Erika Jayne hit out at critics calling for her to be fired as she appeared on part one of The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills season 11 reunion on Bravo on Wednesday.
The 50-year-old reality star was grilled by host Andy Cohen, 53, about her involvement in her estranged husband Tom Girardi’s embezzlement scandal and asked for her thoughts on people clamoring for her dismissal.
‘Why should I be fired?,’ Erika sharply replied. ‘Why are you presuming that I’ve done something? Why aren’t we letting the legal process play out?’
Season reunion: Erika Jayne fought back against critics calling for her firing on Wednesday during the first part of The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills season 11 reunion on Bravo
She added: ‘You’ve heard one side… and a lot of bulls*** on that side. Give me a chance to defend myself. Watch me. I’m ready for the challenge. Watch me do it.’
Erika has been embroiled in an embezzlement scandal involving her 82-year-old estranged husband and disgraced lawyer Tom. They were both named as defendants in a federal lawsuit filed in December alleging they stole funds meant for the families, including widows and orphans, of the victims of the 2018 Lion Air plane crash.
Tom had his California license to practice law revoked in March 2021 after the Los Angeles Times reported that he had been sued more than 100 times. He also had been the subject of numerous bar complaints alleging financial malfeasance involving millions of dollars owed to clients, including female cancer victims and a burn victim.
Andy asked Erika if her lawyers ever advised her to quit the show and she said they did.
Scandal: Erika has been embroiled in an embezzlement scandal involving her 82-year-old estranged husband Tom Girardi (pictured on the show) and disgraced lawyer Tom.
‘And then I said, ”No, because I have nothing to hide.” And they said, ”Well, you know that this s*** can get flipped around on you.” Everything can be parsed, twisted, turned and yes, possibly turned against you. Whether it is true or not, it almost doesn’t even matter at this point,’ Erika said.
Andy asked Erika if she ever thought about quitting the show and she admitted that she considered it.
‘But I’m not a quitter and I wanted to honor my commitment. I wasn’t going to run away from what’s coming at me,’ Erika said.
Legal process: ‘Why should I be fired?,’ Erika sharply said. ‘Why are you presuming that I’ve done something? Why aren’t we letting the legal process play out?’
No quitting: Andy asked Erika if she ever thought about quitting the show and she admitted that she considered it
Andy pointed out that without her estranged husband’s income the show was now her main job and asked her how much that factored into her decision. She said that didn’t factor into her decision then but that it was more a consideration now.
The one-hour episode was the first of four reunion shows for a turbulent season 11 that was dominated by Erika’s divorce and subsequent legal troubles.
Andy at the start of the reunion asked Erika if she was ready to finally address her situation and Erika said she was happy to share what she could.
Together again: The one-hour episode was the first of four reunion shows for a turbulent season 11 that was dominated by Erika’s divorce and subsequent legal troubles
‘This is the toughest part of my life,’ Erika said.
‘I could imagine,’ Andy replied.
Two weeks before the reunion, Lisa Rinna, 57, visited Erika at her house and asked her if she was going to show up at the reunion. She told her people had said that she wasn’t.
Tough time: ‘This is the toughest part of my life,’ Erika said
‘I’m going,’ Erika told her. ‘I’m not a f***ing quitter.’
Erika told her that she had a dream that they were at the reunion and that there were going to be some shots fired and shots taken.
‘There are going to be some winners and some losers,’ said Erika.
So true: ‘There are going to be some winners and some losers,’ said Erika
‘Well, that’s life baby,’ Lisa responded.
On the day of the reunion, the housewives arrived and went to their respective trailers to get ready.
When Kyle Richards, 52, was in hair and make up, Andy stopped by and said that in 11 years of doing these shows that this one felt as if the stakes were higher.
Fan favorite: When Kyle Richards, 52, was in hair and make up, Andy stopped by and said that in 11 years of doing these shows that this one felt as if the stakes were higher
‘For some people more than others obviously,’ Kyle said.
Andy asked her how it was going to go with her and Erika and she asked him if he had seen the stories online that Erika wasn’t talking to her. Andy asked Kyle if that was true and she said it was.
He then visited with Sutton Stracke, 49, and asked her if she was nervous about seeing Erika. She said yes because Erika said she hated her.
Once on the reunion stage, Andy said hello to all the women.
Big stage: Once on the reunion stage, Andy said hello to all the women
‘Hey Erika what’s new,’ Andy asked Erika
‘A lot, a lot is new,’ said Erika, wearing a plunging pink long sleeve silk dress accessorized with large diamond studs and a cross necklace.
