‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ recap, season 4, episode 18: are we done with the black baby comment… yet?
Ayden and Phaedra Parks.
Loading ...As “Real Housewives of Atlanta” staggers toward the end of a seemingly endless season four, Cynthia Bailey and Kim Zolciak finally bring closure to an argument that has festered since the South Africa trip: Cynthia’s uncouth comments about Kim not holding an “African” (read: black) baby and not imagining her being at an orphanage.
Was it a racist comment? Maybe. Probably. Could have been.
As Kim noted, Cynthia is passive aggressive when she needs to be. She knew she said something derogatory about Kim. Both Sheree Whitfield and Kandi Burruss in previous arguments confirmed she had said it.
Now at Phaedra Parks’ blessing for her one-year-old Ayden, Kim, Kroy Biermann and their son AJ are placed at a table with Cynthia and her husband Peter Thomas. It’s all very awkward with small talk barely there. Kim is understandably standoffish. Kroy, hardly Mr. Conversationalist, says virtually nothing. Peter gets up and leaves for awhile, annoying Cynthia.
Finally, after the ceremony, Kim confronts Cynthia in the parking lot. Cynthia tries to beg off, saying they should do it another time. But Kim wants this done and over with. She asks Cynthia directly what she had actually said. Cynthia hems and haws, denying she ever said the “black baby” line. (She technically didn’t. She said “African baby.” Others interpreted that as “same difference,” in context.). Off camera, Cynthia said she really couldn’t recall exactly what she said. After Kim keeps pecking at her, Cynthia finally relents and said she did say she didn’t see Kim at an orphanage in Africa.
“I was out of line,” she said. “It wasn’t even a funny joke. I never should have said it. I apologize.”
“I knew it was you,” Kim said, self satisfied, later to the cameras.
Cynthia stumbles through a congratulations.
“Apology accepted,” Kim said later. “But stop flapping your jaws.”
As they walk away, Kim asks for cigarettes while Cynthia mutters, “That was hopeless.”
In other storylines:
- Sheree takes her daughter’s 25-year-old boyfriend Damon shopping for an engagement ring. He settles on a lovely $6,500 ring. But later he expresses doubts about getting married to Sheree. He is still working part time and probably doesn’t feel ready yet, though they’ve been together since college. He later visits Sheree again and tells her he isn’t ready. Sheree is disappointed but relieved that he didn’t do something so important half heartedly.
- Kim welcomed Kroy home from football training camp and informed everyone that she had fired her assistant Sweetie (off camera, unfortunately). She said Sweetie had burned breast milk and was found hanging by the pool as usual. Brielle, Kim’s daughter, noted how hostile Sweetie had gotten of late. Clearly, Sweetie wanted out but didn’t have the guts to just leave on her own.
- NeNe Leakes’ only time on screen this week is talking to her 12-year-old son Brentt to make sure he’s okay about she and Gregg not being together. He says he’s okay.
- Phaedra gets pictures taken of her son like he’s a prince before the blessing ceremony mentioned earlier. It’s all absurdly over the top but Phaedra can’t help herself. At the blessing ceremony, former recurring character Dwight Eubanks makes a second appearance in two weeks.
- Kandi didn’t really have a story this week. We see one brief moment where her daughter Riley is helping out at Kandi’s clothing shop Tags Boutique in Smyrna.
NOTABLE QUOTES
“He comes down like it’s ‘Coming to America,‘ ” – Peter Thomas, bemused about Phaedra’s Ayden getting his own princely procession at a blessing ceremony.
“I need to be loose.” – Damon, justifying the need for alcohol before proposing to Tierra, Sheree’s daughter. He ultimately decides to postpone the engagement.
“All she can say is, ‘KJ is so cute.’ The b***. I know!” - Kim, who seemingly never fails to throw in a bleep-worthy curse word sometime during an episode, referencing Cynthia.
“NeNe would choke your a**. And Cynthia would just smile.” – Kim, noting how Cynthia is NeNe’s lackey.
TRAILER
Phaedra announces her plans for a funeral home. NeNe ventures to Los Angeles to pursue acting again. Kroy asks Kim’s dad permission to marry Kim.
RATINGS
The 17th episode last week on March 18 drew 2.5 million, below the season average of about 2.8 million. It was up against AMC’s “The Walking Dead,” which drew a whopping 9 million viewers for its season finale.
EVER EXPANDING NUMBER OF EPISODES
Season one, the show only had seven episodes and two reunion shows. Season two included 13 episodes and two reunion shows, plus a “lost footage” leftovers episode. Season three was expanded to 16 episodes with two reunion shows. This season appears to be 20 episodes with two reunion shows April 15 and 22, which were taped March 16. Kim’s spinoff show starts Thursday, April 26.
