After months of uncertainty, it has finally been proven to my satisfaction that Brooks faked cancer. And we have E! News to thank for it. Amusingly, they are a part of NBC Universal and have managed to make Andy’s complete interview with Brooks on November 12th, irrelevant. And I must say, Brooks did not have his lies down with Andy like he did with E! News. If you look at Brooks hour long interview with E! he is quite believable and has an answer for everything. His main tell there was saying, “Thank you for asking” after the interviewer would ask him a hard question.
If Brooks had not falsified documents to bring in to E! he might have been able to leave things with people giving him the benefit of the doubt. Lord knows we here at TamaraTattles.com did everything we could to give him the benefit of the doubt. The very idea of faking cancer on a TV show where there is so much scrutiny is absurd to me. What is there to gain? Now he is facing the disgrace of a nation!
So let’s look at what tipped the scales for me. First of all it’s been a very, very busy few days here at TamaraTattles.com and I still haven’t gotten through my emails. At about 2 am I was ready to make the call and then at 4 a.m. even more proof came in. I had a lot of minor details and problems I had personally with the documents he gave E! News. The letter was not written as a physician would. The sentence that started, “As you know” was completely ridiculous. As for the bill, that seemed like someone copying a list into a word document. Where were the insurance codes? Where were all the different boxes on every medical bill you have ever seen? Where was the phone number to the billing department to call about discrepancies? There was a lot that didn’t seem quite kosher.
On E! News tonight, they pointed out some other minor errors regarding the inconsistent E! News tonight, they pointed out some other minor errors regarding the inconsistent street address for City of Hope and other things. And also the fact that he copied some invoice from Google.
But at this point, all you really need to know is that Brooks GOOGLED to find templates for both documents. I received several copies photos in imgur showing the original sources that Brooks lifted the documents from. In the picture at the top of the article, Brooks copied from a hospital bill from a hospital in Concord, North Carolina. Every single line in order, same medication, exact same price. I even considered the possibility that this was just a standard therapy. But only for a minute. Brooks supposedly had recurrent NHL and the chemo drugs on his fake invoice don’t make sense for the treatment of what he claims he has. Especially since the invoice he provided is an exact replica of THE VERY FIRST THING that comes up on Google when you search for a chemotherapy bill.
And if that were not enough, I was also sent the template that he used for the letter to the insurance company. It is what comes up when you google a template for that sort of letter. And it’s clear that Brooks followed it.
So that is enough for me to prove that Brooks does not have Cancer. And he’s a scumbag.
Also since yesterday I’ve been getting angry emails from people for giving Brooks the benefit of the doubt. Someone even demanded an apology. Seriously? Because you believed a fake psychic and a pack of bitches on a reality show? Have several seats. I wonder if Lizzie understands that Brooks lied now?
But what does this mean for Vicki and for the show? I’m of the mindset that Vicki knew. She sure did make up a lot of stories about Brooks and his cancer. Taking him to chemo, making a binder we never saw, calling Brianna in the middle of the night about his vomiting. I don’t believe any of that anymore. I believe that she knew. I believe that what Brooks has on her, as Heather kept asking, is about Club Detox. And I think it is time to get her off the show. She dug her own grave.
I also understand the reactions of the other housewives regarding refusing to work with her. I think she should be fired. I don’t blame any of them for not wanting to work with someone who would do such a thing.
But really think that the entire franchise should be done. It’s been ten seasons. There has been an appalling level of fraud in the last one. It’s not just Vicki that doesn’t need to be there anymore, it’s all of them. I don’t want to see Shannon or Meghan or Tamra or Heather’s faces on my TV ever again.
FINISH THEM, ANDY. You have a new franchise starting up anyway (more on that another day). It’s time to close the curtain on this shitstorm. There is absolutely no reason to watch anymore.
Thoughts?
I definitely think vicki knew which is just a disgusting low and i agree that this should be grounds for dismissal for RHOC. Where do you go with the show after that? unfortunately the fact that they have theresa checks in lets me know they probably have no plans to get rid of vicki or rhoc.
I also think this is terrible because this just justifies everyone on every other show questioning anyone who uses their illness as a storyline and that is not something i want to see.
Remember Amber from Jersey? She set the precedent for this shit. Making cancer her story line, that is.
Kim Zolciak was first on the fake cancer and the wig…
@MoreTeaPlease
Yes, vacuous Kim was a pioneer of fake cancer, but let us not forget the many who claimed to have almost-cancer. Almost-cancer is even easier to fake than fake cancer.
I am not an Amber fan and please correct me if I am wrong. I remember reading her husband scammed cancer patients yes but I think and could be wrong but Amber had cancer at some point. So again she had cancer but her husband scammed cancer patients.
At least Teresa is doing time for her crime. Wonder what consequences Vicki will have.
What illegal crime did Vicki commit? She’s never been one of my favorites, and she’s a cuntsatchel in this case, but she committed no actual crime.
The consequences for VIcki will be public humiliation and hopefully the cancelling of the show.
Its unfair to say Kim faked cancer. She made a stupid comment. She had a cancer scare. She did not go an entire season saying she had cancer. I think its wrong to spread that kind of gossip. She made a remark that was really poor judgment.
It’s been a while but as I recall, she attempted to use cancer to explain her penchant for wigs. In the beginning she got a lot of heat for it but has since learned to own it.
I HOPE there was maybe a little truth behind that and not a blatant lie but one never knows with these ladies. Maybe meghan can verify for us. 😉
All this may, and should, have some effect on her businesses and future endorsement deals. I don’t know that we will ever know what their connection to Club Detox was exactly, but you can bet that if Vicki and Brooks were being paid by them for any sort of endorsements on the show, that is over. She definitely should lose her orange, imho.
@Deb there may be some fraud with Club Detox. I’m sure it will come out in the wash
Although I wanted to give Vicki the benefit of the doubt, and still disagree with the way the harpies went after her, I kept thinking they must know things we don’t. Obviously, we are only shown a portion of their lives on TV and if several people had reason to doubt Brooks, I was leaning towards there being something there. But still not prepared to declare he was faking without proof. TT doesn’t owe anyone an apology, she acted with kindness in the absence of proof that Brooks and/or Vicki were lying.
Brooks did look sick during some of the filming.
I thought Vickie is paid to make up story lines or given some sort of a script to go by.
Thank you for following up. What a couple of disgusting human beings. I stopped watching this show 1/2 way through the season because I couldn’t take Meghan anymore and just read your recaps instead. I’m glad I didn’t give it ratings from my tv. I know a lot of what we see is at least semi scripted or there’s a loose storyline so you can’t take these shows too seriously but faking cancer? I can’t. I just can’t.
And what was Brooks hoping to gain by doing this? What was his end game because to risk being exposed there had to be a huge potential payoff.
Vicki and Brooks were peddling Club Detox as a cancer cure all season on social media. Brooks also has been making money on all these interviews and is trying to make the best out of being a fraud. Brooks was already considered a crook, but Vicki has now shown her cards. He’s blaming her for lying and we know she has lied… he was never a housewife and had nothing to lose. She might lose everything… including insurance clients. She made her bed.
I am for sure wondering how long her Picture will remain on the “ClubDetox” site? The blonde lady (can’t remember her name) who Vicki & Brooks filmed with, would me smart to distance herself and company. Quick!
Club Detox is every bit as shady as Vicki and Brooks, imo
Vicki took a lot of it down recently
TT this is one of the many reasons I adore you, you are brutally honest.
Many of us wanted to believe that Brooks couldn’t be so low. I know that love can be blind but this has been BS with Vicki. I wonder if Bravo knew….
I’m sure they knew and are running all the way to the bank!
Oh my word. I guess I can see the other ladies righteous indignation now, since they had put up with him and Vicki’s drama for years. I’m appalled and embarrassed for him. I gave him the benefit of the doubt, too. Is he such a famewhore that he just couldn’t resist those final interviews? Or he’s such a dumbass he really thought he could falsify the info? I still don’t like Briana – such a spoiled brat – but no wonder she went batshit.
Are you Hot Toddy or just regular Toddy?
Hi, Shay, yes, I’m Hot Toddy, but downsized just to Toddy?
Yay Hot Toddy!!!! Missed you:*
He was always a slime ball to me. I knew it from the moment his greasy self appeared on the show. He sought Vickie out and knew that she was on the outs with Donn. He purposely pounced on a woman who obviously needs a man to feel worthwhile. He got her at the perfect moment. She was unhappy with Donn because he refused to kiss her ass so here he comes like prince charming telling her everything she ever wanted to hear.
Damn I hate when women fall for that shit. She’s got some serious issues.
This is the thing with scam artists, they think everybody else is really dumb and they are really smart. Hence using the first effing Google result in his fake documents.
Welcome to the club Tamara. You gave them every benefit of the doubt. You would be a good friend to have in anyone’s corner.
Totally agree, this franchise should be done.
Yes!
This does not change my opinion that people’s medical conditions are private matters that should just be taken at face value. The truth will come out sooner or later without anyone playing detective/guardian of the truth.
Well said, Margarett
It’s true. Liars eventually get a little to comfortable and sloppy and then end up exposing their own lies. A lot of people think that they’re the only ones who know how to use google.
Amen Margaret.
Yes Margarett, that’s how I feel as well. I never believed Brooks or Vicki but I still don’t think that excuses the gang up,beat down they have given her. Unless there is more behind the scenes trouble the lies have caused, I just don’t think the punishment fits the crime. I do think RHOC will have a hard time coming back after this though. A lot of people who were giving Brooks the benefit of the doubt are going to be outraged.
I agree about getting rid of this show and everyone on it. None of them are righteous and none of them are particularly entertaining or interesting and ALL of them are nasty, fake and disgusting. I was with you TT about giving Brooks the benefit of the doubt (being a former nurse and a person who has dealt with cancer in my family), but this goes beyond trying to create drama and the standard operating procedure for reality television. What Brooks and Vicki did was dangerous and possibly illegal if anyone bought their “detox” products and stopped their prescribed treatment. I agree that Vicki knew and that she is as despicable as Brooks and I also agree that her TV days should be numbered and that her number is up.
You were always fair and I appreciate that. Now it’s time to change the channel when I see that a Bravo show is coming on. I feel that Bravo was somehow complicit in this mess and that Andy thrives on this nonsense.
I will never like Heather, Shannon, Tamra or Meghan and they need to go also. Time to call it a day where the OC housewives are concerned. They have all worn out their welcome.
It’s not that you have Brooks the benefit of the doubt, it’s that you got snotty and belligerent with any commenters that had the opinion that brooks was faking it and your insistence that all of his bs made sense and that anyone who thought he would fake something as serious as cancer was sick in the head.