He asked her how she felt and if she was looking forward to or dreading this show. She said she was actually looking forward to it.
Lot new: ‘A lot, a lot is new,’ said Erika, wearing a plunging pink long sleeve silk dress accessorized with large diamond studs and a cross necklace
‘I’m looking forward to closing this chapter and moving on,’ Erika said.
Andy noted that she was in a highly unusual situation with so much transpiring.
‘I’m happy to say everything that I can say. Please understand there are some things I cannot answer. But I will do my best to give every part of the story that I can,’ Erika said.
Open book: ‘I’m happy to say everything that I can say. Please understand there are some things I cannot answer. But I will do my best to give every part of the story that I can,’ Erika said
Erika told him that she was finding out things in real time herself.
‘I don’t have all the answers and still do not have all the answers to this day,’ Erika said.
Andy asked her what she thought were the biggest misconceptions about her. She said there was a lot of talk of her being cold and not having empathy.
The host: Andy asked her what she thought were the biggest misconceptions about her
‘The truth is that I do,’ she said. ‘But I’m in an almost impossible situation. Anyone that has been wronged, I want them to be made whole.’
Andy asked Erika if she was talking about the victims and she said she was talking about the ‘alleged victims of all of Tom’s alleged misdoings.’
He then followed up by asking her what it was like watching the show back and she told him it was really hard. He then asked her feelings about the other women as she watched their reactions play out.
Alleged wording: Andy asked Erika if she was talking about the victims and she said she was talking about the ‘alleged victims of all of Tom’s alleged misdoings’
‘Disappointment, anger, sadness,’ said Erika. ‘And then some hope and some love and support.’
Andy then brought up how Sutton spoke to an attorney about Erika’s case during filming.
Sutton, wearing a blue strapless dress with long dangling pearls and gold earrings, clarified to Andy that she didn’t speak to her attorney but to her friend who was an attorney.
Legal advice: Sutton, wearing a blue strapless dress with long dangling pearls and gold earrings, clarified to Andy that she didn’t speak to her attorney but to her friend who was an attorney
Andy asked if any of the other women spoke to an attorney and Crystal Kung Minkoff, 35, said she did. She said she consulted her attorney on everything.
Sutton wasn’t wearing her boot anymore and was finally able to wear high heels.
Andy said hi to Dorit Kemsley, 44, who was wearing a white embellished sleeveless pearl dress. He asked her if it was from her bridal collection Nektaria and she said it was from the ready to wear side of the collection.
Own collection: Andy said hi to Dorit Kemsley, 44, who was wearing a white embellished sleeveless pearl dress
He then asked Lisa, who was wearing a mock neck purple silk long sleeve short dress with diamond hoops, if she had named her slicked back ponytail. She said not yet, but then Garcelle Beauvais, 54, jumped in and called it Priscilla. Lisa liked the name and said ‘we agree on something.’
The set was a simulation of Kathy Hilton’s backyard and her sister Kyle said she didn’t know if Kathy would recognize it at first.
Andy asked Sutton how her mother reacted to the show. She said her mother told her not to be so reactive to comments by the other women. Sutton told them that she also finally moved into her own house just last week.
Her backyard: The set was a simulation of Kathy Hilton’s backyard and her sister Kyle said she didn’t know if Kathy would recognize it at first
Andy mentioned to Kyle that Sutton stayed at her house for almost a year and asked if she was a good tenant. Kyle said she was but that she almost burnt down her house. Kyle then showed a picture of her blackened fireplace. Sutton told her that it was not her fault.
Erika was asked if she was looking into dating. She said she was. He asked her what kind of guy she was looking for and she said ‘something with a big penis. I would like some hot sex.’
She said her ‘DM’s’ were open and Kyle said she would probably get a lot of takers after that comment.
Burnt fireplace: Kyle said Sutton was a good tenant, but that she almost burnt down her house
Andy asked Sutton what was going on with her boyfriend Michael. She told him that they were on a nice Valentine’s Day weekend when he broke up with her. He said he told her that he ‘just can’t.’ She said she was devastated but that she was now dating.
Garcelle also talked about how she felt that she was the outsider in the group. He played a clip of her opening up after she told them she felt different from the others. Dorit said she liked how she opened up to them but Garcelle said she still wanted an apology from Dorit for calling her a bully.
Dorit said the jabs that Garcelle was lobbying at her were ‘incessant.’ Andy pointed out that Dorit got hazed for calling her a bully. Dorit said she wished she could take it back and that it wasn’t the right word.
