Erika Jayne suggested laxative use during a conversation with Crystal Kung-Minkoff on Wednesday’s episode of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. And, while such a comment may have been grazed over in certain situations, it caused controversy amongst the group due to Crystal’s eating disorder struggles.
Following the episode, which garnered Erika plenty of backlash on social media, Erika explained her offensive comment and questioning of Crystal as Crystal reacted to her co-star’s seemingly insensitive comment by sharing that the statement served as an important reminder to her.
“I asked Crystal, ‘Why haven’t you sought help for your eating disorder?'” Erika recalled while looking back on their conversation on the latest episode of the RHOBH: After Show. “Crystal has told us about it, and she’s been very open on Instagram, social media about her eating disorder, and when I was going through my mental health stuff, I reached out to a psychiatrist to help me.”
According to Erika, the comments she made to Crystal came out of confusion.
“I reached out and got treated. I couldn’t understand why Crystal, when I asked her this, she said ‘No,’” Erika admitted.
Because Crystal’s eating disorder seemed to be occupying so much of her life, Erika found it interesting that her RHOBH castmate was seemingly pushing back on the idea of getting help.
“If she’s struggling this hard with an eating disorder, ‘Honey, you have the means, you’re educated, you have the access, why not seek professional help?’” Erika wondered.
Erika then admitted that when it came to her offensive comments to Crystal, the statements were made “after I had two tequilas.”
Meanwhile, in her own segment of the RHOBH: After Show, Crystal said that she actually has sought help — and continues to see someone in regard to her eating disorder struggles.
“I currently talk to someone. It’s an ongoing thing,” she confirmed.
As for Erika’s laxative comment, Crystal said that having “awkward” conversations about eating disorders is nothing new.
“Even someone like Erika, who’s very choice in her manners, her words, and stuff like that, there are some topics that can feel awkward for people, and I think that this was one of them,” she stated.
Although Crystal said that she believed Erika was simply “trying to find a way to connect” and “be funny,” she noted that laxatives are an aspect of an eating disorder that many deal with.
“I think it was more triggering that as she’s saying these things that she doesn’t know that it could be hurtful, like had that been something that I had an issue with, it could’ve been really bad for me,” Crystal confessed. “I just think people, it’s not to say that people need to be more sensitive. They don’t know. But it’s a reminder for me to be sensitive to be other people that like, you just don’t know.”
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills season 12 airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on Bravo.