I didn’t think he was faking it because of some psychic: I thought he was faking it because of his long history of lying and grifting with his finances, child support, the stories from his exes, his “bonus child”, the stuff Brianna said (and yes, Brianna and her husband may be nuts but that doesn’t mean she was making up her stories; also, she must have been very upset watching her mom get conned for years) the vicki’s vodka shenanigans. the constant promotion of club detox, the constantly changing stories about his health, his press release where he announced he had cancer and then asked for privacy.
His plan was twofold: gain viewer sympathy so he was no longer a villain, and much more importantly, make a killing off club detox. There are plenty of weight loss products out there, but a natural juice cleanse that beats cancer would have finally made him the rich man he thinks he is entitled to be.
Meghan may be crazy but good for her to call him out. He was trying to capitalize on cancer. It’s affected every family and of course people are going to have an emotional reaction.
You bought his act hook line and sinker, like he when he was talking calmly and softy to Meghan, you were saying that was the voice of sincerity and who would have a conversation like that unless they were telling the truth?
Um, a conman, that’s who.
That’s not true. I have been firmly on the side of them both being liars and trying to defraud us for Club Detox, which she claimed on social media the whole season cures cancer. She said those words. TT and commenters never called me a name or said I was stupid.
Totally disagree, most were banished unfortunately. Which is fine, it’s her blog but a lot of comments were not even published
So I let you out of the WLS, taking time I do not have at the moment to give you a very personal explanation of how you ended up there, and this is your first post? Nice.
It wasn’t my first post, I commented on Kim Fields. All I was saying was that it is your blog and you have the right to show what comments you want and which ones you want to banish. That’s all.
Exactly. This had nothing to do with the fake psychic – most of the audience was clearly on Vicki’s side at first because that was so outrageous. But within a few weeks it was abundantly clear that Brooks really was faking cancer.
I didn’t really care one way or the other if he/they were faking. I took it as a given, especially near the end. Personally I thought the other women used this as an excuse to be beastly to Vicki. They showed how vicious they could be. It doesn’t matter if that treatment was deserved. All of these women have some gnarly skeletons in their closets. Each and every one of them could end up in Vicki’s place.
No, I am not defending Vicki. She’s been plenty bitchy in the past.
I suspected, because: Brooks. But I always kept in my mind that just because he is a known con artist, and has faked cancer in the past, doesn’t mean he couldn’t *actually* get cancer. I prefer to be the type of person that gives the benefit of the doubt, unless I have incontrovertible evidence.
@Minky, That’s how I feel, you just worded it better!
When someone stands corrected, like myself, dont smash my face in it. W had every right not to speculate. The court of law does the same for murder cases!!!
Katie, I disagree.
TT’s opinions were strong. But so were all other opinions, for AND against.
Personally, I don’t give a Flying Monkey one way or the other. I’m sick and tired of the whole subject.
Whether he’s lying or not, I am not going to judge.I will ALWAYS give the benefit of the doubt, because I know how it feels to have cancer, and have people think it’s a lie.
I do not want that on my conscience. So…I will remain neutral.
A person’s medical status is their business. They do not owe ANYONE an explanation or proof. It’s no one’s business but their’s.
I’m with you Cat, you never know what another’s struggling with. I always try to give the benefit of the doubt.
All of this!!! ^^^ Spot on katie
I agree.
Spot on review Katie. Some slower to get with the program. It was easy to blame Meghan the messenger but wrong. Brooks the crook is a lazy liar. All he had to do is not drink alcohol and not go into detail about treatment. He and Vicki messes up big time. So much to lose. Now Vicki only retweets message that believe brooks. vicki is a liar too.
Katie, who are you talking to? Who got snotty? You sound pretty snotty and rude yourself and a little belligerent
I agree w you. I was all the way in the bleachers of the WLS for my views on not believing it. Not because of a psychic but because I know someone with Stage III NHL as well as my BF dying of breast cancer at age 38. Yes , all cancers are different but Stage III NHL is no joke. TT is a much better person then I am and tried to believe in the good of people. I’m so jaded that I automatically went cynical from what was being aired. Do I care if he has it or not… Not really, he is sick either way. Do I care that people were duped for ratings and that those that are truly suffering from cancer got advertised a fictitious cure…Absolutely!!! Profit should not be gained at anyone’s expense! Hopefully I am out of moderation now (i.e. The WLS) so that various opinions can be discussed within this blog and not crucified!
Im right there with you on the jaded part. Ive seen enough of the bad side of people, to have lost faith in just presumed goodness. But I still try to be fair, and go by everything there is to the situation, and look at it from all perspectives. I try not to be biased or prejuidiced. I just allways felt that there was something not right about Brooks, and Vickie and him as a couple. Until youve experienced a person , seeming really nice and even having a reputation for being nice, and then turning out to be a low down SOB, well I can see being persuaded by a calm kind reasonable manner of speaking.
HOOK LINE & SINKER!!
WELL SAID!!
So TRUE, COULD NOT have said it better myself!!
What clued me in is there were no people coming out and saying they saw brooks at hospitals! No leaks of private info etc. I guess apologies are due to Meghan, after all she’s the one who looked, yet was called names and demonized!
Apologies due to Meghan? Um, NO. She’s still an insufferable cunt, as are Tamra and the rest.
The ends don’t justify the means.
Thank you Ericzku!
I got a new one for ya. Meghan is a THUNDERCUNT! Use it however you wish.
Absolutely
So does Brooks even have a job? Does he have any income besides money from interviews? Does he get paid from business ventures with Vicki? Does he get paid from Bravo?
This is SO massively fucked up. It makes me feel ill a grown man would do this. The whole group besides Lizzie are just gross people. Trash. I bet Alexis is so glad she is off of the show. She doesn’t seem that bad. Gretchen seems just as slimy too. Just wrong on so many levels. What people will do for money. I might not be wealthy but at least the money earned to feed our children in our home in honest money. Just disgusting.
This is true. The other women had no way to actually know the truth yet they acted like a pack of wolves waiting for the opportunity to destroy their prey. I found them all to be horrifying and ugly and they should all be ashamed of themselves. They all live in glass houses. Vicki is a sad human being who is so ambitious that she sold her soul for the sake of making a buck and Brooks is one among thousands of con men who prey on women and others. Andy Cohen and Bravo thrive on this kind of behavior which tells me that they are just as evil and capable of conning their audience members for the sake of ratings. People with compassion always give the benefit of the doubt to someone who may be suffering or ill and that is a quality that should not be criticized.
APOLOGIES TO MEGHAN? From who? That cunt satchel needs a little talking to with a broom handle. No lube.
Because Brooks and Vicki lied does not excuse the behavior or the others. They are noble because they were horrible to a so-called friend and ganged up on one person? Sorry, this entire crew is ugly. You don’t have to fake cancer to be a disgusting individual and the other women proved what they are for the sake of a spot on a silly reality show. None of them should be let off the hook in this fiasco. Shannon sacrificed the privacy of her own children for the sake of a storyline, Tamra pretended to be a convert to make herself look less trashy and evil than she is, Meghan relentlessly stalked another person and Heather will do ANYTHING to make money to support her lifestyle at the expense of anyone who she sees as vulnerable. Her skin care line is no better than the detox club and probably works just as well. She spent the entire season hawking products and herself and that is equally as disgusting as what Vicki did. I personally have had enough of these shows and already stopped watching some of them prior to this mess. New Jersey made it’s ratings quota on the backs of criminals and disloyal relatives who traded on their family problems to get attention and Atlanta turned into a fiasco of fighting and lies over people who aren’t worth the air that I breathe. New York is about superficial people who are also hawing products and Beverly Hills gave us Kim and Brandi…two messed up addicts who need help rather than paychecks to show the world how sick they are. The franchise is dead, imo and simply needs to go away. The reward for being a schmuck on these shows is to get your own podcast so you can continue bashing other people and proving what a famewhore you are. Mission accomplished…they have proven to me that they are worthless pieces of shit and now it’s time to tune them out.
Meghan is a THUNDERCUNT!
I love this site….love, love it. I just wish people didn’t attack someone in a personal way. It is vicious and vile. Have an opinion about someone’s actions but not as a person. Every one of us is someone’s child, friend and neighbor….be nice.
@Jill I disagree with your comment. Besides being extremely well written this blog is packed with compassionate caring people all who are empathetic.
GROSS!! LMAO – Not gonna get that image out of my mind any time soon! I CAN’T BELIEVE that I missed this posting until today. I am constantly checking your sight and totally missed it. WTF. I was reading your update and I was so confused until I figured out there was a previous posting. Gosh, I’m so excited for this damn post I can’t shut my mouth. Sorry!
Nah, she was way out of bounds. The ends do not justify the means.
I think that she and Brooks cooked this up together. Why? To make Brooks more appealing and to promote Club Detox. It might of worked had it not been for the very sad and real passing of her mother. I think that shock threw Vicki way off her game. She has been successful at being a liar and a hypocrite for ten seasons. Never has she lied to this extent though. Vicki seems to have rolled the dice one too many times and went bust. She could of pulled out of the shit storm she’s in by claiming she was “duped” but Brooks is not willing to save her ass and just keeps talking.
She’s told some pretty big whoppers in the past as well. The whole vow renewal when she was already seeing Brooks comes to mind. Vicki is a liar face and now she has to live with the public humiliation that comes with being outed.
I know. That whole situation of the vow renewal seemed to come out of the blue and really touched Donn. Then next we hear they are divorcing. WTF? Well we know wtf it was about now. I wonder what Donna thinks?
*Donn
Well put, Angel(?). The other cast members went after Vicki because they didn’t want to be associated with something so vile. I thought they were pretty tame compared to what they could of said to Vicki. Shannon had a right to feel betrayed because Vicki called her for help with Brooks illness BEFORE they even filmed! All a big set up and no one likes to be lied to.
RHOC has been a shit-fest for a few years. I can’t watch these shows, but love reading your recaps.
TT- Do you think Andy knew?
TT you hit it on the head he’s a scumbag. Do you think anyone – producers, management or Andy had any idea about this?
Is this real life?
Brooks is a head case for faking this. As much as I pulled for Vicki, I still want to give her the benefit of the doubt that she was caught up in his BS but I can’t fully do that.
Wow, he really is the pits. RHOC is not going anywhere and I think Vicki should return. There’s no way I can respect this but I don’t think the others were justified in how they treated Vicki…maybe Brooks but not Vicki.
Ew Brooks I’m disgusted. I had my doubts but I woulnd’t think anyone would have the gall to go on E! and present documents that are false. Only a mental case would do something like that. Deplorable
Yeah how crazy do you have to be to go on E! News and give fake documents. Not only is he a scumbag, he’s a dumbass too.
