Gizelle Bryant Explains Why ‘RHOP’ Is Different From Other Shows In ‘The Real Housewives Franchise’ And Shares Her Thoughts On Candiace Dillard And Monique Samuels’ Fight; Says “It Opened The Door For Us To Have Conversations That Are Not Only Important To Us, As The Cast, But Important To Black Women Everywhere”

Gizelle Bryant opens up about The Real Housewives of Potomac and explains what makes Potomac different from other series in the Real Housewives franchise.

RHOP is the first Housewives series to have four original housewives last five consecutive seasons on the show. Bryant reacted to the news by playfully taking credit for the achievement, saying it's “because they know that I have a hard time meeting new people.”

Bryant believes that she, Karen Huger, Robyn Dixon, and Ashley Darby have been able to last within the franchise longer than most Housewives because “we did know each other prior to the show starting, and so that chemistry you can't fake, and it's rare.”

“I don't want to compare us to other franchises, but I feel we as a group are able to hear each other when there are issues and drama – to the point where we can then understand why one is mad at the other,” Bryant told Entertainment Weekly. “We listen, and then we give our commentary, but we just don't spend the season on one stupid issue and drive it into the ground because nobody can get over it. No, I think that that's silly in life. Life is too short.”

Bryant feels like she and her co-stars “literally did put Potomac on the map because no one ever thought about Potomac, knew where Potomac was, cared about Potomac” until the show came along.

Bryant then shared her thoughts on Monique Samuels and Candiace Dillard Bassett's physical altercation, which made headlines last year and will play out later this season.

“When it first happened, I was shocked, appalled, disturbed, because we have prided ourselves in being able to talk about whatever it is, whatever issues we have, right? We use the words, we use our brains, we're all smart women,” Bryant explains. “But now, I'm happy that it opened the door for us to have conversations that are not only important to us, as the cast, but important to Black women everywhere. Black women have always been treated to be beneath society, and the lowest on the totem pole, and the hardest working but least important people under the sun. So, you know, it really allowed us to have great conversations that we wouldn't have had if those things didn't happen.”

Gizelle also opens up about her new co-star Dr. Wendy Osefo. Bryant teases that the political commentator and professor at Johns Hopkins University “brings all kinds of Nigerian flavor.”

As the first ever African Real Housewife, Bryant teases that Osefo “brings all kinds of Nigerian flavor.”

“We haven't seen that culture and their view on America and what it means to be educated here, and how they raise their children,” Bryant told Entertainment Weekly. “And Wendy talks about all of this, so I hope that they show it because it's different from being Black [American], migrating here from Africa now.”

Bryant appreciates more than just what Osefo’s background brings to the show though. Bryant describes Osefo as “a breath of fresh air, because it's hard to join a group of women in this capacity that have been together for years. It's kind of like where do you fit in, and are you going to try too hard to fit in? And she didn't do that, she just came and was herself. She's very comfortable in her own skin, and I love a confident smart Black woman.”

Photo Credit: Bravo