I have nothing to add except thank you for writing your articles. Been following for a while now and I am delighted each time a new one drops. They put a lot of the internet culture's unspoken nuances into words in a clear and entertaining way. 5 stars.
This has been really interesting. Thank you for making the distinction between people with cptsd and these kinds of examples. It's a really strange experience watching trauma become an identify trend when it's your disability.
Different level of dark!!! I was excited about the reboot of RHONY, and then it got awful really fast. Brynn's mother is still alive, and she had more children. I think that adds an extra layer of pain, deepens her wounds and complicates healing. She shouldn't return. It's too dangerous for everyone involved. (Still floored by what she said about Jessel's marriage by the pool--which also turned out to be a lie. They weren't discussing the greatest loves of their lives but the craziest hookups.)
Wow! Didn’t know her mom is still alive. I agree, that this is a different level of hurt. She needs to be away from reality tv & actively working on her trauma.
Great analysis! I wrote about the same incident on RHONY from a way more personal perspective. But you’re right, there is a clear through line from the ills of chronically online discourse to real life and the effects lead to tangible harm.
I feel like I missed something but I don't really understand this sentence: "However, a cast member saying that another cast member knew about her assault and then going back on it reaches a different level of darkness." The comparison in the paragraph above is to accusations of assault (the dungeon), theft from elderly victims and fraud. Did you mean to imply that Brynn's lie is somehow worse than those things? I don't see how. I mean, it's a lie, it's bad. But not worse than those other things?
I feel like lying and doubling down on it the way Phaedra did is different than saying Ubah knew and then immediately saying "well maybe she didn't clock it". It feels more sinister that she threw the accusation out there to see how it would land and then took it back to cover herself or create more confusion.
Thank you for this! I sincerely hope Brynn is gone next season. The lady episode was a new level of dark. She actually reminds me of someone I had to go no contact with.
This person also has a lot of trauma to unpack and heal from, but she does no self reflection. When I was around her, I was always walking on eggshells and landmines were everywhere.
Ultimately, she did what Brynn did. She flat out lied about me and twisted my actions to make me look bad in front of my family and our community.
Interesting analysis. How do you think it will affect Brynn? Do you think she will come back next season? I have a feeling we’re not going to see Erin or Brynn and maybe ubah next season. And most definitely Rebecca, she is boring.
Also who was the hold out on the legacy reboot contact? Was it Ramona?
I think you’re probably right that we’re going to see all three of them next season. And wow! I did not hear it was Jill that caused the delay and cancellation of the legacy idea. What a shame! And I really hope that we get more ultimate girls trips in the future! Even if we don’t get to see the Morocco trip (which I hope we do).
I’ve been looking to turn my brain off with housewives stuff on Substack and there’s a severe lack of bravo content here. I would greatly appreciate more housewives posts 🙏🏻
Trauma as identity themes in reality TV are getting ridiculous. First season of RHONY and Bachelor candidates poring out their traumas on first dates cases in point.
However I disagree with you re the Brynn and Ubah scenario. This took place after a day of drinking first of all, so calculation was probably not in play. You are making the assumption, as many are, that Brynn lied, which would be indeed heinous. However, Brynn says she revealed her SA to Ubah as being amongst a litany of awful things in her life, framed by her current call of a suicide by a family member. In this context, it is very possible and a reasonable assumption that Ubah did not register, had tuned out. Whatever happened, it was horrendous to watch Brynn, in her very vulnerable state being attacked by Ubah, then ostracized by the women. As a clinical social worker, watched, horrified. The resultant cyber bullying has been appalling.
Your take is spot on! This final episode was so dark and I couldn’t look away, but not from being entertained, being horrified. I often find that most content online nowadays is purely engagement-baiting with heavy hooks, and unfortunately that’s what is happening to TV. I just want to see a bunch of women being shady but also having a great time Cartagena, is that too much to ask?
great takes here as usual! rhony post the reboot is both better and worse, but ultimately it’s not the one i follow regularly, i think bc the clueless colorblindness coming from the whole cast is just..too much for me 😬
I have nothing to add except thank you for writing your articles. Been following for a while now and I am delighted each time a new one drops. They put a lot of the internet culture's unspoken nuances into words in a clear and entertaining way. 5 stars.
never seen RH but i really enjoyed this essay, thank you. also lololol EDS affects your skin & joints not your reasoning 🤔
This has been really interesting. Thank you for making the distinction between people with cptsd and these kinds of examples. It's a really strange experience watching trauma become an identify trend when it's your disability.
