Eboni K. Williams is not here to play with ignorance, whether intentional or not, regarding race with her co-stars on The Real Housewives of New York. She already checked Ramona Singer during a Hampton’s getaway after Singer called her domestic staff “the help.”
During the June 1 episode, Luann de Lesseps asked Williams to leave her house after the two found themselves in a heightened, racially sensitive exchange.
The drama began due to Singer and Leah McSweeney’s constant clash over their differing opinions on talking about sex in public. de Lesseps agreed with Singer, stating that the use of vulgar words is not in alignment with certain conservative values or societal standards. Williams disagreed with Singer and de Lesseps.
“I don’t subscribe to the fact that to use those words means you’re unclassy or not a lady,” Williams said. “It has nothing to do with class, it has to do with education,” de Lesseps responded.
Williams shot back, reminding de Lesseps that she has “more education than anybody at this table” and that she was the “most educated person in this group” and had no issues discussing sex publicly, de Lesseps became offended.
“So you think your degree makes you more educated?” de Lesseps asked. “That’s probably the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard somebody say.”
Williams noted her educational background compared the group is a “criminal fact.” de Lesseps said she saw “red.” Williams took another dig, telling de Lesseps, “Your white fragility is killing me right now.”
Williams announced the same night the show aired that she’d be taking a break from social media amid conversations regarding the episode.
“I’m on Live and I’m just coming to you all from a really vulnerable place — so just bear with me,” Williams said, as reported by Madame Noire. “I want to let you know that after tonight’s episode I’m not going to be saying goodbye but I’m going to be saying see you later by way of social media for about two weeks. I really want to stress that they’re really important episodes y’all,” she emphasized. “And I want you to lean into them, and I want you to watch them, and I want some of y’all to watch them multiple times.”
The Real Housewives of New York airs every Tuesday on Bravo.
