Monique Samuels may have left Real Housewives of Potomac after four seasons onboard, but she is certainly in the middle of the drama. Monique and former costar Ashley Darby remain in contact, and in regards to Ashley’s recent separation from Michael Darby, the mother of three has all the tea on her friend’s situation.
Monique told Page Six that Ashley is, “doing good.” The RHOP alum answered questions about the lone cast mate that took her side after getting into a physical altercation with Candiace Dillard Bassett. Monique explained, “she’s doing good. The reason why Ashley and I get along so well is because we both focus on what we want the outcome to be.”
Monique praised Ashley as highly confident in her decision to leave Michael after “eight magical years’ of marriage, and Monique finds that attitude refreshing. “We don’t sit and sulk,” Monique continued the comparison, “So with her, she’s going to be like, ‘OK, this is the decision I made. I’m going to keep it moving. And that’s what she’s doing.”
Monique is keeping it moving as well. Despite her unceremonious departure from RHOP, Monique and husband Chris Samuels were still interested in being active onscreen. They are now to star in a new reality show, Love & Marriage: DC.
But despite her hectic professional schedule, Monique is committed to supporting Ashley as she navigates life as a single mother to Dean, 2, and Dylan, 14 months. There was, “some tension” in the Darby household prior to Ashley calling it quits to the Australian businessman last month.
“Ashley is the most positive person I know. And I know one thing about her and Michael, they work well together,” Monique explained, “So if they made this decision to separate, it’s because going forward, they know they’re going to be OK — whether that’s OK together or whether that’s OK co-parenting.”
Monique then described her commitment to “be there” for Ashley. She said, “I just encourage her and just reiterate, ‘I know that you’re making the best decision that you know that you should make for yourself and your children. And I’m here for you. Chris and I are here for you. And she knows that.’
Certainly, a lot was laid bare during Ashley and Michael’s time on screen. And some incidents of alleged infidelity made the front page in the tabloids. One particularly serious incident involved sexual assault charges against Michael by a RHOP cameraman in September 2018. The charges were dropped, but not before Michael was officially charged with second-degree sexual assault and improper sexual conduct.
Ashley announced her decision to separate with the following statement,”People will be quick to assume that the causes were too much intrusion by reality TV into the most personal parts of our lives, age gap issues, cultural problems, or child-rearing differences. Pieces of all these may have affected our pure love for each other, but no one reason is the root cause of our mutual decision to go our separate ways.”
Despite the complexity of Ashley and Michael’s relationship, Monique admitted that was not “shocked” by their split. She explained, “I can’t really say that I’m shocked. I think even a lot of people who watched the show, it could go one way or the other, honestly. Ashley is a person who is very dedicated to what she wants for herself and her family. I know she’s always going to make the best move.”
RELATED: Real Housewives Of Potomac Star Ashley Darby Says She’s 100% Team Monique Samuels; Says Candiace Dillard “Doesn’t Know When To Stop” When She Feuds
Monique likens her departure from Real Housewives of Potomac as her “best move” after conflict with how she was portrayed on the show. With Love & Marriage: DC, a Carlos-King produced spin-off of Love & Marriage: Huntsville, Monique has more control of her image.
“With this show, there’s no box,” Monique explained, “You’ll see remnants from that other show that you’ll see on this show. It’s just me being me, the same me. But you’ll also see more of a full person. You’ll get to know me in a different way: as a mother, as a wife, as a businesswoman, as a person who is 100 percent on the grind.”
RELATED: Ashley Darby Is “Still Close” With Monique Samuels Following Monique’s Exit From Real Housewives Of Potomac
Monique added, “I have so many jobs. I wear so many hats and I do it in a way that works for me and my family and my dynamic. So you get to see more of us, me and my husband especially, in action.”
The whole Samuels crew, including Christopher, 9, Milani, 6, and Chase, 3 will star on the show. Erana and Jamie Tyler, and Ashley Silva and DJ Quicksilva will also be featured.
Catch Love & Marriage: DC Saturdays at 9 p.m. ET on OWN.
TELL US- WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO ASHLEY AND MICHEAL’S SPLIT? WHAT DO YOU THINK OF MONIQUE’S COMMENTS ABOUT ASHLEY?
[Photo Credit: Bravo]