WHO STAYS, WHO GOES?
We are expecting a shake up in the line up for season five. NeNe and Kim are virtually guaranteed out. Sheree? She has nothing else to do so I’m sure she’d like to stay. That’s up to the producers. Kandi, Cynthia and Phaedra are likely to stick around, too. So there are at least two openings RHOA is trying to fill. They interviewed a ton of candidates and many names have been bandied around. We’ll know soon enough because even if Bravo does not announce new cast members for a few months, people will be able to make educated guesses. Of course, many thought Marlo Hampton was a lock to become a cast member season four given that she spent so much time taping with RHOA but that didn’t work out.
Join my Facebook fan page and Twitter.
By Rodney Ho, Radio & TV Talk
accessAtlanta Partner Sites
Sections
Advertise on accessAtlanta.com »
Reach the audience you want by advertising on accessAtlanta.com
Join the Access Atlanta Network »
Advertisers and Publishers, expand your reach by joining the Access Atlanta Network.
Tell us what you think about the site
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement | About our ads
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
59 comments Add your comment
Ashleigh
March 25th, 2012
10:55 pm
Thanks for the run down! No need to watch the repeat!
RHOA II
March 25th, 2012
11:11 pm
The show has lost steam
Rodney Ho
March 25th, 2012
11:13 pm
@Ashleigh. I’m fairly sure you will appreciate gaining that hour to do something more productive – like watching “Mad Men.”
innerjuju
March 25th, 2012
11:18 pm
Of the cast of ‘characters’ (and I say that with a smirk), Kim is the least watchable. She’s nothing short of a prostitute. Bravo needs to rethink the “spinoff”. Of course, then they might go on to Sheree and that might be worse. This show makes me embarrassed to say I’m an Atlantan.
Nadine
March 25th, 2012
11:27 pm
I think they should quit the Atlanta show. It is boring, nothing is happening. They shouldn’t be interviewing anyone, just stop airing it. Nene too showy, Kim too irritating, pheadra too tacky, sheree empty… The other ones not memorable. I just think that all the characters are trying too hard and nothing seem genuine about them.
TE
March 26th, 2012
12:37 am
Best wishes to NeNe, by Kim, Cynthia has no story, Sheree is a disaster. The only two I see staying are Kandi and Phaedra. They would both get along with any women they add to the cast. And yes, they will be actually housewife’s from Atlanta and Buckhead, NOT Alpharetta.
Lisa
March 26th, 2012
2:02 am
Phadera & Family=Keepers always some kind of excitement, fun when they are around. Kandi & Family=Keepers pure, sincere, voice of reason. Cynthia & Family=Keepers love that they were the couple that shared that they had problems, realized it, sought counseling and working through it, will love to see more focus on how their separate business ventures are going. Nene=keeper, will hate to see her leave the trip to Africa showed how much she matured; will like to see what happens with divorce, older son, younger son, her new business ventures. Sheree needs to find a life or stop trying to scare her daughters boyfriend away and be more of a mentor, she is talking about a big diamond-A big diamond did not save her marriage + she married a professional athlete-she need to check self! Kim need to find a life, fussing about her not wanting to hold a black baby-she do not want to hold her own baby, that is why she ran and got a Nanny soon as Kroy left, she has probably never changed her babys diaper! I am sure Phaedra has more money than her and you can tell the love she has for her baby compared to Kim. Kim breastfeed but she make sure that milk is in a bottle for someone else to do the feeding.
‘Real Housewives’ Phaedra Explains the 12 Birthday Cakes for Ayden – Gather Celebs News Channel « My Blog
March 26th, 2012
3:31 am
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution [...]
Becoming Boring
March 26th, 2012
6:37 am
I liked this show before but it’s lost its appeal for me. Their lives are just not interesting anymore. I hear there will be a spin-off of Kim….LMAO….BIG MISTAKE!!! She is THE LEAST interesting to watch. Of all the “characters” the only one who’d be interesting in a spin-off would be……ummmm, let me think……NOBODY!!!
mamaj
March 26th, 2012
7:08 am
Actually, I think that Marlo would have made the show quite interesting, for she is a character to behold. I have to agree with “Becoming Boring”– the show is almost painful to watch now, and the only way I would watch any other show with Kim on it is at gunpoint.I know some won’t agree, but Ne-Ne was the anchor to this show, but with her moving on to other ventures, it’s time to inject some new blood quickly,or just take it off.
george
March 26th, 2012
7:25 am
the son of an unemployed felon is a prince of atlanta? not in the atlanta i know. there are hundreds if not thousands of accomplished professional couples in atlanta and i continue to cringe that the rhoa cast is what represents a great city.