Left out: Garcelle Beauvais also talked about how she felt that she was the outsider in the group
Dorit pointed out that Garcelle said a lot more in her confessionals, but not a lot to people’s faces. Lisa agreed with her. Andy said that all of the women do the same. Lisa said that Garcelle did it the most. Lisa tried to interject but Garcelle told her they would get to it. Lisa then told her she could talk and say whatever she wanted.
Andy asked Crystal her thoughts about Garcelle. Crystal said she had a similar issue with Garcelle talking about her in a confessional.
Dorit yelled at Garcelle to let her finish her point.
Fired up: Dorit yelled at Garcelle to let her finish her point
Andy wanted to know where they stood, Dorit and Garcelle said they both wanted to move on.
‘I don’t dislike her at all,’ Garcelle. ‘I don’t have anything against Dorit, I really don’t.’
Then Andy asked Lisa about her 20-year-friendship with Garcelle and whether they were in a good place. Lisa said she did everything that she could. Garcelle said she didn’t trust Lisa.
Friendship topic: Then Andy asked Lisa about her 20-year-friendship with Garcelle and whether they were in a good place
Erika wanted to know if Garcelle wanted to punish Lisa for how Denise Richards was treated on the show and Garcelle said she did not.
Andy asked Garcelle what she expected of Lisa when she came on the show. Garcelle said she just expected something. Garcelle said ‘someone told me that you said that I should have never brought race into the show and that this show is not that kind of show. And that really bothered me.’
Lisa said she should have come to her and asked her because she would never say something like that.
Getting angry: Lisa said she should have come to her and asked her because she would never say something like that
‘I don’t know that,’ Garcelle said.
‘Garcelle, you have it out for me and I want to know why,’ Lisa said. ‘Why, why, why?’
‘When I heard that that really pissed me off,’ Garcelle said.
‘Then why didn’t you f***ing come to me and say Rinna what are doing,’ screamed Lisa, who also denied saying it.
Also mad: ‘When I heard that that really pissed me off,’ Garcelle said
Lisa told Garcelle she was ‘s****y ‘the whole season but she was not saying why.
‘Because I don’t trust you,’ Garcelle said.
‘Why didn’t you just say to me Lisa I don’t want to be your friend, I don’t trust you,’ asked Lisa.
No trust: ‘Because I don’t trust you,’ Garcelle said
Garcelle said she told her that. Lisa said that they wanted to move on.
Lisa said the insinuations that she said were not true. She asked Garcelle for an apology for saying that. She said she was happy that Garcelle was on the show.
Andy said he didn’t know where the two of them go from here and Lisa said she wanted them to move on. Lisa told her to just be the Garcelle she knew before and Garcelle also wanted Lisa to be the warm person she knew before the show. Lisa said her husband Harry Hamlin watched the show and asked why happened to Garcelle and that she looked unhappy.
Like before: Lisa told her to just be the Garcelle she knew before and Garcelle also wanted Lisa to be the warm person she knew before the show
Dorit said Garcelle seemed like she checked out.
‘I show up,’ said Garcelle.
Lisa said she would love to move on. She got up and moved to sit next to Garcelle and begged her to give her a chance and Garcelle said ‘you got it.’
Another chance: Lisa got up and moved to sit next to Garcelle and begged her to give her a chance and Garcelle said ‘you got it’
When Lisa walked over, Dorit whispered to Crystal that Lisa just wanted to show off her outfit.
Kathy Hilton then joined the reunion and recognized that she was sitting in a recreation of her yard. Andy asked her why she decided to come on the show 11 years in. Kyle said she pushed her.
One viewer wrote in and asked if Kyle really got her nose broken while shooting Halloween or whether it was just another excuse to get her nose done again. She said she did break it shooting Halloween but then decided to make it a little cuter.
Close sisters: Kathy Hilton then joined the reunion and recognized that she was sitting in a recreation of her yard.
Andy then turned back to Erika. He said he remembered when her book came out and he asked her if Tom had read it and she said that he hadn’t.
‘I thought that was so f***ing weird,’ Andy said.
Andy said it was also really weird when Tom didn’t come to see her Broadway show. Andy asked her if Tom was cheating on her and why she didn’t leave him sooner.
Really weird: Andy said it was also really weird when Tom didn’t come to see her Broadway show
‘I’ve said to Tom, ”If you are in love with someone else, divorce me and go be with her”,’ Erika said.
‘He said?,’ Andy asked.
‘Nothing. Zero,’ Erika said.
The show ended with Andy asking Erika if she was faithful to Tom.
The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills Reunion will continue next week with the second of four episodes.
Cliffhanger ending: The show ended with Andy asking Erika if she was faithful to Tom