Thank you! I was not convinced 100% myself until yesterday and this fake bill. In addition to this, there was a picture floating on line that Brooks posted (then deleted) and it was supposed to be him getting a treatment for his NHL, however it was him donating blood. I am an RN and that was the last straw for me.
Wow that’s interesting. Wouldn’t the fact that he supposedly had NHL exclude him from being a blood donor? I would think it would.
I’m appalled. I really couldn’t bring myself to believe he faked this but upon the evidence presented here (good job TT!) it looks like the jig is up and he really did do this. This guy is really a piece of work and a pathological liar and sociopath on a scary level.
However, I’m not totally convinced that Vicki knew, but I only watched the reunions this season so maybe if I can bring myself to watch the episodes I might have a different opinion. Vicki just seems like the ideal candidate to get conned by a smooth talking grifter like brooks. And when you’re as codependent as she is, it takes a lot to be convinced that your “soulmate” is really the POS that everyone can clearly see he is. So I’m conflicted and kinda surprised the majority seem to think Vicki was in on it. I may have to watch the season. God help me.
yeah Vicki got conned by Tamra so much and it’s clear she’s smart business wise but not when it comes to real life. She has done a lot of dumb things for which she would be called out for hypocrisy not because she’s smart in real life she’s just smart in business.
For some reason, I really believe brooks is good enough to con Vicki but at some point she was keeping up stories to be loyal and support him even when she questioned it.
I don’t buy the club detox end because she is still promoting it and if I were in this situation and this could be used I’d remove any involvement that i had in it. yet she’s still taking pictures with the owners/partners of club detox.
To me, I could see him conning her to believe he had cancer then under this belief investing in club detox but after all this unravels I would remove any affiliation; however, she’s still affiliated.
Also, people were saying that she said that club detox cures cancer but I already thought it was proven that those weren’t the exact words used.
In any event, she either knew from the beginning or new at some point and because she wasn’t expecting to be grilled couldn’t keep up with the story and started saying things she thought would resolve the conflict but only added more contradictions.
RHOC and bravo could EASILY spin this as yet another con by Brooks and Vicki being out from under his spell with reconcilations with briana IF they wanted to keep Vicki.
I just can’t see RHOC firing Vicki unless there was actual evidence she knew the entire time. The ratings went up. She is part of the reason this show is the big franchise. I think Vicki might have a life saver just because brooks is such scum on his own. We’ll see but Tamara was still dead on about the other girls and then see you next tuesday ways.
I think Brianna said Vicki left Donn because Brooks was sick (pancreatic cancer). Then all of a sudden he’s well. Then she believes the cancer story again – come on. Water seeks its own level.
Yes, TT! Thank you for giving them the benefit of the doubt when I didnt… but also for knowing when enough is enough. Fuck these two scam artists and their cancer cure. They are caught. I hope the FDA investigates Vicki for fraud and that Newport Imaging and City of Hope also sue him for fraud, as I heard stupid viewers have been flooding them both with nonstop calls.
#Douchebaggery X2 – I hate to say it but it is what it is. I cannot believe the OG of the OC would stoop to this level. Totally disgusted with this show and I know now that my intuition not to watch was right. So disappointing. Bring back the old days with Tammy Knickerbocker, Jeanna Keough, the kids were young and it just seemed so much more authentic which is why I loved it in the beginning but it’s morphed into something unrecognizable and it’s not good. Any of it.
And to think, that I was in doubt only one time. It started to bug me that Vickie never did get crazy mad at the women. I’ve seen her scream and yell when she was accused of not being honest. During all of this, she remained weirdly calm. Then I felt guilty. I thought she must be beaten down and losing her mom were the reasons why. I still hate the way all those bitches (especially Meghan) behaved. Trust when I say I am DONE with RHOOC and possibly Atlanta too. BUT, will always come here to read your posts Tamara cause YOU ARE THE BEST!
Good point! She didno screech until the end of the season, and even that was lower in pitch. (Although still over the top comparing herself to Jesus Christ.
Yeah the JC comparison was too much but perfect timing considering the event. it’s a show. I expect that blasphemy.
I think people give Vicki more credit than deserved regarding smarts.
She might be a smart business woman but all 10 seasons she’s shown that she can be duped and fooled. Jeana did it (slightly) her kids do it all the time, tamra did it and Brooks has been the most lethal with it.
I think she has business intelligence but not heart intelligence and I don’t think she’s “too smart” to not be conned by Brooks
I’m shocked. I gave Brooks the benefit of the doubt too. I was really hoping the documents he gave E! News would have proven he wasn’t faking cancer. I never wanted to believe someone would do something so low. I didn’t believe anyone could do such a thing. And I agree Vicki knew. She knew the gig was up at the reunion and fessed up to not believing him. But she knew all along. Why else lie for him? How could Vicki risk her reputation and business to do something so heinous? What was their end game? Sympathy and promoting bogus cancer detox products? They never expected any of the women to scratch the surface of their cancer claims and expected everyone to blindly accept what they said. I wouldn’t have questioned a friend’s cancer diagnosis but I am someone that can not fathom faking such a thing. I would be OK with never seeing RHOC again.
Well, it will be interesting to see what happens next. It’s still difficult for me to grasp anyone being that crazy evil to try such a con, but there ya go.
Fuckin A. I have suspected as much for awhile, especially when Vicki showed up to the reunion comatose on medication. If Vicki honestly didn’t know what was going on, she would have had her boxing gloves on ready to spar. Come on, you guys! She is an in your face fighter. But she just rolled over at that reunion. That was what kind of sealed the deal for me.
Brooks is the scum of the earth. Vicki, too. Selling cancer juice to make a buck… Snake oil salesmen. Just wow.
To me, what could she do but say that she wasn’t aware. Being defensive with her boxing gloves on would have been protesting too much.
If anything I could see her realizing once the questions came in that she was duped/conned and had invested in the Detox thing and made herself believe he wouldn’t screw her over like that as she had more to lose. By the time, reunion comes around too many people are questioning it and being defensive would seem as if she’s guilty. Being confused and not having certainty would show that she doesn’t know if she was duped by investing into detox or if he actually had it.
Her calm disposition to me was of someone that had no certainty and realized that she divorced Don, had conflict with her daughter and maybe invested in club detox with his persuasion and couldn’t back out of it as that would seem guilty and she really knows that everything they said about him was right and SHE’s the one that might get screwed the worst.
Well, if it’s true about Vicki, guess she’s the real actress on the show, Heather. I said it before and will say it again: 10 years on a reality show will fuck with your head.
Thanks for the wrap up, TT. I didnt believe Brooks, but am sad about Vicki.
There is nothing about Brooks that is impressive. He’s not great looking, he isn’t very intelligent, he’s not rich; he is many loathsome things yet the fact that Vicki, an intelligent, successful woman and mother, lowered herself to be with such a man boggles my mind. I know, Smart Women, Foolish Choices; but televised?! We reached new lows this season, when is the bottom gonna break. I still haven’t watched most of the episodes or reunions and the show has zero entertainment value, it’s not worth the space it takes up on the program listings.
I’m still not understanding why people think Vicki is smart. I’ve never thought of her that way. She works very hard at a pyramid scheme type of insurance/financial advice business. Those businesses do not require brains but the successful ones are the ones willing to work 24/7. Vicki did that because she was unhappy with her life, not because she was so smart. I have a family member in LA who checked into the MLM that Vicki is involved in (she has never watched the show) and explained it to me. She doesn’t even have to know insurance laws, she just pushes the products and gets people to work under her sponsorship. Each time one of them sells a product, Vicki gets a cut.
Youre right people dont allways have to smart to make money. My husband has noticed that. Success through work is another form of validation, which Vickie seems to need so much of. Thats probably why she had a hard time balancing work and family.
Anyone can do an MLM. You buy in and sucker others to buy in. Most fail but some succeed. I would personally never do it but people do for everything from nail wraps to insurance to crap. No you do not need to be smart at all. In fact it takes a certain mind set to do well.
Ditto, justanothermary. Brooks supposedly fucks over Vicky with the vodka deal and then she goes back for seconds with Club Detox. Was that intelligent? Give me a break. My opinion is Vicky knows perfectly well what the score is because she is the female version of Brooks. Skeevy, slick and no remorse for the victims of their scams.
Personally I don’t think Vicky was conned one iota by Brooks and may have found his ability to deceive an attraction because it meant an increase income.
If I had used her company in any capacity, if she had come in contact with one red cent of mine, I would have an audit as Vicky has proven several times she is quite duplicitous.
Vicky will come out of this unscathed and eventually move on to the next con. Just give it time.
How did Brooks increase Vicki’s income. He fucked her in the Vodka deal. And any investment for “them” in Club Detox came from her. We don’t even know if she bought in or if she is getting a cut for lending her name to the company.
I agree that Vicki had to know he didn’t have cancer at some point, most likely prior to filming beginning. But I don’t follow your point that Brooks in anyway increased her income. He certainly blew up the whole Vodka thing. And now that I am questioning everything about him, I don’t believe he is employed at all. Certainly not in the medical insurance industry.
Another thought. Somewhere Slade Smiley is laughing his ass off. Can’t say I blame him. Vicky really got off shaming that man.
He’s the “idea” man. Vicky may not be able to think of a con but she can back one. She saw money signs. They are a con match made in heaven. I am happy they found each other because that saved two innocent people from being attached to losers. An unfortunate byproduct of Vicky/Brooks breakup is each of them is on the prowl again.
I’m not all that convinced Vicky got screwed by Brooks in that Vodka deal.
Would you get back together with someone after a deal going down like that? Maybe you would use the dude for a jump off but you would certainly not invest with this man…or rope others into the deal knowing the chances of it failing are pretty good if people find out the cancer is faked! Think Tamara. Can you say you don’t smell a rat? Not only did she get back together but she became involved in ANOTHER scheme with him. I wonder what would be unearthed if someone had the time and resources to follow the money.
In the vodka deal Vicki gave Brooks a percentage, I believe 5 or 10 percent of her half. And when they were on the outs Brooks sold his part to the other partner making him the controlling partner.
And yes she took him back after that
Thanks for the refresher on the whole vodka shenanigans. I’ve been trying to remember exactly what went down with that. Ick.
Wow Tamara. I didn’t know that. That actually makes me feel ill. Amazing what some women will do for d***.
He was gross from the beginning. I don’t know what she ever saw in him. I wouldn’t exactly call Vickie intelligent. She’s good at what she does businesswise, but intelligent? No.
I’m with justanothermary and KTina. She has never seemed particularly intelligent to me. It’s possible her personality makes her look stupider than she really is, though, which imo is what got her into trouble here anyway. She’s a mess–while she’s self-obsessed, she certainly has no self-control and very little capacity for self-reflection, and it seems like she’s been unhappy for a while, which makes her already enormous appetite for flattery and attention that much greater. Brooks was perfect for someone like her (in the sense that he made her feel great about herself–it would take someone more self-aware than Vicki to reject that kind of “love”).