Kenetta
March 26th, 2012
8:02 am
Is it my imagination or are the the other women kisssing and sucking up on Kim now that she has the money and power. Seems like no one wants to piss Ms Kim off…….and no one wants to get on Ms Kim’s bad side. Amazing ! !
NeNe Leakes Fan
March 26th, 2012
8:13 am
I agree with you, Lisa. I, never, see Kim doing anything for the baby. It is like he is a means to an end (actually, he, and her unborn child are. Meaning that she has, atleast, 19 years of steady income [child support] should she and Kroy not work out). I think that Sweetie got tired of taking care of her (Kim) kids. With Sheree’, why be disappointed? Atleast Damon was MAN ENOUGH to realize that HE is not ready for this commitment. Now, I agree with Cynthia when she said that she didn’t say Black baby. You have caucasians that are Africans (Charlize Theron is a South African), you have those that are of Middle Eastern decent that are African (the late Freddie Mercury was from Zanzibar that is a part of Tanzania, in East…AFRICA). Kim needs to get a life and stop being a…low life. Get a REAL JOB like everyone else. And take care of her own kids!! With the Parks-Nida family, well, if they like it, I love it. Personally, I wouldn’t go that far out for a child dedication. Buy, that is what Apollo and Phaedra agreed to do and they pulled off a lovely ceremony.
Dan k
March 26th, 2012
8:38 am
I’m waiting for Sweetie to spill the beans!
Joel
March 26th, 2012
8:40 am
This used to be my fave Housewives show, but I’ve barely watched this season, just read recaps. I don’t think I’ve missed much, just manufactured controversy. When Nene and Kim’s friendship went down the drain for good, the show went with it, imo.
joe in tucker
March 26th, 2012
8:50 am
they aren’t real, they’re barely ‘housewives’, just ‘low rent no talents’, who really cares?
faith
March 26th, 2012
8:53 am
guess i’ll have to check out nene in the movies. will not be watching kim’s show, with her trash can
dirty mouth, and kroy and his teeth he loves to show. he act like, while playing ball, he’s gotten hit
in the head one time too many, he’s real slow witted. the rest of the women are boriing, even if they
bring toya carter on she is boring as well.
Gloria
March 26th, 2012
8:56 am
I don’t agree at all with what Phaedra did. She took something that is very sacred and turned it into commercialize mess. I agree with Peter’s comment. This display will not get her, her husband or the baby into Heaven. I cant imagine this being pleasing in God’s site. The celebration with friends and family afterward was fine, most family come together after such an occasion, but the ceremory had nothing do with dedicating that child to to Lord, but everything to do with show and giving Dwight something to do so he can be on the show.
Shunny
March 26th, 2012
9:27 am
Kim you could have watched the rerun of the trip to Africa to eliminate any she say. Sheree get a life, be productive. Why would you force a young man to be indebit for an engagement ring, something he couln’t afford. Remember finances in a marriage can be a huge problem starting off on the wrong foot you should know. Your daughter doesn’t seem materialistic as you. Pass your engaagement ring down to her she is your heir. RHOA, you are losing steam.
Angela
March 26th, 2012
9:48 am
Phaedra is indeed ghetto. I have never seen such carrying on for a baby’s dedication. Pastor Pollard should be ashamed for letting that mess take place in Enon. Phaedra is not used of having anything and it surely shows. She is sick.
RHOA Sometime Viewer
March 26th, 2012
10:11 am
Why is Marlo hving a record worse than Apollo having one? And why is her using a sugar daddy(ies?) different than Kim’s Big Poppa? She didn’t act any worse than any of the other ‘housewives’ and she’s just as eager to fit in as Nene was in the beginning. The only one I haven’t seen have an actual ‘throw-down’ with one of the other ‘housewives’ is Phaedra. She has a different set of delusions. If this was really ‘reality’ TV none of these women would continue to put up with each other. They bring out the middle school girl in each other (except Phaedra who stays out of the arguments). When all is said & done all their private messes have been paraded across the screen & held up for ridicule – except Phaedra’s. All we know about her is she married someone with a record, she ADORES her child, and she’s starting a new business. Going in – I wonder how these women thought they’d come across on the show?
jesse
March 26th, 2012
10:56 am
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK GIRLS KIM DON’T NEET HER OWN SHOW I WILL NOT WATCH IT
ACE
March 26th, 2012
11:06 am
@Angela-I’m sure the Pastor cashed his check and never said a word. You seem surprised that a Pastor would take place in something so over the top, have you not been to a church service in the last 20+ years.
