It’s no secret that Bravo’s “Real Housewives” universe can get real catty. Although the reality TV phenomenon chronicles the lives of some of the rich and wealthy ladies of seven major cities, rest assured that these housewives have no issue throwing shade — or throwing hands. We’ve seen a number of close friendships fall apart throughout the franchise, however no one fallout was more shocking than “Real Housewives of Potomac” stars Candiace Dilliard and Monique Samuels.
Their friendship began during season three of the show when Candiace joined the cast as a friend to Ashley Darby, whom she knew from the pageant world. Candiace met Samuels through Ashley, and the two immediately bonded over their musical skills and their connection to Howard University. Samuels revealed in a confessional that she thought she and Candiace would get along well. “I really like this Candiace girl,” Samuels said at the time (via The Dipp). The “RHOP” alum joked about Candiace’s wild gestures while talking, adding, “She might hit ya and you might have to hit her back!” Oh, how we love good foreshadowing.
Candiace also echoed the same sentiments as Samuels in a Bravo TV blog post, writing, “Monique is bae!!! I love her energy and her spirit. She’s fun and likes to laugh (loud). She’s a little shady boot, which always makes for a fun time!” Although Candiace and Samuels hit it off, their friendship was short-lived after a threat turned into an explosive reality TV fight that became the center of the “RHOP” season five storyline. Read on as we look back on what led up to Monique Samuels and Candiace Dillard’s feud.
Candiace Dillard believes Monique Samuels stirred up drama between her and Charrisse Jackson Jordan
The beginning of season three of “Real Housewives of Potomac” promised a bright future for Monique Samuels and Candiace Dillard’s friendship. However, a slight issue arose between Candiace, Samuels, and “RHOP” alum Charrisse Jackson Jordan. Jordan had a shady question about Candiace’s engagement ring, asking whether her mother paid for it or not — a classic-yet-overused dig at Candiace’s privileged lifestyle. Candiace referred to Jordan’s question as a “shady b***h” comment, which she later explained in her Bravo blog post: “My thoughts aligned completely with what came out of my mouth. It was a shady b***h moment — I said what I said! I try not to be quick to anger (operative word: try), so it wasn’t necessary to pop off on Charrisse in that moment. She knew she was reaching when she fixed her mouth to ask about my ring.”
During a cast trip to Nemacolin, Candiace says she felt Samuels was playing both sides between the former and Jordan. The singer-slash-reality star also told Bravo she believed that Jordan was jealous of her budding friendship with Samuels. Despite the minor spat over the friendship triangle, Candiace and Samuels managed to put it behind them by the end of the season.
Monique Samuels' comment about Katie Rost made Candiace Dillard uncomfortable
Season four of “Real Housewives of Potomac” began with Monique Samuels and Candiace Dillard as friends again. At the time, Candiace shifted her attention to verbally sparring with Ashley Darby, while Samuels focused on her third pregnancy. Of course, it wouldn’t be “Real Housewives” without a little bit of drama. Candiace and Samuels’ relationship began to wane when the latter made a comment about Katie Rost referencing “Amistad,” a film about a slave ship transporting Africans from Spanish Cuba to the United States in 1839. Candiace told Gizelle Bryant about the comment, describing it as if Samuels said she looked like a slave.
Samuels later clarified that she was describing the “RHOP” alum as a free spirit by using a quote from the film, “give us free.” In her Bravo blog, Samuels wrote: “Candiace totally twisted what I said when I made the comments about Katie.” She added, “I was very disappointed to see my ‘friend’ discussing me with someone she knows I don’t get along with.” Clearly, the misconstrued comment had the friends side-eyeing each other.
Monique Samuels' didn't approve of Candiace Dillard's knife-throwing argument with Ashley Darby
Candiace Dillard and Monique Samuels’ relationship continued to go downhill from the “Amistad” comment. The strain in their friendship deepened after Candiace invited the ladies to her home, in what would become the knife-throwing dinner party from hell. During the 2019 episode of “RHOP,” Ashley confronted Candiace for her comments about the former and her husband Michael fake crying about their miscarriage at Samuels’ party. The verbal argument escalated greatly after Ashley spoke about Candiace’s mother paying for her home, leading the latter to chuck a butterknife in Ashley’s direction as she was held back by her husband.
Samuels did not say much of anything while she was in the moment, but she made it clear on the “RHOP After Show” that she did not approve of Candiace’s behavior. At that point, Samuels and Darby decided to put their previous differences aside and move past it, making them much closer than before.
Samuels’ rekindled friendship with Ashley further drove a wedge between Candiace and the former. The two got into a heated argument at Katie Rost’s farm after Candiace confronted Samuels for sticking up for Ashley instead of her (via Bravo). Of course, that led up to the memorable exchange between the two, in which Samuels threatened to “drag” Candiace while pregnant. Candiace responded, “Oh, you’re gonna drag me now? Drag me, Monique! Drag me!” Jeez, these housewives are good at foreshadowing.
The drag that was seen all around the world
All the petty arguments and gossip set the stage for the infamous drag seen all around the world. By the end of season four, Monique Samuels and Candiace Dillard’s friendship was in an awkward place; despite hugging it out at the reunion, their cordiality was short-lived. Season five of “Real Housewives of Potomac” contains the franchise’s most epic fight, after a verbal altercation turned physical between the former friends after Candiace asked Samuels if she was going to drag her. A few expressions, hands in the face, and hair flips later, Samuels grabbed Candiace and the two began fighting.
The fight was so brutal that it became a legal matter outside of the show. As reported by People, Samuels was charged with second-degree assault from the District Court of Montgomery County in Maryland. Candiace reportedly filed the complaint against the former “RHOP” star directly with the court’s commissioner in November 2019. At the time, Samuels’ lawyer told the publication Dillard’s claims are “completely one-sided, inaccurate and unwarranted,” adding, “Ms. Dillard has a public reputation for aggressive, belligerent and threatening behavior that has played out repeatedly on the ‘Housewives of Potomac’ for millions of viewers to see for themselves.” By December 2019, charges from both parties were dismissed by Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office.
This is where Monique Samuels and Candiace Dillard stand today
A lot has changed since the infamous “Real Housewives of Potomac” fight; after an explosive reunion special, Monique Samuels announced she would not be returning back to the show. “I’m done. And obviously, just being gone for so long, these few months of not filming. I mean the last time I filmed outside of the reunion was in 2019 when you really think about the dates. It aired in 2020. I’m so far removed from that whole process,” Samuels told Nicki Swift in May 2021. “You really don’t realize how stressful it is until you’ve removed yourself from it. Then you start to see, and you’re like, ‘Whoa, I was dealing with all of that? For what?’ I don’t need it. I don’t want it. I’m done.”
As for Samuels’ rekindling her friendship with Candiace Dillard, the chances are slim to none. On Candiace’s end, she told the “Behind the Velvet Rope” podcast that she wouldn’t film with Monique if she returned as a housewife. “I will not film with her, I will not work with her—I, for my mental health, cannot be around someone who is doing a music video to promote the song bragging about fighting me,” she said. “And there’s nothing that I need or want to say to her. This is still a job at the end of the day. I’m not working with her and that’s not an ultimatum. That’s nothing but my truth. I am not comfortable in that space.” Sadly, all things must come to an end — even the potential of what could’ve been a great friendship.
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