Well, I am glad to hear that the truth is finally out. I have thought for quite a while that he was faking (and the more I saw, week after week… interview after interview only confirmed it in my mind. I also thought that Vicky damn will knew it! I didn’t want to write on any of the previous posts because it seemed that many were getting bashed for saying as much, and it just wasn’t worth it. I did not feel the least bit sorry for Vicky at the reunion. Both she and Brooks deserve every bit of hostility directed at them. Vicky playing the victim was DISGUSTING! They pretty much deserve each other at this point, except that Brooks conned her into falling in love with him in the first place, so I feel bad for her with that part, but that’s the ONLY part. So glad this is over with! I agree with you a million percent Tamara… time for all of these wretched women to get off of tv.
Lori: I wished you would have spoken your mind! I felt so alone (and cruel) as I’m a natural skeptic… it makes the blog better when there are varied opinions:)
I understand what Lori is saying. Sometimes it’s not worth it.
I’m so sorry Shay! I want you to know that all of your comments made me say “Yes Shay! You go! THANK.YOU!”. I just wasn’t in the mood to engage in that, with enough real life stuff going on right now. You know what I mean? I’ve been around for a lonnng time (just not very much lately), so I wasn’t too worried about WLS (although you can never be 100% sure of course! Lol). Just didn’t feel like hearing all of the anger regarding a man and woman who I 100% felt were full of shit, because then what? Get into a back and forth? Over them?!?! Nahhhh. Anyway Shay, I AM sorry that I wasn’t there to support you.
Aw thanks lori! You are so sweet. I figured out that I’m just mean as shit and a lot of my personal history gets projected when I see similar scuzzy shenanigans. You know what I just thought of??
What if Brooks DOES have cancer and he’s showing all this bullshit so he can turn around and sue everyone for defamation??? That would be the ultimate Crook’s checkmate.
Lol.
Shay, various opinions are hard to do. If you voice them a lot of people come at you, like a gaggle of mean girl geese. Even when calling out the bad treatment I have seen people disappear from this site, whether by choice or by the Jim Hoffa treatment. I hope to see Katie back on this site, hell I might turn up missing. lol
“Gaggle of mean girl geese” – too funny
100% agree
I do think Vickie got conned on the love part, and on the vodka deal. I allways thought Vickie used her status, fame and money to attract Brooks, so she was a willing victim to a large extent. He wasnt with her because she beat out all those other ladies with her own attributes, but because she was as wealthy as she was bedazzeled with him, a winning combination. Ive read a couple of books that are good for women to read. Act like a lady think like a man, and the case for s etteling for mr. Good enough. In the first book it says men fall in love fast and know when its the one. We take a but longer. They allways do three things when in love. Profess provide and protect. The second book is about realizing that oppourtunities to settle down and marry really diminish when women get older, so you need to not dismiss men that are into you ,and would make a decent husband, for shallow or petty reasons. Both books are about being smart and realistic.
Wow, who does that kinda thing? It’s disgusting, to think there are people out there that would really fake cancer.
Thanks for digging into the story and giving us the tea on the faked documents, TT. I’ve known almost from the beginning that Brooks is lying because of my own bout with the Big C. The stories Brooks and Vicki were telling did not add up. It was maddening to see folks here supporting Brooks but it’s also why I love this website so much. I might not agree with TT and the commenters here on everything *cough Kenya* I enjoy and appreciate the other perspectives. Vicki needs some time off tv to get her head together. I feel bad for her that she has been the victim of a long con. She needs to seriously deprogram,be rescued from the cult of Brooks. It’s sad to say but I honestly think if he tried to get back with her, she’d jump at the chance.
They easily could’ve kept it off screen by saying they weren’t talking about his private medical condition. The end. But Vicki wanted those casseroles too much. The Binder. How would she ask to see documents he refused to show if she made the binder?
Living with anyone with a medical condition, you know if they are sick. My sister has never seen my brain mri or gone to my neuro-spine surgeon, but she and her kids have not only seen me vomit 30 times a day, but have been vomited ON.
(Sounds like I’m bragging!:)
I also have so many meds I had to get a digital safe to protect the children. Vicki said she was up countless nights and SAW him sick, sick, sick vomiting. Fevers? Meds? Never one appointment? Waiting in the lobby while he got “chemo” in the area Brianna said is actually the lab to get blood drawn or for donation. She could have had plausible deniability, but those goddamn casseroles!
Shae, I’m sorry you’re so sick. Wishing you much strength to get through!
Shay, I’m keeping you in my thoughts and prayers as you continue to fight your health battle. You have many friends and admirers here at TT’s who are pulling for you!
A note to Brooks; You scullion. You rampallian. You fustilarian. Away you moldy rogue, away! Thou art unfit for any place but hell.
You missed a few, courtesy of my husband’s “Shakespearean Insults Mug”:
* Clod of wayward marl
* roast meat for worms
* infinite and endless liar, an hourly promise-breaker
* Canker blossom
* poisonous bunch-backed toad
* false of heart, light of ear, bloody of hand
* Thou art a boil, a plague-sore
?
Love those MTP!
I agree with Tamara let’s start fresh with a whole new cast. I really can’t take any more with the current cast.
Shay I am so so sorry for your experience. Chemo is awful, sending positive thoughts and prayers your way, Dee
Shay, I often enjoy your thoughtful comments and insights. You are in my thoughts and prayers as you go through your challenge, and I hope you get relief and improvement from the treatments! Know you have supporters here!
I too have too many meds I need to keep out of the hands of others- and know how exhausting it all gets. I bet you are partly here as I am- to get a different perspective, and focus on something else. I sincerely hope it all helps-
Take care!
*cough Kenya* You are NOT alone. LOL
Yes, purevida!!!!
yes two please
I made a negative *cough Kenya* remark one time and what came at me was pretty vicious. That’s why I try to just go with the flow in this blog. It’s not my strong suit though, so sometimes I get myself in trouble. I never believed Brooks. He and Vicki got caught in a big scam and it’s going to bite them both pretty hard in the future.
I hope this puts the issue to rest. Oh, wait, Andy has to have his moment. Brooks is one of many small time scam artists, what did he even gain? Let’s interview and make public examples of the greedy doctors and clinics that scam us all with medicare and insurance fraud! Brooks is just one small time, hang dog, fool. Not deserving of all this attention, he’s just not that special.
I find all the regulars on RHOOC are despicable. They each have a different game or vice, just varying degrees of sick. They aren’t fun, funny, interesting, clever, or aspirational. Yeah, they have money and fancy houses. I’ll take middle class, hard working, regular folks over these idiots with everything and nothing. They aren’t happy or satisied with themselves or all their stuff,
Thanks TT. I value your opinion, if you are convinced, okay, he’s guilty, probably both are. I don’t think less if them, I didn’t think much of them anyway. I do wish Vicki would get therapy and overcome the need for a guy so much that her picker is off. She has worked to hard for a good life to disparage herself in her personal life. She needs to believe she deserves better treatment from a man and from her kids.
It was Vicki’s bull shit comment of seeing Brooks getting the needle in his arm (chemo), that’s when I knew they were lying. The majority of cancer victims who need to undergo extensive chemotherapy get a port surgically inserted, because veins can’t tolerate the poison, and will collapse. Brooks didn’t have a port (it’s implanted right below your collarbone, close to the clavicle). And his arms looked clean, big healthy veins where that needle would be inserted. There is no way his veins could’ve survived that blood treatment we saw if he had went thru cycles of chemotherapy. I’m talking from personal experience.
Shit you are right. I missed that comment and would have had the same realization as you did.
Instead I kept explaining away the weirdness of it all because it seemed inconceivable that someone would risk a lawsuit from a hospital or clinic. Waving around those PET scan docs and claiming they were from this and that clinic seemed utterly stupid risky to me.
You are correct. If he moved in with her around Thanksgiving and had chemo Oct. Dec. and Jan. How did Vicki never see his port? My friend is doing chemo and can see her port in different outfits. How can you miss it with someone you are living and sleeping with. She stated she never saw proof either way but she would have had to have seen that.
Brooks was stupid to do a interview after splitting from Vicky.
I never gave Brook’s cancer a thought, I did give Vicky support because how she was being treated.
I don’t know if Vicky knew the entire time, helped set up the cancer lie or learned somewhere in between.
I honestly did not watch this year. I caught a few minutes and wasn’t interested.
Bravo will not notice I left, I can’t be the only one.
I did supported Brooks and the situation about not questioning Vicky. I do not think if I was a friend I could do what was done to Vicky. I never gave a moments thought to Brooks lying.
Ive never liked Vicky.
I also would not question a cancer diagnosis unless I was asked for money.
I stand by my choice.
Possibly I did not care.
Speaking of asking for money, I hear or read about people frequently that lie about cancer to get sympathy donations with online funds drives and communuty raffles, fund raisers, etc. All a horrendous scam! That to me is worse that Brooks’ foolery.
Dawn: that was Vicki and Brooks plan via Club Detox. From before filming when Vicki announced his diagnosis on Twittee and asked her followers for “alternative treatments” (alternative treatments as your first choice when diagnosed is a great idea when you don’t have cancer). Then, the light bulb went off and she was promoting Club Detox saying it cured cancer. If Meghan and production didn’t dig, right now Vicki and Brooks would be announcing Club Detox cured him.
If only Vicki had been nice to Meghan.
Shay, I don’t follow Vicki on social media, or hardly anyof the housewives. So, I was not aware of all the Club Detox promotin initially. Even when it first came up on the show, I didn’t take it as they considered it as a cure, only as a means to better general health while he was taking the chemo break. Sort of like starting an exercise regimen or healthy eating. My friend was a total vegan on the CHIP program, then switched to raw foods only after she had a malignant lump removed from her breast. She said her doctor also advocated it. It seemed extreme to me. They both believed she should not have gotten cancer being a vegan for 4 years. That sounds like BS to me.
I didn’t realize Brooks and Vicki were going the route of preparing to claim it cures cancer, until people here said it. That is illegal! As far as it being the 2 of them doing it to peddle the product as a healthy choice, I didn’t see it as any worse than “Wine for Wives” or Heather’s Collette, or whatever her “champs” is called. My mind is not very devious I guess.
Wow, if that’s what Vicki was up to that makes her no better than Jim Marchese! I have never been a fan of Vicki’s, I just hated how they all ganged up on her so I found myself being on her side. However, as I’m starting to hear more and more other lies such as this Club Detox curing cancer, I certainly don’t think I’ll be defending her much longer.
