Ashley Darby, an OG star on The Real Housewives of Potomac, is clapping back in an try and shut down allegations that she—together with a few of her solid mates—are colorists.
The truth TV personality responded to the claims through a brief video posted to her Instagram Story on Monday evening, just a few day after a recent episode of RHOP aired on Bravo.
“At the beginning, I’m not a colorist,” she declares within the clip. “I feel like people forget that I actually have had issues or disagreements with each woman on the show, for whatever reason, for whatever thing that we disagreed upon, sooner or later in time—regardless of the hue of her skin.”
Ashley says that she’s not a colorist, & has had issues with every woman on the show irrespective of what the colour of their skin was. #RHOP pic.twitter.com/DyvzbgtrRb
— jay (@JaysRealityBlog) November 15, 2022
Was It Standard Housewives Beef, Or A Loaded Message?
Ashley’s video is in response to backlash that got here up after Season 7, Episode 6 of RHOP aired.
On this episode, the Potomac ladies head all the way down to Miami, Florida, for a solid trip. While there, Darby takes the chance to play a bit of prank on Candiace Dillard Bassett by organizing for her and Wendy Osefo—two dark-skinned Black women—to share one small bed together.
#RHOP Preview: The women are on their solid trip and Ashley is pulling a shady prank on Candiace 🤭 pic.twitter.com/kuQw6naDmk
— Queens of Bravo (@queensofbravo) November 11, 2022
We must always add that Ashley’s antics also come on the heels of her and Candiace going head-to-head at a winery, and self-proclaimed “Green-Eyed Bandit” Robyn Dixon eggs her on, as she has a bone to select with Wendy over some unrelated drama.
Housewives Twitter Is Starkly Divided On The Subject
Many viewers interpreted this as light-skinned women teaming as much as belittle Black women with deeper skin tones. Nevertheless, others felt as if this was a reach.
#RHOP ain’t never beating the colorism accusations!!! Smmfh https://t.co/4z0ofdUsqg
— Ken. (@OmgKenActually) November 11, 2022
I gotta stay off #RHOP twitter bc y’all rly watering down the colorism thing. Ashley has gotten into beefs with almost everyone on the solid from Katie to Karen but bc her beef is now with dark skinned women, she’s colorist? Come on y’all get a grip.
— 🛸Astrothot🛸 (@s4dshawty) November 14, 2022
It’s not lost on me that Gizelle, Robyn, and Ashley are collaborating on trashing on Wendy and Candiace….. colorism is the eighth housewife here and it’s clear as day😒😒😒! #rhop pic.twitter.com/gYKVsZn6b5
— Mihrimah| FS | Xanaxyra Targaryen🪬🤲 (@Mihrimah_FS) November 14, 2022
I already know we about to get a thesis on this and I’m exhausted already. #RHOP https://t.co/iGXLuHfrgW
— Chris D. (@cdiggi1) November 11, 2022
If y’all stop being Colorist we wouldn’t must discuss it. It’s easy! #RHOP pic.twitter.com/uoIqno2xQ6
— YT: BeeSting💫 (@BeeStingah) November 13, 2022
As for Ashley’s try and shut down these colorism accusations, people didn’t seem like too moved.
Lol I actually wish I could explain this to Ashley and I’m pretty sure she’d get it. It’s not colorism if u beef with the dark skin girls, it’s a petty show. It’s colorism while you only malign darker women for a similar behavior. It’s colorism when the template is light v dark skin https://t.co/vLhUYvtnBD
— Cool Girl (@Tea_witdre) November 15, 2022
Yes Ashley has had issues with everyone on #RHOP because she’s a messy bitch but the way in which she has or hasn’t given passes to people based on their complexion says lots. Perpetuating colorism is primarily implicit and subconscious https://t.co/Fskp0HegoL
— Venus in Virgo’s Groove (@_Laur92) November 15, 2022
Has Ashley had a fallout with each woman on the show? Yes.
Is there an issue with colorism on the show? Also yes.
Two things will be true at the identical time. #RHOP https://t.co/jzLdJju8CM
— CAPRICORN’S GROOVE (@Btchnotme) November 15, 2022
colorism is just not simply who argues with whom. Saying Ashley has argued w light skinned women as well is just not the smoking gun defense y’all think it’s #RHOP https://t.co/tlN9Eqorjp
— Queen (@RhopQueen) November 15, 2022
Colorism Accusations On RHOP Aren’t Anything Recent
Notably, allegations of colorism being present on the RHOP solid is something that goes back quite a while. Candiace particularly has been vocal about this on Twitter.
I’m also excited to see what (brown paper bag) acrobatics are used to defend certain deplorable behaviors by certain sects of the viewership.
— CANDIACE (@TherealCANDIACE) September 6, 2022
The topic has also come up at various RHOP reunion specials, including on the Season 6 reunion last 12 months.
After the matter was brought up, Ashley straight-up declared that she didn’t consider that colorism existed on the show.
“I don’t feel as if colorism accusations exist on this group,” she shared, though Candiace and Wendy disagreed.
What are your thoughts on the RHOP colorism conversation?
