Erika Jayne opened up about Dorit Kemsley‘s separation from Paul “PK” Kemsley, claims of being afraid of Kyle Richards, and Dorit and Kyle’s messy feud during a recent interview.
Erika chatted about her relationship with her estranged husband, Thomas Girardi, 85, weighed in on the newbie of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills season 14, Bozoma Saint John, 48, and dished on her Broadway return.
But first, Erika, 53, was asked if she’d heard that PK, 57, was a “monster” before she saw the claim being made by Dorit, 48, on the show.
“Dorit, Lisa Rinna, and Kyle came to my residency in Vegas, and we went to dinner and this was before all this, and Dorit had shared some things with us,” Erika confirmed on the January 22 episode of Access Hollywood’s Housewives Nightcap. “So you know, I’m a friend that, I’m gonna let you tell me what’s going on. I’m not one of these pushers because I’ve gone through my own thing, and it’s tough to reveal those kinds of things in your marriage. It’s not always easy to say, ‘I’m having problems at home.’”
Because she’s defended Kyle, 56, at times, Erika has been accused of being afraid of her OG castmate. However, according to her, that is not the case.
“There’s one thing I’m afraid of, and it ain’t anybody on that cast. Okay? I’ll just tell you that,” she clarified. “Of course, I defend Kyle, like, defend Dorit. So that’s okay. She can have that criticism. So what? I defend Dorit. I defend Kyle. I do what I feel is right. If someone doesn’t like it, let them feel that way.”
As Kyle and Dorit continue to feud over a text Kyle sent to PK amid their separation, in which she vowed to keep his secrets, Erika admitted that she would’ve ceased communication.
“For me, just when a couple separates, I think it’s best hands off, and you gotta go with the girl because that was your friend first,” she explained. “Do I think there was anything inappropriate in that text? No, I do not. [And] I don’t like the other ladies sort of filling in the blanks of what they think that Kyle meant.”
Over the last several episodes, Dorit has gotten support from her RHOBH co-stars — most of them at least. And looking back on her own breakup, Erika noted that she was treated quite differently.
“We can sit here and say everyone’s been nicer to this one or that one, but that doesn’t really serve me. That’s in the past. I just have to stay looking forward,” she shared. “I can’t go back and change that. I can’t control anyone else or what they may think or feel, and I can’t go back and get something I didn’t get.”
Over four years after filing for divorce, Erika admitted that Thomas’ legal drama is “horrible” as she confirmed the two of them are not in touch.
“I talk a lot in therapy with my therapist about grief and losing what was a marriage and a home and a husband and the idea of all of these things, and it’s such a terrible ending, such a tragedy all the way around for everybody affected, and I hate to see it end this way,” she stated.
Moving on to Bozoma, Erika gushed over her newest castmate.
“Isn’t she great?” Erika asked. “The full package and she’s a good person. You can feel it. She’s the real deal. She’s like the best addition in a long time. She’s a great housewife.”
Erika also expressed heartbreak over Bozoma’s Malibu home, which burned down in the recent wildfires in Southern California.
“She lost her home in the Malibu fire. Very bad. I have [been in touch]. It’s hard. You work really hard, and that was a dream home for her and she spent a lot of time there with her daughter, and it’s gone,” Erika revealed.
On a happier note, Erika described her return to Broadway in Chicago as a “dream come true.”
“It was really great. In 2020, I did around 80 shows and then my run was cut short by about two weeks. So I’m back with some unfinished business. I’m thrilled to be back,” she proclaimed. “Every person that plays Roxie gets to bring their own version of Roxie to life and what the character means to her. I enjoy it because I think Chicago is a timeless classic about human behavior, and you really get to play in your shadow’s side and bring all of that fun, risky energy to life.”
As for whether or not her co-stars had been supportive of her return, Erika confirmed they were.
“I’ve received a few texts and words of encouragement. They’ve all seen the show so I don’t expect anybody to come. But yes,” she shared.
Live Viewing Thread – This is also the living viewing thread for tonight’s new episode of the RHOBH season 14. Feel free to chat and comment below as the episode airs on Bravo at 8/7c.