Have Brooks or Vicki responded to these new facts? How dumb was he to copy the very first thing that pops up in a Google search. He and Vicki are pathological liars. I didn’t watch the whole E interview; any questions about Club Detox? It’s curious to me that it hasn’t come up.
They both need to be afraid of a bitch named KARMA.
WTF – especially after Briana’s thyroid cancer scare.
Tamra was right, Vickie has turned into Brooks.
Holy shit. Done. Now Vickis begging the public that all she wants is for people to stop hating on her for lying makes sense. Both scum bag liars and that awful Meghan is right, there are real people dying and if even one of them bought into any of that snake oil Brooks and Vicki were hawking, then they both need to join Ms Teresa up at Club College! #getoffmytv
Well, im not surprised at all. Not too surprised about Vickie going along with it either. Brooks had a big effect on her, and I think Vickie has lived a duplicitous life of affairs on the side for a long time herself, before he even came along. All their buisness ventures seemed to be fraught with drama and law suits and trouble. Oh well. Hell charm some other lady and on it goes.
YOU ARE ON A ROLL TODAY TT!!!
At this point, I don’t care that Brooks doesn’t have cancer. He’s a scumbag, RHOOC is a shit show and these women are horrific. This show needs to be completely recast.
My concern is that those will now secure Vicki another season in a “redemption” storyline OR in a rushly filmed season ala RHONJ Teresa going to jail.
AND that a perfectly wonderful gay porn star named Girth Brooks’ name and is now linked to this horrible scam artist. Yes, there is a gay porn star with that name and yes, he is spectacular.
Girth Brooks is not gay, he’s gay for pay.
Hope you are feeling better.
He has sex with another man on camera for money. Hence, he is a gay porn star. His actual orientation in real life? Doesn’t matter.
OT Johnny Rapid is my favourite G4P star. Shame he is a horrible person.
I don’t think Bravo is against vicki. SHE MADE THE RATINGS go up this season.
No one cares about Tamra’s fake religious situation.
no one cares about Shannon and her fake marriage reconciliation
No one cares about the other girls.
Vicki will get her redemption but she’ll have to admit that the other girls were right about him conning her and use it to connect with women who have been conned by men (aka any straight women) in order for it to work.
She needs Briana and maybe alexis and jeana to come back on Lizzie will be a great friend and needs to be full time.
Once she redeems herself using her stupid decisions and being conned…she’ll be back in good standing.
Vicki has been the target a few times and came through it.
If they didn’t get rid of Tamra last season, I don’t see them doing it with her.
constant press with brooks is only exposing how good of a liar he is because he actually has an answer for everything which makes it connect to the idea that he could easily persuade Vicki even if it wasn’t the case. Brooks is actually helping Vicki the more he makes himself look like an A.
If the other girls were likable it’d be one thing but Vicki is in a pool of see you next tuesdays on her cast so they won’t throw her out after she gave them great ratings.
Vicki is not innocent. This goes way beyond Tamra’s tantrums and gossiping. Vicki used all these ladies (except Meghan) to push her agenda even before the season was filmed. Doubt she was duped since she used Brooks’ cancer as an excuse to leave Donn years ago. IMHO
Oh you, you and your gay-agenda. Just won’t be satisfied until you have us all glittered up.
😉 poke poke, wink wink 😉 (I caved and googled him …)
He isn’t my favorite (I’m more of a Conner Habib type o’guy) but I’ve thought for years that Girth Brooks is the Best. Porn name. EVAH!
Weird confession to ericzku: up until I read this I thought you were female for some reason – associating your screen name with Erika Badu, I think 🙂
Porn star wise? Diggin on James Jamesson and Michael Burke, for differing reasons.
Oddly enough, the thing I’m most offended about is his completely amateur attempts at trying to procure evidence. If you’re going to be that fucking dumb to try to pull off something like this, either say you have nothing to prove – stick with it and LAY LOW ie NOT DO NATIONAL INTERVIEWS WHERE PEOPLE THAT DONT EVEN WATCH RHOC NOW KNOW WHO YOU ARE – or be prepared to produce a fuck load of documents/bills/scrips.
The fact that he took the first google picture possible, didn’t even bother to change the order of prescriptions, didn’t notice his egregious typo, couldn’t fucking figure out how to use a template – and don’t even get me started on the medical transcription with NO SPACES. I mean, if you were going on E! Fucking News wouldn’t you hire a professional? OR AT LEAST SPEND LIKE 40 MINUTES ON IT?
I’m also annoyed at E! News for relying on some random poster to figure this out. Why do scammers and sensationalizing media not care about quality work anymore?!
Honestly though, i’m proud that the collective TTers were willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. People are too quick to judge these days, and if after everything Meghan did, he turned out to not have cancer, that would have been truly AWFUL. People like Brooks make the world just a little worse. I admire all those that held on to believing he had cancer because they couldn’t even wrap their heads around those that would fake it.
Psylocke! Where have you been?! Hi!
I think he grabbed the first image TO get caught. Laying low doesn’t get you paid interviews. I bet he could get a People magazine, In Touch, US Weekly cover now. He could say more lies, get more Google hits, blame Vicki… what does he have to lose? His reputation was already a deadbeat dad cancer-faker. Now, he gets paid for it.
Good point Shay, I couldn’t fathom why he continued to pop up on RHOOC after the big expose` on 20/20. I’d lay low forever whether I was guilty or not. I guess he falls into the category of people believing any publicity is good publicity. I just don’t get why ordinary Joes want publicity. Just go live your life for f— sake!
Makes sense about wanting to get caught, Shay.
It makes me wonder if Brooks ever had cancer (I was of the opinion that he had NHL at one time but he and Vicki had resurrected it for a storyline for this season). IF he did have it at one time, couldn’t or wouldn’t he have dug up an old, legitimate bill and just changed the dates rather than finding one on the net that could be so easily disproved?
Oh my gosh this is sick
I didn’t think of it but it makes sense. His Twitter was private and is now public. He does like this negative attention.
Yeah I get more offended when someone puts no effort into lying to me than if they put alot of effort and I’m smart enough to find out.
The sloppiness of his lies is an insult. TBH.
I didnt believe E! But I believe TT. As far as Vickie goes, I reserve judgement. Most women dont get what comes with loving a man who is a POS .. how badly you want to believe in him. I think she was half-praying she could get out of this whole.
“Every single line in order, same medication, exact same price.” No, the prices are not exactly the same on every line. A lot of them are different. The two documents are not identical.
DJFL: he lazily added 10 or 25 dollars here and there, but notice he mispelled Palanosetron HCL as the Google doc did (Palonsetron) and instead of .05mg per 5ml he put .50MG per 5ml. That is not only twice the recommended high dose, but it isn’t made in .5mg per 5ml! So, have a seat.
It was a bogus bill. No dates of service. No revenue coded. Suprisingly the correct meds. I will give anyone that says they are ill the benifit of the doubt.
What gets me is how bad those faked copies are like he believes every body is stupid. The transcription- I’ve seen some pretty bad transcription.
I didnt watch the E! Interview, but I guess he confirmed his bill was for $33k. Funny because his linked in says he works in health insurance… UM. Why wouldn’t you use your insurance?
If he worked in health insurance, he could do a better job in faking bills and authorization letters. Even a path report. The sheer arrogance.
I can believe the 33k bill. I had to go to an infusion center for 6 months and the bills were sky high.
5cats: yes, I have had large bills, too, but usually insurance makes a big dent or you get a cash discount… if one works in health insurance you would think they would have the best coverage. My friend owns an property casualty agency and best believe she is over-insured in every way.
Also, I moved states and the coverage from my 1st state would not cover surgeries/procedures, so I had to fly back every month for 8 months. How can he get treatment in California and other states?
Does he really have a job?
*shrugs* I just hope this is like a Nancy Drew book and we can move on to new characters and a new plot.
I am done. I think Production knew all along. Since All my Children was cancelled, my guilty pleasure was Bravo. Now I watch cause of this Blog.
DJFL is you still want to believe Brooks, and think the documents are real, that’s fine with me. But each line item on his document was taken directly and in order from the original document. He made few typos, one misspelling the name of a medicine and others hitting the next number on the keyboard to make the price of by ten cents or so here and there, but it is abundantly obvious to me that he used the NC bill as a template for his faked documents. There are many other issues with the document like the lack of insurance code, and no billing template at all, and no contact information for the billing department and no address for Brooks, and the wrong format for his name, and so much more. But if the google images don’t convince you , I don’t think anything will.
Again, you are entitled to believe he has cancer if you want to. I understand that inclination. But you can’t deny the photos from Google.
Let’s not forget that one of the medications on the bill cause you to lose your hair. I’m surprised the moron did not shave his head for the show…
Also…I’m a nurse although not a chemo nurse but if someone is getting chemo treatments they most likely would have a port put in…they don’t get a new IV every time they get chemo. I could be wrong but I think he would have some sort of port in him to administer the chemo since it is so caustic in general to veins. I have a friend who had cancer and had his port in for a good long time. Thankfully he is cancer free but I remember how happy he was to get that port out.
“Brooks supposedly had recurrent NHL and the chemo drugs on his fake invoice don’t make sense for the treatment of what he claims he has.” The drug Rituximab is listed, and it IS used for treatment of NHL.
DJFL: O.M.Z. Let’s say Brooks had the exact same meds as this person in 2012. Can you explain if he also needed an abscess drained? SMDH. Now, will you fuck off to the WLS?
“The CPT for a level III est patient obsv visit is still the same. It’s listed as 49021 here which according to the CPT coding book is actually an abcess drainage code.”
Why are you so RUDE?!? Telling people to fuck off for daring to express a opinion?
It was rude. Sorry DJFL. Not an excuse, but an explanation at least. I’m dealing with a life threatening illness and had to make arrangements tonight for the care of my (service) dog in the event of my passing (tears). My emotions are just everywhere. Lots of anger. Lots. No reason to take it out on people here. Thanks for checking me, Jujue!
Shay, I’m so sorry for what you’re going through. This breaks my heart. I’m not sure exactly what it is of course, but I am sending loads of positive vibes your way. I can only imagine how difficult today was/is with worrying about your dog. If I can do anything to help, please let me know. I am involved in dog rescue and would be more than happy to try and help in any way that I can, if need be.
I truly hope you overcome whatever it is you are dealing with, Shay. Huge <<>> to you!!!
Thanks, Jujue. I actually have blasted a couple of friends via text message, too. No bueno!
Gentle hugs, Shay. <3 <3
I had HUGS in there, but for whatever reason it didn’t post. Hugs to you ?
Darn in your earlier post you were saying that people should post opposing views, now this language. So unnecessary and so very rude. It’s a blog about a reality show, there is no need to be so cruel.
Prayers for you Shay, in whatever illness you’re battling <3 and your service dog too!
Shay, my prayers are with you. I wish you peace.