Different level of dark!!! I was excited about the reboot of RHONY, and then it got awful really fast. Brynn's mother is still alive, and she had more children. I think that adds an extra layer of pain, deepens her wounds and complicates healing. She shouldn't return. It's too dangerous for everyone involved. (Still floored by what she said about Jessel's marriage by the pool--which also turned out to be a lie. They weren't discussing the greatest loves of their lives but the craziest hookups.)
Wow! Didn’t know her mom is still alive. I agree, that this is a different level of hurt. She needs to be away from reality tv & actively working on her trauma.
Great analysis! I wrote about the same incident on RHONY from a way more personal perspective. But you’re right, there is a clear through line from the ills of chronically online discourse to real life and the effects lead to tangible harm.
Loved your piece! Definitely worth the read for those who haven’t checked it out
I feel like I missed something but I don't really understand this sentence: "However, a cast member saying that another cast member knew about her assault and then going back on it reaches a different level of darkness." The comparison in the paragraph above is to accusations of assault (the dungeon), theft from elderly victims and fraud. Did you mean to imply that Brynn's lie is somehow worse than those things? I don't see how. I mean, it's a lie, it's bad. But not worse than those other things?
I feel like lying and doubling down on it the way Phaedra did is different than saying Ubah knew and then immediately saying "well maybe she didn't clock it". It feels more sinister that she threw the accusation out there to see how it would land and then took it back to cover herself or create more confusion.
Thank you for this! I sincerely hope Brynn is gone next season. The lady episode was a new level of dark. She actually reminds me of someone I had to go no contact with.
This person also has a lot of trauma to unpack and heal from, but she does no self reflection. When I was around her, I was always walking on eggshells and landmines were everywhere.
Ultimately, she did what Brynn did. She flat out lied about me and twisted my actions to make me look bad in front of my family and our community.
Interesting analysis. How do you think it will affect Brynn? Do you think she will come back next season? I have a feeling we’re not going to see Erin or Brynn and maybe ubah next season. And most definitely Rebecca, she is boring.
Also who was the hold out on the legacy reboot contact? Was it Ramona?
I think Brynn might do a redemption tour but I don't think she should be back. Erin is good tv, and they wouldn't fire Ubah after all of this.
It was Jill! She wanted to be paid what Luann/Sonja/Ramona were making even though they were on ten+ seasons and she was originally on four.
I think you’re probably right that we’re going to see all three of them next season. And wow! I did not hear it was Jill that caused the delay and cancellation of the legacy idea. What a shame! And I really hope that we get more ultimate girls trips in the future! Even if we don’t get to see the Morocco trip (which I hope we do).
I’ve been looking to turn my brain off with housewives stuff on Substack and there’s a severe lack of bravo content here. I would greatly appreciate more housewives posts 🙏🏻
It’s like you read my mind. This is really well done and explains something that I felt but couldn’t put into words.
HE DOES IT AGAIN
I saw this post on Notes & thought i'd share my recent article on 'Disclosure Porn' as it's very similar re: commoditized pain! Nice article.
https://pagesbeatsandboots.substack.com/p/i-suffer-therefore-i-engage
Trauma as identity themes in reality TV are getting ridiculous. First season of RHONY and Bachelor candidates poring out their traumas on first dates cases in point.
However I disagree with you re the Brynn and Ubah scenario. This took place after a day of drinking first of all, so calculation was probably not in play. You are making the assumption, as many are, that Brynn lied, which would be indeed heinous. However, Brynn says she revealed her SA to Ubah as being amongst a litany of awful things in her life, framed by her current call of a suicide by a family member. In this context, it is very possible and a reasonable assumption that Ubah did not register, had tuned out. Whatever happened, it was horrendous to watch Brynn, in her very vulnerable state being attacked by Ubah, then ostracized by the women. As a clinical social worker, watched, horrified. The resultant cyber bullying has been appalling.
Your take is spot on! This final episode was so dark and I couldn’t look away, but not from being entertained, being horrified. I often find that most content online nowadays is purely engagement-baiting with heavy hooks, and unfortunately that’s what is happening to TV. I just want to see a bunch of women being shady but also having a great time Cartagena, is that too much to ask?
great takes here as usual! rhony post the reboot is both better and worse, but ultimately it’s not the one i follow regularly, i think bc the clueless colorblindness coming from the whole cast is just..too much for me 😬