ACE
March 26th, 2012
11:11 am
You can take the trick out of the ghetto….
mamaj
March 26th, 2012
11:19 am
Even though the pastor did seem to be taken aback by Phaedra’s “pomp and circumstance”, I’m inclined to agree with you Ace. The power of the almighty dollar makes even ministers look away, sometime. They just pray a little longer and reconcile it with their God.
liberalefty
March 26th, 2012
11:36 am
why they wasting money on that silly ceremony like the big head baby boy is a king or something
Really?
March 26th, 2012
11:45 am
Phaedra Parks is CRAZY! She really need to STOP worshipping her child like she do. I too am a Mother and have a son, but I do NOT worship him. I ONLY worship the Lord/God. I love my son, but I do not worship him.
Cynthia is very two faced. When Kim questioned her about the ‘black baby with snotty noses’ comment, she denied it at first. Kim was persistent and she knew that Cynthia was lying…then Cynthia FINALLY decided to tell the truth…whatever Cynthia. She is sooooo two faced..plus she straddles both sides of the fence on a regular basis..like when she was talking really bad about the ‘littles’…she was all up in their faces in Africa, then she get on TV and start talking about them negatively…that is crazy…
Back to crazy Phaedra…she is nutty as a fruit cake..I bet you Phaedra is not her birth name..it’s probably something like (Philomina)or something country like that…she is as nutty as a coconut!
liberalefty
March 26th, 2012
11:49 am
they need to git some prettier younger women on the show…nobody ova 30 and git rid of all the gay dudes,,,jeez
Pitchy
March 26th, 2012
12:09 pm
Thanks for the recap RHo. I didn’t get a chance to watch, but I vividly saw everything you said.
Just Voice My Opinion
March 26th, 2012
12:32 pm
Okay, Phaedra cut the BS, as a mother we all feel our sons and daughters are kings and queens. Phaedra, you and your BROKE girls are too funny. This entire crew make the state of Georgia looks very ghetto. These group of females carry on worst than my five year old granddaughter and her little friends. Sheree needs a life so she tries to talk her daughter male friend to marry her daughter. Sheree get a life because your marriage did not work do not destroy what chance your daughter have. Sheree, stop with the madness, get a job you are BROKE girlfriend.
Ho's
March 26th, 2012
1:02 pm
What a bunch of ugly ho’s. Who watches this crap? I hope that they all die a horrible death…the zero money and zero talent bitches.
Runaway Fiance'
March 26th, 2012
1:12 pm
Two’s company, Sheree’s a crowd. Gotta bounce!
Pitchy
March 26th, 2012
1:30 pm
I too thought it wrong of Sheree. She’s her daughter, but dang, let the young man propose first.
WillnAtlanta
March 26th, 2012
2:06 pm
I think Kim’s wig was too tight on last night’s episode, she was acting WAY cray-cray. Poor Kroy, dat boy don’t know what he got hisself into. LMBO
WAR EAGLE
March 26th, 2012
2:17 pm
what is even worse is that people actually watch this garbage. Must be the Teleprompter generation. Being told what to watch and what to do and say- jsut like in the Muslim kingdoms.
Von
March 26th, 2012
3:07 pm
I’m so ready for this show to BE OVER. This season is LONG, Streched out and Boring, well the last 3 shows or so. I missed the comments from last week show. I ready to get my HOUR back on Sundays.
Pitchy
March 26th, 2012
3:11 pm
@WillnAtlanta – I used to think the same, but I’ve come to the conclusion, that Troy definitely knows what he’s gotten into with Kim and seems like he truly loves her, her daughters, her foul mouth, and who she generally is as a person. That’s what I now see.
Shawakaknocka
March 26th, 2012
3:23 pm
Get rid of everybody, except Phaedra, but continue to limit Apollo’s time (He’s boring and so-not-eloquent). Sheree is, I’m convinced, a little “slow.” Kandi’s speech annoys the heck out of me. Kim is a bimbo, but that youngest girl of hers is just adorable. Cynthia..yawn…yawn…and more yawn. Nene should join basketball wives – Tami would whoop that arse! Peter should pose for “Inches” magazine; I’d love to see that chocolate on a pair of crisp white sheets.
Pitchy
March 26th, 2012
3:41 pm
Dang, have to agree with your assessment on Tami (lol) and Kandi’s speech.