Shay, sending prayers to you….and thanks for letting me “share” your name. 😉
Shay- I loved that you were one of the few to stand up and say how you really felt about this Vicki and Brooks situation. I always felt similarity but wasn’t 100 until the reunion.
I love your comments and I am so sorry you are going through this. Much love to you, friend.
xxoo
Aw, Shay. I understand the lashing out. It was out of character for you. You’re entitled to a bad day now and then given what you’re going through.
We all love you here Shay and you have carte Blanche to say whatever you want IMO. I have been wanting to apologize to you for the other day when I said I was in the exact same boat as you in a comment.I was referring to your anxiety only. I have been angsting over that since I said it but didn’t know where or when to bring it up again. I am so sorry and I hope I didn’t offend you. I have so much admiration for you and am sending hugs your way. XOXO
Shay Aw hell no! You’re toughness is apparent and Lord knows you’re brave. If you ever need to hollor at someone when you have anger I’m at you service. That’s what it’s all about.
Shay I will be sending tons of healing positive vibes your way. If there’s anything I can do to help or you want to vent to someone. I groom dogs (part time now) and know alot of really nice dog people and I always have room here, or if theres anything hmu. Sorry for going off topic TT & hope you can feel all the positive uplifting energy heading your way Shay. ?? ???
Thank you Shay! You have the best information. I’m so sorry you are suffering.
Sending wishes for all the best to you, Shay.
I am just a bit gobsmacked by all this. I’ve given him the benefit of the doubt all along because I just couldn’t accept that someone would go on TV and lie about having cancer.
This does explain Vicki’s cavalier attitude about traveling all over the place during his supposed treatment. She knew there was nothing to be worried about at all. Now all she has to do is put on her annoying little girl lost act and blame it all on Brooks. It’s all so despicable.
Wow, just wow. I was in the camp to give Brooks the benefit of the doubt. My opinion shifted a little with part 3 reunion when Vicki said she wanted the girls to give him compassion and started the whole i was duped and don’t know nothing, yet I was still willing to believe he had cancer and exaggerated it to make it worse than it really was. It is despicable what he did and Vicki really knows more than she let’s on. She’s done horrible things in the past but had grown as a person over the years and I honestly sympathized with the way those witches treated her but this is a new low for Vicki. Brooks and Appollo went to the same con school and Megan is somewhere gloating. Unbelievable.
Well, color me wrong.
I can admit I am wrong in the face of absurd “proof” offered. Damn, Brooks—- for being the quintessential favorite “con man” of RHOC you think you would have done a better job with the juvenile, obvious mock ups.
But I have to admit, ( even in the face of the predictable and requisite “I told you so’s)—I remain a little confused.
Unless I missed major episodes, I did not see Brooks really try to parlay his illness into financial gain. Yeah, I heard a little about Club Detox. No Go Fund me or fund raisers.
Really don’t know what to make of all of this “story line” or exactly where or how anyone fit it. Who knew what and when? I dunno. Did Andy/Bravo know? I dunno.
As stupidly wrong and naive I apparently was, I will now sit back and read all of the “I knew all along” or the every popular ” I figured it all out when_____”
Maybe I will learn something.
But I do know this: That vile young woman Meghan using a dying woman who ACTUALLY DID HAVE CANCER as her personal little story line was the worst thing I have ever seen.
Totally agree, Maisey, and Brooks looked gaunt at the beginning of the season. In a situation like this, I prefer no being cynical. Agree with TT, these women all need to get fired, or the show cancelled.
Thanks, Lisamia.
This is kinda funny, but when I read TT’s blog tonight, you know who I first thought of?
Ericzku.
Yep, I like those people who are reasoned, passionate and stick up for underdogs. And who write well while doing so. Thanks, Eric.
Maisey, the ones like you & Ericzku who always come across as intelligent & unwavering made me question if it was even appropriate to be discussing. There were times I wanted to comment, but for (1) am not usually feeling up for an argument, & (2) seeing you guys.. not necessarily defending Brooks, but defending someone questioning another’s health. It made me rethink my position & the morality of the whole thing. Even though we had different opinions, I appreciate the defenders as well. ?
Thanks, Jujue. It’s good news, really, that he doesn’t have cancer. Bad news is he’s an evil grifter.
You are a hoot!!! When you “commit,” you commit.
It is honorable and totally justified to withhold judgment until all of the information is obtained and can be evaluated. When the whole “he doesn’t have cancer” storyline first aired, I agreed with you that Meghan and Shannon needed to STFU because it just wasn’t their business and I, like you, couldn’t fathom why anyone would fake cancer, especially on a television show where everything eventually comes out one way or the other. But that didn’t mean that I believed Brooks. He always struck me as a con man, and I couldn’t shake the feeling no matter how much Vicki professed to love him.
The question now is why. And I’m going to withhold judgment again until all the facts come out, but I’m willing to entertain the notion that Vicki and Brooks conspired together to come up with the cancer storyline not only for the show, but also to promote the Club Detox venture. I would not be surprised if Vicki got sucked into it, but at some point she had a choice to bail. And she chose not to. I understand why the other women are upset, but really they just need to ease up on her right now and hope that she doesn’t do something to hurt herself as more facts emerge.
I didn’t believe one word from Brooks from the beginning once his child support issues came to light so I definitely didn’t believe he had cancer. He is scum. So that’s me, no relationship with Vicki or Brooks whatsoever, nothing to go by but his edit on RH.
The women (and Brianna, but minus Meghan) on RH, however, DO have a relationship with Vicki/Brooks and are privy to way more than we are. They all, ALL, distrusted him from the get go for very real reasons.
They watched Vicki get completely played and she wouldn’t listen to them. I can see how Vicki would end up lying for him in the end, it was her last ditch effort to not face the truth of his con. She essentially left Don for this tool, her daughter is pissed, her friends are pissed and not ONE person says he is anything but a piece of shit.
So she starts to believe them and realizes how badly she has been played. What do her “friends” do? Take to social media to kick her just a little bit more. Yes, she tried to cover up for him, yes that was wrong. But let’s not forget she was being completely manipulated for several YEARS by this turd.
Heather, Tamara, Shannon and Meghan are the shittiest “friends” for not trying to help her deal with the realization she was duped. Fuck them all.
I hope this is the last season because this one sucked for a million different reasons.
Preach beets! That’s exactly how I feel too. And Vicki just lost her mother too. I just lost my mom (and best friend) two months ago and cannot begin to fathom going through that in addition to all the hate she is getting, plus the realization of all the lies hitting her about the “love of her life” Maybe I’m a bit biased but I can totally see how she got sucked in by this monster. Love is blind as they say. They, DAUGHTER INCLUDED, should be supporting her and helping her through this as this has got to be hitting her like a ton of bricks. I don’t blame her for being tranked out on Xanax. I’d be there times 10.
Heather tried twice to talk to Vicki about there being some inconsistencies and something wrong with the stories. I think she even used the words I want to make sure you’re not being duped or maybe it was fooled. But Vicky shot her down and left the party.
Tamra asked the psychic, made a fuss with Brooks, and probably encouraged Megan to do research since she couldn’t get away with that when she is Born Again…
Shannon got screechy, self important (listen to me) and nearly brought her supposed friend to tears at that lunch.
Megan… ugh, that cunt satchel did the research, trying to make some convoluted argument that his cancer was some how related to Leeanne’s because of “justice”.
Heather for the most part was in the room when people discussed it, she did ask questions, brought up that the doc that Brooks said they had it common was not an oncologist, tried to talk to Vicki calmly about her concerns, and I think did try to be supportive. But when Vicki roped Terry into the stories, she rightfully got pissed. It could be devastating to Terry’s rep and career.
Well said, Erica. They all gave her the benefit of the doubt (except Meghan). Yes, getting Terry involved was downright dirty. Feel bad for Brianna listening to this nonsense for years and then being throw under the bus by her mother.
I don’t think Vickie is a victim at all. I think she had invested so much into Brooks she had to go along with the BS. Vickie would have rode into the sunset with Brooks had he not broken up with her. She agreed to this to stay on this show as a full time cast member. She was selling this dream of Club Detox. This isn’t the first con job she was apart of with Brooks. That Vickie Vodka scam, with trying to make Brooks a partner with a loan. She has be a liar from the beginning, the problem is she went too far this time.
Me neither. She’s no victim. I’m sorry about her mother but let’s be real, she was 83 not 63 and Vickie’s a grown woman. Her own son said something to that affect. Vickie needs to have a lot of attention on her, good or bad. Everything that she does, whether it’s getting Briana a car (that she had to pay monthly on), or showing up at Michael’s school and then cried because he really didn’t want her there, is classic narcissistic behavior.
On the plus side, she seems like a wonderful grandmother and has raised two pretty well adjusted adults aside from Brianna’s choice of a husband.
“I’m sorry about her mother but let’s be real, she was 83 not 63 and Vickie’s a grown woman.”
This sort of snarky comment really pisses me off. Who are you to judge how upset a person should be? The age of the deceased, or the age of the grieved, has little to nothing to do with the level of pain and sadness felt by those left behind.
Yeah that bothered me too, Vickies role in the vodka company and giving Brooks those shares and not really promoting the buisness. I get loving someone too hard thats just using you. But nobody would ever cause me to rip someone off, or be unethical in buisness. Its one thing for me to be stupid, its another thing entirely to harm or take advantage of others in the name of love.
I just saw the story on E! Apparently, Brooks had his first name followed by his last name, in order. But on all City of Hope invoices, they list last name first. Invoices are alphabetized by last name in their database. Their official address is E for east follwing the street on ALL invoices. The word East was spelled out on Brooks paperwork. A doctor for City of Hope commented that in his estimation, they were fabricated, for reasons regarding specific treatment that I dont understand. I think the reason I defended him so much is because.. well, because of the audacity of the women. They seemed to have their minds made up before so much of this proof came out.. a fake psychic didnt nail his coffin for me. Also, I didnt think Brooks was this dumb. I would never dream of outsmarting E! or the physicians that E! Could hire to verify.. finally, I cant wrap my brain around someone doing something this low. Like TT said, Brooks is facing humiliation in front of a nation. Vickie must be mortified. Id want to crawl under a rock and hide if I were them.I hope everyone appreciates how thorough this blog is.
Beth, I don’t think it was a snarky comment. It’s just life. From what I recall, Vicki was more upset on how her mother’s death affected her life more than anything else. It was really over the top in some scenes.
I dont think Brooks will be humiliated at all. I think he has no shame. If pressed by people, hell probably say believe what you want to believe. Hes used to this sort of thing and isnt going to be effected like how most of us would be. And as a last resort he could blame Vickie for making this up for a storyline to help her. She begged him to do it to get Breanna’s approval and to come around. He will talk as long as they will pay him.
