During a recent reunion episode of The Real Housewives of Potomac, tensions flared between cast members Wendy Osefo and Ashley Darby, particularly in light of Ashley’s controversial remarks following Wendy’s recent felony fraud arrest. In an exclusive clip from the reunion, host Andy Cohen introduces a series of viewer questions that highlight Ashley’s behavior this season, prompting her to defend her actions amidst accusations of being “messy” and “downright nasty.”
Angela Massie, a new addition to the cast, was quick to bring up Ashley’s jab at Wendy—specifically referencing Ashley’s comment, “Zen Wen is in the pen,” after Wendy’s arrest on multiple fraud charges on October 10. When asked by Andy if she regretted making that remark, Ashley expressed her initial misunderstanding of the seriousness of the situation, citing Wendy’s surprisingly cheerful mugshot.
“When I saw Wendy’s mugshot, and she was smiling in the picture, you are literally laughing in the photo,” Ashley asserted, framing her comment as a joke. However, Wendy was quick to point out the inappropriateness of the jab, noting, “Not anyone that has been locked up… I was probably one of the only people that did not do that.”
Despite Ashley’s insistence that she was unaware of the severity of Wendy’s situation, Wendy suggested there might be deeper motives behind Ashley’s mockery, implying a longstanding personal vendetta. “I think that I would believe that, except for the fact that I got additional information that says it wasn’t necessarily that you saw my mugshot. It was a hidden vendetta that you’ve always had against me,” Wendy responded.
This escalation of tensions was not limited to the reunion stage; it had been brewing for months. Back at BravoCon, the friction was palpable as Wendy was pressed on her relationship with Ashley and hinted at addressing it during the reunion. Earlier in the year, Ashley publicly acknowledged that her comments about Wendy were perhaps too intense, admitting, “I was maybe a little hot in the pants with what I said.”
While Ashley attempted to apologize to Wendy backstage, the latter remained unyielding, declaring outright, “I WILL NOT!” Nevertheless, Ashley expressed that she felt at peace with her stance and had absolved herself of guilt regarding the comment. “If she wants to continue to be upset about it, that is her entitlement, but my slate is clean,” Ashley remarked.
As the three-part reunion special of The Real Housewives of Potomac approaches, set to air on February 15 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, fans are left eagerly anticipating how the unresolved conflict between Wendy and Ashley will unfold. Uncensored episodes will be available to stream the following day on Peacock, promising viewers an unfiltered exploration of the drama that has unfolded this season.