Credit: Instagram, Charles Sykes/Bravo
Monique Samuels is revealing what Karen Huger texted her after being released from jail in September of last year.
As Ashley Darby, 37, suspected that Karen, 62, may not have learned as much as the cast thought during her time behind bars and Gizelle Bryant, 55, insisted she had learned and was evolving, the 42-year-old Real Housewives of Potomac star shed light on her first interaction with Karen as Wendy Osefo, 41, and Stacey Rusch confirmed whether they’d been in touch.
“[Karen] sent me a text asking for my microblading person, and I was offended,” Monique admitted on the February 1 episode of the RHOP: After Show. “She said, ‘Hi Monique. It’s Karen. Congratulations on season 10. I’m thinking about getting my eyebrows micro-ed again. Can you hook your sister up? Lol. Give the kids my best.’”
“I didn’t respond. I was so offended because it’s like, it didn’t feel like there was a friendship,” she continued.
Then, after Ashley revealed she’d only spoken to Karen via text, she noted that it sounded like Karen was “using” Monique in that moment, and added, “Maybe she didn’t learn as much as we thought in jail.”
“Your first message to me is you asking me for something … I didn’t like it at all,” Monique replied. “I was, and I feel like I am [genuine friends with Karen], but I just, I got Karen on pause right now because we need to talk.”
That said, both Monique and Ashley said they hoped that Karen was doing better.
“I just hope that in the time, thankfully relatively short time that she was there, that she was able to reflect and really listen to herself and figure out what she really needs as a human,” Ashley noted.
“I hope that she’s found herself and taking better care of herself and her health,” Monique agreed.
Meanwhile, Gizelle said Karen sounded “like she learned some things.”
“She sounds like she knows she’s got some work to do within herself, which I love because we’re all a book. We’re all evolving. I think she missed the group, and I think that she wants to get back to seeing everybody,” she revealed. “I love Karen. I miss my girl. So hopefully she’ll be back soon.”
As for Wendy and Stacey, neither had spoken to Karen.
“I haven’t spoken to Karen since her release. The last time I reached out to her was when she was going through everything, and I told her that she’s definitely in my prayers. But I wish her the best,” she shared.
“I haven’t spoken to Karen since her release [either]. I’m assuming that she’s spending time with her family,” Stacey replied.
Jassi Rideaux told a different story, as did Keiarna Stewart.
“My relationship is great with Karen,” Jassi confirmed. “When I first joined this group, I had no idea what she was going through on the back end of things. And honestly, Karen was one of the ones that was truly there for me and helping me navigate such new feelings and new experiences.”
In addition to hearing from Karen amid her own dark times, Jassi said that Karen was “so kind” and helped her navigate the RHOP cast.
“So, of course, when she got out, I sent her some Venus le Fleur, flowers she can keep forever, because I truly feel like the gems and the nuggets that she gave me was something that I’ll keep forever and I did hear from her after that,” Jassi explained.
Elsewhere, Keiarna said she “[loved] Karen” and had chatted with her but not seen her after her release from jail.
“Karen is dynamic. Listen, she’s funny as hell. She got the jokes for your a**. She is really somebody. If you have a calling, whatever it is, you wanna kick the sh*t, you wanna have a Kiki, you wanna talk about something serious, you wanna pray, whatever you wanna do, Karen is that person,” she gushed. “She has her shortcomings, but you’re gonna get the same Karen every single time … [And] I hope that she’s able to center herself and find out what’s going to make Karen happy next.”
Also on the After Show, Angel Massie, who had not yet met Karen, said she hoped to see her return and wrangle the ladies in their friend group since Gizelle was “not doing the job.”
“Gizelle wants to be the women. She doesn’t want to be in charge of the women,” Angel noted.
The Real Housewives of Potomac season 10 reunion premieres on Sunday, February 15, at 8/7c on Bravo.