I still would rather err on the side of kindness. No need to apologize. Yes, Brooks is a scumbag. I do think this was planned. The pieces fell into place all too conveniently. I would have still believed Brooks if he had faded off into the sunset and not said anything. When he started giving the interviews i started smelling a ?.
I’m with you Fivecats. I also err on the side of kindness. I believed him til I read this. Anyone who would fake cancer is evil. I thought this was a loosely scripted show so did production go along with this?
I think they new all along
Vicki & Brooks deserve each other – both are revolting, ugly, ignorant, immoral, venal, crass, hypocritical, & just plain DUMB! Too bad he jumped ship when the going got tough! Don’t wanna see either on my TV evah agin!
Though Vicki was at times bat-shit-crazy on the RHOC, I always admired & respected her acumen for business insurance knowledge, & financial planning, so how can she be involved with someone so dirty as this? Plus the way she kept defending Brooks & herself and dragging “Jesus Christ” into her arguments is really some low class shit.
Urethra, are you saying Vicky was in on the cancer scam?
I respect your opinion.
I agree with erica.
I also want to point out that while brooks lies exist that the one thing that makes me question vicki’s awareness the entire time is that usually liars have their stories together.
Even when she was pretending that she was still in love with don and did that renewal thing despite him having a 20 year affair on the side and her own trangressions those lies were sealed tight until afterwards.
I really am inclined to believe that Brooks conned his way into her life as Briana said knowing what she needed and wasn’t getting from Don and used cancer as a timeclock for which she hurried to end it with don not knowing what time she had left to pursue the brooks deal.
Then when brooks fed her lies about cancer coming up again she asked for sympathy from her fans and also wanted to find methods to help him. I wouldn’t be surprised if he conned her into investing into club detox and now she has that investement over her head which might be why she’s still supporting club detox because pulling out would be suspicious.
She thought she was investing in something that would help him and after a period of time realized he wasn’t being truthful but was stuck being loyal to brooks and stuck being loyal to club detox after publicizing it for some time.
Brooks most likely could easily threaten to use that over her head even if he was probably conning her into investing in it to begin with.
I used to think briana was a brat but I now see how his mind possibly works and he really did orchestrate this and i believe vicki thought someone loved her as much as she loved him and realizes that SHE WAS USED but has too much pride to admit that she was wrong about EVERYTHING. She was wrong to divorce don for brooks, she was wrong to defend him against her family and she lost her friendships.
I see the xanax intake and calm disposition of dealing with her mother’s death and realizing that she might be smart in business but is emotionally unintelligent and wasted so much time defending someone that probably never loved her from the beginning and everything she felt was manipulated and orchestrated by Brooks.
Her inability to keep her story straight made me think she was saying anything to cover for him because she just assumed and wanted to believe him but then it got to a point where she realized something was off but had to remain loyal to not be caught in the crossfire except she still was the target.
This doesn’t make any of the other girls more likable but I do think they know that he’s emotionally unintelligent and was ripe for the picking when Brooks swooped in for the kill.
I think Brooks watched the show… took note of exactly what Vicki wanted from Donn… and then specifically did things to make Vicki feel her love tank was full. Now, if she knew about the noncancer… being initially duped by that con isn’t an excuse for helping someone fake cancer (if she knew)
Erica – nailed it! This is what I’ve been saying from the very beginning.
Well shit! I was kinda hoping he would prove those bitches wrong. I was never a Brooks fan as soon as he appeared on RHOC and now I feel like an idiot for believing him, because I should have known all along he was a liar mclying face! I just can’t get over Vicki though!
TT I completely agree that Vicki needs to be fired. You don’t live with a partner and not know whether they have cancer or not. She knew.
It was obvious to me from comparing Brooks E interview with Andy’s that he is very comfortable lying and conning women – his entire demeanour was different. Aggressive, on edge, almost aggressive with Andy, and smarmy, calm, smiley and laying on the Southern Charm with Melanie. This is his MO and he’s made a career of it.
I believe he tried to use cancer as a means of keeping Vicki in line, as he apparently has done with her and others in the past, and she ran with it as a means of getting sympathy from people and to stop people thinking she was stupid for moving him in to her home – no one would dare say that when she is caring for someone with cancer!
I totally agree with Heather, Shannon and Tamra now about not wanting to film with her – she expected to bully them in to going along with this storyline. If fans had gone along with Vicki unquestioningly she would be happy to make all them the bad guys to cover her and Brooks lies.
I agree with everything you said. Unless people were also following Vicki’s tweets, IG, and Facebook from last October, they have no idea how deep she was in the scam. She was STILL posting endorsements for Club Detox as a crucial part of Brooks’ cancer treatment in August. Anyone believe she didn’t know it was fake by August? (Note: All of the truly incriminating posts were deleted prior to the reunion.) She had and still has a financial stake in promoting Club Detox. I don’t think she and Brooks thought this connection would ever be called out because who questions someone claiming to have cancer? Even I thought Meghan was ridiculous, but in hindsight if you know it is a scam promoting fake crap, do you just say nothing? The season would have ended, he would reappear next year “in remission”, and the happy couple would be thanking Lenka at Club Detox for “saving” him.
I honestly think the cast felt they had to call it out because they knew he was faking it before filming even began. Vicki and Brooks gave out too much information that could be fact checked like having chemo at City of Hope back in October, December, and January. I know Heather can’t say it, but when Vicki put the story out last October about calling Terry to administer IV you know he got to the bottom of the truth immediately. Physicians talk to each other off the record. I think Meghan was merely her mouthpiece. There is no way they could reveal a source without being called out for HIPAA violations, but you can bet every one of them except Shannon knew this was all a lie before filming began. I think they held back to see how far they would take the lie. They took it way too far to be ethical even by crappy housewife morals.
I for one choose not to feel bad for giving Brooks the benefit of the doubt about having cancer and for being angry that the rest of the housewives were acting like a pack of hyenas at first. My reasons being I would never claim to have cancer if I didn’t nor would I feel I had the right to question someone’s medical diagnosis if it didn’t affect me personally.
After so much conflicting info started coming out, I admit I started to question if he was lying but I still wondered what Brooks and Vicki had to gain from lying. I even made a couple of comments on posts here about it. Knowing now that Brooks lied, what exactly did he and Vicki gain except for money from Club Detox? Was that money worth everything else Vicki has lost and stands to lose?
The other housewives all feel vindicated for their horrid behavior this season? If Brooks had not provided the falsified medical papers, he might have gotten away with it. He got too cocky. Even though Brooks and Vicki were disgusting enough to use fake cancer as their storyline this season, let’s not forget the other housewives. I’m not giving Vicki a pass by any means. If she gets fired she deserves it but none of the other housewives are what I’d call perfect either. Some make very poor parenting decisions. Others lie constantly when they aren’t stirring the pot. One carries her husband’s balls around in her purse. Another’s claim to fame other than being a stepparent for a minute is taking down the OG of the OC.
This season has been a shit storm. There are no winners…not Vicki or Brooks, or the other housewives or us the viewers. Now we know so let it go.
I don’t think Vicki and Brooks ever expected the new, younger, less experienced housewife to be such a crusader for justice and put so much scrutiny on their storyline. Had Meghan not been so intrusive and suspicious of Brook’s claims and stepped over the line of decency in making calls, etc, I think the other women would have gone along with everything Brooks and Vicki said and no one would have ever doubted their stories. Vicki’s ‘fabrications’ would have gone unquestioned and she’d have gotten the sympathy and attention she was looking for. But, he did, she did, and they did, and in the end, the omissions, lies and truths, and the further attempts to justify stopped being believable and it blew up in their faces.
Is there a resolution or reconciliation in the future for the RHOC? Time will tell, but I don’t think there’s a peaceful future ahead for them until / unless the women receive a sincere apology from the OG of the OC and they see each other express some remorse for the parts they played in this mess – and I don’t think it should happen on camera.
I think there were some legitimate friendships between some of the women that were harmed and IMO, that’s why some of the women are so angry and so hurt. Had there been no need to try to save face and not ‘out’ the off-camera activities I think they’d have all apologized and moved on already, but… contracts and Bravo and money and…
Good one HKR!
Tamara I’m a long time reader and just wanted to add my two cents worth (Aussie slang). No one is judging you for your very kind argument that a persons medical battle is theirs to fight and should really be off limits from reality TV scrutiny. I think you were fair in giving him the benefit of the doubt- in real life who wouldn’t so don’t worry about it. And yes I think the the housewives show is delving into some very dodgy areas. Your site is awesome because if you venture onto others you would be amazed at all the rubbish that’s out there x
Hi everyone! Long time reader first time writing a comment. I really love your blog Tamara. Admittedly, I don’t always agree with your likes and dislikes but, that’s what makes the world go round. I always read what you think and the comments as well. I appreciate varying opinions. I watch almost everything by bravo. Yes, I know I’m a sad soul. I didn’t buy Brooks story from the beginning but, I’ve been a bartender for well over a decade and a big part of my job is to read the worst possible outcome, put on a smile and pray that I’m wrong. I appreciated you and your readers giving him the the benefit of the doubt. Faith in humanity is in short supply and it’s lovely to see. Anyway, this is my first comment ever to a blog, anywhere ever. I promise to be more concise in the future. All the best.
Stick a fork in it…
Agreed completely. This is such a slap in the face to all cancer patients and survivors. Someone should start a petition to get her fired.
At this point I am left wondering: IS Vicki really as smart as we the viewers give her credit for? I have always given her credit for being an effective business woman, but now I wonder. Would I now choose Coto Insurance for my financial needs? I hope this shit doesn’t effect her business. It could and she would have no one to blame but herself.
Their ratings have gone up. There’s no way they will cancel RHOC.
That said, if they kept Kim and Teresa then I’m sure Vicki will have another shot. I have a hard time believing that the whole time she had no clue but I also am not sure she knew the entire time. At some point she either new and covered for him or she knew the entire time.
In any event, Vicki can pull through this because brooks is such a scumbag and the girls and Briana have been helping paint the picture that Vicki was duped and brooks is controlling and Vicki wanted to believe anything or some crap.
Vicki will get past it but maybe it’s best for her to move on. The show shouldn’t go on without her the OG but it would be tough to get past this stigma too.
It’s confusing. Just as she had a good season 9 now she makes Meghan, Tamra and Shannon appeared justified (for which they were not justified) in their shenanigans.
I agree. My guess is they will bring everyone back with Vicky going for revenge/redemption. Shannon or Meghan will be the target on their back.
