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Erika Jayne is insisting that she didn’t take on a “super-villain” role amid The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills season 12.
Following the premiere episode of the show, which featured the fallout from Dorit Kemsley‘s October 2021 robbery, Erika explained her mindset going into the season before acknowledging Thomas Girardi‘s victims, addressing her feuds with Crystal Kung-Minkoff and Garcelle Beauvais, and teasing Kathy Hilton‘s highly anticipated (but yet-to-be-confirmed) drama.
“[I] wanted to have a good time. I’ve been under what feels like a lot of pressure to me for a very long time. And I wanted to enjoy myself and have a few drinks and have a few laughs,” Erika told Entertainment Tonight.
While Erika was seen saying, “I don’t give a f–k about anybody else but me,” in a sneak peek at the upcoming episodes, she doesn’t feel she’s a villain.
“It’s not ‘full super-villain.’ I’m leaning into myself,” she clarified. “I’m leaning into full protecting Erika mode, full taking care of Erika. Who else is going to do this if I don’t? And if that ruffles a few feathers, if that looks unladylike, if that offends your, I don’t know, manners, then so be it.”
As RHOBH fans well know, Erika has gone through some “really turbulent” times. And, because she doesn’t always act in the way one might expect, she’s often accused of being cold.
“People misunderstand my concern and my compassion for those who have been wronged, and they will be taken care of, of course, I want to see that,” she confirmed of Thomas’ victims, many of which Erika is also accused of embezzling money from.
According to Erika, she feels her castmates don’t understand her situation and expect the many cases against her to “be wrapped up in two seconds.”
“I don’t know that [the women] ever will [believe me],” she admitted. “More sophisticated eyes, more sophisticated ears, are willing to step back and take a look at the total picture and are not willing to jump on sensationalized headlines.”
At another point in the season 12 sneak peek, Erika was seen confronting Crystal by telling her she was supporting her estranged husband‘s victims because it was “cool.” Looking back, Erika said the moment erupted out of “pure frustration.”
“When you’re continuously pushed back and called names, then you go, ‘You know what? I’m not being heard.’ And you get frustrated with that,” she explained. “That’s why you hear the frustration and the anger in my voice.”
Although Erika has confessed to mixing alcohol and antidepressants, she feels the situation has been “blown up to more than it is” and said she “certainly” does not have a problem.
Moving onto her messy feud with Garcelle, which was fueled by her throwing Garcelle’s new book in the trash, Erika said their relationship worsened after filming wrapped due to Garcelle swinging at her “twice,” once by unfollowing her and a second time as she used their feud to promote her memoir.
“I think that Garcelle wants something from me that she’s not going to get,” Erika suspected. “She has this perspective about the way I should be behaving … and what I should be doing in regards to my legal situation. And that’s just not — I can’t do what others want me to do.”
In addition to the continuation of Erika’s legal drama, viewers will be getting answers about what really went down with Kathy in Aspen on season 12.
“No one gets a free pass, and that includes Kathy Hilton,” Erika noted. “I just wanted an equal playing field, especially when the things that are happening with Kathy happened in a public place.”
Fans will also be meeting newbie Diana Jenkins, who Erika said will be well-liked.
“You talk about someone that gives no Fs? That’s on like a mega level!” she exclaimed.
As for her personal life, Erika said that as her divorce remains at the “very bottom of my list of important things that are legal issues,” she’s “not dating anyone.” Instead, she’s “having some good contact” and focusing on her new hair extension line and upcoming music.
“Pretty Mess Hair is definitely a bright spot, and definitely a great business for me and something that I am proud of,” Erika revealed. “[And] I’m back in the studio, I’m back creating, which is super important to me. That’s really where my heart and soul lies.”
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills season 12 airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on Bravo.