the work.

Definitely Stacy. She was married. She has similarities to some of the ladies in the group. She’s going through a divorce. She has an interesting mother. She’s different in many ways though, and different in this group is good. She’s quirky. She’s doesn’t take herself too seriously, which we love. Right behind her, I would say Keiarna. K has been around the group for a little while and understands the dynamics. She has figured out how she fits in, which I’ve liked.

I was honestly shocked that Stacey and Keiarna were so cool about having to room together in bunk beds at Lake Norman.

They’re newbies! Newbies know they can’t really complain that much. You have to work your way up to your own room and bathroom.

She did fine. I was gone for a portion of that trip because I went back to be with my kids. Anytime I leave, the girls go nuts. They go crazy! I was so happy to miss all of that. The part that I was there for was nice though.

Ashley recently said that Mia will have the most to answer for at the reunion.

Totally.

Mia does not understand what the word “truth” means. Mia lies about everything. She lies to the point where I’m getting bored. So, there’s that.

Absolutely. She has just opened her med spa called Glo 30 in Columbia, Maryland. From what I understand, it is going fantastic. I expected nothing less. She’s doing great. Our podcast Reasonably Shady is still rocking and rolling. We are about to start our fifth season of Reasonably Shady, which is absolutely insane. So yeah, my bestie still my bestie.

I want Robyn to return! I’m starting a campaign. “Bring Robyn back!” Truth be told, Karen really missed Robyn. Ashley really missed Robyn. The ladies would love to have Robyn back.

I don’t know [laughs]. That was interesting. The show has wrapped, and I’m just going to say it was interesting.