Former ‘RHOP’ Star Monique Samuels is Reportedly Returning to Reality Television
Monique Samuels may have turned down the chance to return to The Real Housewives of Potomac, but she hasn’t sworn off reality television for good. Samuels left the show following her infamous binder gate moment at the reunion. Despite Bravo asking her back, she said it wasn’t worth the stress. Now, Samuels is taking her talents to OWN.
Monique Samuels vowed to not return to ‘RHOP’
Samuels opted not to return to the series after she claims production and executives blocked her press opportunities and treated her unfairly during filming following the fight between her and Candiace Dillard. Andy Cohen made his feelings known that he wanted Samuels back for Season 6, but she said no.
“I would have to fight so hard behind the scenes all the time just to use my platform,” she told Tami Roman during an appearance on Get Into It. “I was getting turned down for interviews and being told by some people requesting me for press, ‘I was told you weren’t available or they told me I couldn’t interview you.’”
Samuels says she has no regrets about her decision not to return. “I don’t [miss it]. Even when they started filming, the thought of trying to prepare my life for cameras and everything else in my life that I have going on with my businesses that I’ve been working hard on, I can’t even imagine the whole tug of war.”
She’s now joining ‘Love & Marriage: DMV’
Though Samuels refused to participate on Housewives, the Not For Lazy Moms podcast host didn’t swear off reality TV for good. TV Deets reports that Samuels and her husband Chris are joining the Love & Marriage: Huntsville spinoff filming in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. The show will film three couples, as well as the Samuels, as cameras capture the social and business lives of the couples living and working in the area.
The initial Huntsville series was centered around Black real estate moguls. The show should be a good fit as the Samuels own several homes. RHOP fans remember Samuels’ shady moment with Gizelle Bryant Samuels’ first sit-down with the cast.
The moment came when Bryant asked her whether or not she had a home when Samuels revealed that she was looking to purchase a home in the area. Samuels shot back at Bryant, “I have four homes,” which became a catchphrase of the season.
Also joining the spinoff are Erana and James Tyler, Ashley Brittney and Roberto Silva, and Tasha and Neil Lyons. The couples recently attended a dinner hosted by the Samuels.
The former Bravo star says she wasn’t paid well her first season on ‘RHOP’
Samuels joined the cast of RHOP in Season 2. Despite her high-profile marriage of being married to a former NFL star, she says her payday was minimal.
“I spent more on my wardrobe and makeup than I made that first season,” Samuels said during an interview on the podcast Behind The Velvet Rope with David Yontef. “My light bill went up [because of production constantly filming]. That check wasn’t anything.”
Overall, Samuels was paid for 12 episodes for her first season. Yontef told Samuels that other newbies on the other franchises typically earn an estimated $60k during their inaugural season. But Samuels says each franchise differs depending on location. After doing the math, she says she earned $42k. Her final payday for the first season rounds out to roughly $3,500 an episode.
