‘The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ Cast Can Handle Feuds and Drama, but Not This

Over the years, The Real Housewives franchise has become a pop culture phenomenon, offering audiences an inside look into the luxurious lifestyles of affluent women across various American cities. However, beneath the glitz and glamor lies a deeper issue – the lack of representation and the unique challenges faced by women of color within the franchise. Despite the show's popularity, Bravo has faced ongoing criticism for its slow pace in diversifying its cast, leading to conversations about race, identity, and the pressures placed on women of color within the reality TV landscape. While the network has made strides in casting more women of color (WOC), this shift has exposed a troubling pattern: WOC on these shows are often burdened with the task of addressing race and educating their white castmates, while also being subjected to increased scrutiny and harsher criticism.

The Problematic Stereotyping in 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills'

A recurring issue for WOC across the franchise is their portrayal of harmful stereotypes. Garcelle Beauvais broke barriers as the first Black housewife on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Despite her poise and diplomacy, she has repeatedly navigated microaggressions from her white co-stars. Her valid concerns about being treated differently have been met with gaslighting or outright dismissal.

Eboni K. Williams' tenure on Real Housewives of New York City exemplifies this stereotyping more clearly. During her sole season, Williams often found herself steering conversations toward issues of race and identity – conversations that her white co-stars were visibly uncomfortable having. From discussing microaggressions to calling out coded language, Williams took on the role of educator. Rather than fostering deeper understanding, these moments frequently devolved into defensiveness from her white castmates, portraying Williams as "preachy" or "aggressive." Despite her efforts to broaden the group's awareness, Williams faced relentless backlash from viewers who felt the show had become too "political," reflecting a broader societal resistance to engaging with issues of race in entertainment.

Bravo's editing choices further exacerbate these issues. Reality TV relies on constructed narratives, and producers hold the power to shape how each housewife is perceived. When WOC bring up issues of racism, their words are frequently framed as "controversial" or "divisive." In contrast, their white co-stars are rarely held accountable for ignorance or harmful behavior. This imbalance reflects broader social dynamics where marginalized voices must carry the emotional weight of advancing racial dialogue without institutional support.

Andy Cohen's Explanation for the Delay

In a 2021 appearance on Garcelle's podcast, Going to Bed with Garcelle, Andy Cohen, the executive producer of The Real Housewives franchise, addressed the long-standing question of why it took so long to diversify the RHOBH cast. Cohen explained that the delay was due to Bravo wanting "to get it perfect" when introducing women of color to the franchise. He elaborated that there was a "vicious cycle" of hesitation, as the longer they waited, the more pressure they felt to ensure that the women they cast would succeed. Cohen acknowledged that there were women of color considered over the years who were ultimately not chosen due to concerns about whether they would fit in or remain on the show for more than one season. Despite his justifications, Cohen admitted, "The true answer is – there is no excuse. It’s bad, and there is no excuse."

Garcelle has spoken publicly about the burden of representing Black women in predominantly white spaces. She has shared how her co-stars' lack of understanding regarding her cultural background has led to moments of alienation and conflict. True progress requires more than token representation. It involves creating an environment where women of color are fully supported both on and off-screen, and where their stories are given the same depth and nuance as their white counterparts. As much as the production team and cast members are responsible on-screen for the diversity, the audiences also play a huge role in normalizing and advocating for more diverse cast members.

Social media has become a powerful tool to voice opinions, and Reddit threads discussing each episode are something no fan misses. However, merely discussing the lack of diversity would not resolve this issue. With Garcelle now announcing she was quitting the show for definite personal reasons, a part of it also includes her rocky journey throughout this show. Increasing diversity behind the camera is just as crucial as in front of it. Having BIPOC producers, editors, and decision-makers can lead to more accurate and empathetic portrayals of WOC.