TheDuchess
March 26th, 2012
3:59 pm
It’s JUST entertainment. You can’t judge any of them by what you see on t.v., you need to know them individually and I know Kim and I believe most would like her IF they ever had a chance to hang around her. She’s not a bimbo…again, you need to be around her!! Remember…ENTERTAINMENT. You must enjoy it, that’s why you’ve taken time to watch and write!!!
peter deter weter III
March 26th, 2012
4:02 pm
I agree with liberalefty that boy has a water head…I would like to add he took the worst features from each parent.
the real chara from ak
March 26th, 2012
4:10 pm
Sheree what u gone do with that house in woods you broke ass bitch u need a life stop trynna relive your marriage through ur daughter.
Toodle Poodle
March 26th, 2012
4:21 pm
Is Kim related to Sharon (Mrs. Chipper) Jones? They could be sisters they look so much alike. Just me?
Williesmom
March 26th, 2012
5:44 pm
I actually do not have too much trouble with the cast this time. I really did not like Marlo or her behavior in Africa. I thought she really was low class and brought the show down a few more pegs. I think Phaedra is wacky, but knows better. I think some of her behavior is for show. I thnk Sheree is better this series but she does need to decide what to do with her life and stop trying to impress people be overspending on stuff. Her approach to the wedding ring was a case in point.
Karmen
March 26th, 2012
6:40 pm
Is it me or does it seem that everytime Kim and Kroy go to someone else’s event they are very rude and snooty? Last year at Cynthia’s wedding Kim brought her own wine, last night at Phaedra’s event Kim was complaining about how hot she was at the table while everyone else was eating and drinking. I’m sorry but in my opinion Kroy is racist and so is Kim’s father. Please don’t tell me I’m not the only one who heard Kim’s dad call sweetie a “gal” last week? I agree with the previous reader who said Kim doesn’t even want to hold her own baby,so why would anyone think she would be bothered with orphans? I say get rid of Kim, sheree is on her last leg, if she makes the cut I really need her to launch she by Sheree fitness gear or a wellness and lifestyle brand&get some business about herself.
Danube
March 26th, 2012
6:56 pm
Sheree just scared that poor boy off. She was way too involved in that situation than she should have been.
Phaedra. I just can’t even comment to that nonsense but truthfully, she’s a guilty pleasure because you can’t wait to see what she’s gonna do next.
Cynthia is a punk. She should have told Kim “yeah I said it but let me clarify that you don’t even hold your own kids without a look of disgust. I pity the poor chile you’re pregnant with now.”
The whole Sweetie arc seemed scripted. This is someone you’ve known for 15 years, defended tooth and crown against NeNe, and now that Kroy is in the picture, she’s lazy, not doing her job and cussing your kids out – if someone was cussing my kids out, I would have punched them in the mouth from day one. was Sweetie a maid or a personal assistant? Why would she be taking care of kids or preparing formula, particularly after you just HIRED a nanny? Seems really fake, just like…
…Brielle and that other girl calling Kroy “daddy!” That seemed creepy, unnatural and fake. Really?
Kandi, forgot she was there.
Weird that NeNe had the most normal arc on the show…
Tiffany
March 26th, 2012
9:44 pm
Please cancel this trashy show; it really portrays Atlanta in a negative light. Are there any wealthy intelligent housewives in Atlanta? Please cast them!! We need some housewives with elegance and class.
Graham
March 26th, 2012
10:11 pm
Why oh why would anyone think this show represents Atlanta. It is just entertainment. If you are not entertained then you have the option of not watching. All the negative comments and name calling is totally unnecessary. The other housewives shows don’t seem to be held to the same standard as the RHOA. Grow up people!
ashley
March 27th, 2012
10:38 am
can Kim move to her own show ALREADY! She has become very irrelevant as she traps Kroy with those pregnancies/babies!
Tia
March 27th, 2012
11:44 am
I’ve lost all respect(which was scarce) for Kim. If that wasn’t a snake move in firing sweetie, I don’t
know what was. NeNe was right about Kim after all. I’d rather Kim just come out and tell Sweetie
that her common law husband isn’t used to having n*&^*%rs around the house unless they’re
“professional”. i.e. maids. If Sweetie cusses more than Kim, then Derrick J is really straight.
What a phony, backstabbing fluzy. You can tell by the frozen look on racist Kroy’s face that he regrets getting with Kim whos looking older than he is by the day. Wait until he dumps her for a younger chick that has real hair. I’ll be the first one at the auction of her fake extravagant Estate. She should remember that payback is a bitch.