Oh, I think Vicki is returning on a redemption crusade. Her story line is going to be trying to pick up the pieces and redeem her friendships & relationship with Brianna. **I also felt that Brooks was faking by the way that he was carrying himself. Anyone who has cancer and accused of faking it will be outraged and have no problem providing evidence to shut people up and demand an apology. He was way too squirmy through the process and while NO, he doesn’t have to prove himself, he doesn’t have to be on a reality show either making this a part of his storyline. Anyone who is being accused of something so morally indefensible they will be doing everything that they can to clear their name. He just didn’t do that. Also, anyone who has a connection to a world renowned physician specializing in your illness, by hell and high water you will do what you can to be seen. His “flat tire” excuse didn’t pass the sniff test to me.
As I stated before, Brooks and Vicki were faking cancer and SOME of you were faking a funk of your own. Pretending to believe this bullshit must have been exhausting. The operatic outrage toward the messengers and the solemn vows to never watch the show again were sidesplitting.
Agree. Love the comments “having faith in humanity” is really trying to save face. Am ducking out of the way now.
Hugs to Shay.
I see why everyone thinks Vicki knew Brooks was not sick, but having a hard time understanding why she would risk the business she built from scratch and was so proud of – this mess could mean the end of her company,
What I gather from this post is that Brooks and Vicki were in cahoots to falsely promote this “Club Detox” and its ability to cure cancer. I must be slow as this never occurred to me. (I don’t follow her on twitter) For the life of me I couldn’t fathom why people would fake cancer for sympathy. They had a definitive financial reason for this douchebaggery. The other women must have been privy to this info. Why were Brooks and Vicki not directly called out for promoting this bullshit (by name) on the show? Did I miss something? Is my brain finally pickled? Thanks Tamara for another great post from a constant reader, infrequent poster.
I’ve wondered that too. Were the other women not aware of the fact that Vicki and Brooks were into this whole Club Detox? I know they promoted it on the show because of the woman Lanka and one of the “doctors” they saw, but maybe the other women were simply unaware of Vicki and Brooks’ ties to Club Detox. Meghan speculated that they faked the cancer so Brooks could get out of paying child support. That may have been part of it too.
My doubting began to really seep in during the reunion when Vicki said she waited in the waiting room while he he got his chemo. I can not believe that Vicki would go all the way down there and not go sit with him at least for a little bit while he got his chemo. It makes no sense to me.
Vicki likes to be in control and take action. Why wouldn’t she be going to the dr appointments with him? Why wouldn’t she take more action in making sure he was getting the best help possible? I can’t see her just sitting back and taking his word for everything.
Vicki may just leave as the most disgraced housewife ever. She really stopped to a new low.
I’ve wondered all if Brooks had a “you may have cancer, we need to run more tests” situation that he immediately started calling cancer, and later found out it wasn’t. But he used that initial period of doubt to play on Vicki’s sympathies, and get in her good graces. Then the lies started in earnest when he found out he didn’t have cancer, and he dragged Vicki along. Eventually,she realized he was lying, but she was in too deep to get out. I’d love to know what happened in Miami to cause the house of cards to fall.
I don’t think Vicki would lie from the beginning. She’s been on reality TV too long not to realize your lies come back to bite you in the ass in the end. I think she found out at some point, but was too far in to get out gracefully, and knew she was screwed no matter what she did.
This is pretty hard to swallow in light of the fact that this is supposed to be his THIRD bout with fake cancer and the fact that he has used it for sympathy (or whatever) in the past.
Yea, I know. I just have a hard time wrapping my head around someone knowingly faking cancer on a reality TV show AND someone else knowingly supporting such fakery.
As soon as my Mom told me about the “Bill,” I laughed. Probably a little too much. I knew Google would fix his ass☺ Thanks T! She couldn’t remember where she heard about at. The fact people want apologies… Bwahahahaha!
Wow!!! Thanks so much for this report.
Wow. I can’t believe its actually concrete, thank you for all the info. I cannot even fathom what must’ve gone on in his psycho head to think he could fool everyone perpetually. In today’s day, all information is accessible, how did he think it would not come to light?
I guess he didn’t expect to be put under a microscope, but that was a gamble. Vicki either knew the whole time or knew in her gut and was lying to herself. I find that sad. I think he was a dangerous, manipulative, lying, abusive man and he kept her on a short leash emotionally. It was wrong what she did, but a sick man can drive a woman to do a lot of stupid/rash shit.
I hope she gets her head on straight now. I doubt Andy will fire her or cancel the show considering how much publicity all this has brought, but it has reached a pretty unsavory point, now.
unfortunately, “unsavory” is Bravo’s bread and butter, but that is because Bravo (and Andy) are pandering to the masses – any HW that does not serve up, well, shit, is accused of being boring; Claudia was accused of being boring, but she, IMO, was one of the best HW ever.
The whole scenario is reminiscent of Fargo. I am waiting for a wood chipper.
I knew Brooks was a using scum bag. What I don’t understand is why people are saying to get rid of Vicki? I really don’t think her intentions were malicious. Brooks floated in and out of her life, using her all the way, and for some reason she was so desperate to hang on to him. It’s sad to me. Vicki is not the one who keeps the cancer storyline going after the season has ended. I really hope with all of this public humiliation that Vicki has learned her lesson and stays far away from Brooks.
Your belief was admirable. My cynicism came from a friend who faked cancer also.
I understood why the women kept pressing the issue. It’s infuriating when someone you know is lying, just keeps on. You get into this “I must prove you wrong” headspace..
For me it was less about Brooks and more about Vicki. A con man acts like a con man, but what was Vicki motive? If it was for hawking the fake cancer cure, it makes me ill.
I cannot believe the things people will do for attention. I agree with Tamara. Time to retire this show. In fact, retire the whole franchise. There’s nothing more to see with these “reality” shows. I think I’m going back to scripted shows & real actors.
good tv requires a story otherwise there is no audience. I get it in reality tv they sometimes have to take license or manipulate reality to make a better or more understandable story, but if all they can do to make a compelling story is to focus on the mystery of someone’s cancer for the better part of a season than yes, it is time to end the show. none of these women came off looking good this year, they are not friends, they will exploit anyone to call attention to themselves. there is nothing aspirational about this show anymore, which supposedly was the purpose of the show.
So it took someone about 3 seconds to google and figure out Brooks gave a fake document. Apparently Brooks thinks people are really stupid, or he just wants to play out his 15 minutes of fame. Vicki is extremely codependent and needs therapy.
I agree with you…Its time for this shitstorm to be done. Im sick of the fakeness. I not going to comment on Brook because that’s something he will have to deal with whether he is lying or not. I enjoyed this show for the first maybe 3 or 4 seasons bu im done. Thats a rap folks!!!
Wow Brooks is way more whacky than I expected. It takes nerve to fake something like that on national television. Good detective work TT. Only God can save Brooks confused old soul.
Tamara before they go out to pasture can I please see Heather’s 13 bathrooms. ?
Brooks is a fucking idiot. He could have declined interviews and issued a statement that he is getting better and continues to battle his illness, or some shit like that. Instead he does multiple interviews, falsifies more documents. He’s a sociopath, he wanted to get caught.
I believe Vickie bought into the cancer story at first, then confronted him and was caught in the Club Detox/she was cheating on Donn/all the rest of her skeletons. And production happily salivated along. She was the reason people tuned in this season. I doubt they will cancel. Bravo will bring back an ally for Vickie, like Gretchen or Alexis and Meghan will get the bad edit next season with being a liar/Tamra being a cunt/Heather obnoxious/Shannon crazy.
Does anyone else wonder what ELSE there might be in Vicki’s closet, yet to come out? There may be some even bigger stuff that could hurt her financially and that may be why she is scared of Brooks.
I wonder if Vicki is next in camp cupcake??
It cant be the cheating on Donn buisness, we know that allready. Laurie, Tamra and Breannna and others have let that cat out of the bag .And the timeline of Brooks and Vickie knowing eachother. There was no emotional affair either, Vickie liked the sex, and Brooks is all about the sex. I think the thing about faith in humanity is misguided. Ill admit I dont have alot of faith in humanity myself, but I had faith in the others who tried to protect Vickie. I didnt think Breanna just hated a man her mom was obsessed with, for no reason. Even Tamra I didnt think would dog on a guy that was good to Vickie. Besides all the other evidence and baggage the guy was carrying, maybe some of us put more faith in the oeople who had no respect for Brooks.
I don’t think he wanted to get caught. I think he thought the public was stupid. I guess he figured a phoney letterhead would fool us.
WOW! What a dick!
This is why I think Vicki looked so scared at the reunion.. I think that both her and Brooks made it all up to gain sympathy, not just the IV story.. She wanted people to accept Brooks and how could they not do that when he’s so sick? And now I think shes terrified of Brooks because if he gets outted, so does she!
I really wanted to believe Brooks; no I really wanted to believe Vicki. What BS that they lied to the audience and to their supporters and fans. I’m frustrated and feel as duped as Vicki pretended to be. Thanks for the news Tamara. Even if it wasn’t what I hoped to learn.
If memory serves me right, didn’t Brianna have her own cancer scare with her thyroid about 4 or 5 seasons ago and had to have surgery? My heart goes out to her, not Vicki.
Yes, and as they were driving to the hospital Brianna remarked on how this was all about Vicki and here the poor kid was scared to death and spent around 7 hours in surgery. No wonder Michael moved away. Brianna will always have my sympathy. She’s the mother now to self- absorbed Vicki.
Ya’lls comments are slowly making me change my position as a Vicki sympathizer. It’s true that someone who is incapacitated by codedepence can wreak havoc on family and friends so I can’t blame Brianna for being fed up. I won’t give the housewives that however. They’re just fame whore bitches. I still believe that she was duped and and in denial however she is responsible for her own choices and the consequences of those. Maybe this will open her eyes and motivate her to get some counseling or join a codependency support group.
Why does everyone think. Vicki Gunvolson knew? What would she have to gain? I believe Brooks is probably going to spill the beans. Meaning he has something on her. She is a smart woman. Her problem is self confidence. She is not an attractive woman. Even with all that surgery. She has been making poor choices in men. It seems she has a pattern. I really believe in the beginning, she believed him. When it got down to the bs and doubts, it was only to save herself from the humiliation. She was duped. Definitely
And folks still want to believe Vicki is a victim, that she was duped by Brooks. She was complicit in the whole Club Detox thing, trying to make money off LEGITIMATE CANCER PATIENTS!! So many of us have suffered this devastating illness – if it weren’t for the cuntsatchel Meghan, the world may have never known. But y’all just keep feeling bad for poor, duped Vicki.
Oh well. Brooks is a low life and I shouldn’t be surprised he’d pull something like this. Still, I don’t feel bad for believing his story. Why should I? I’ve been pretty done with show anyway — at this point it just needs to be put down.
Don’t know why the comments gods chose to put my post here and not at the bottom. Sorry folks.
How funny that other blogs are releasing the same exact exclusive story today, almost 2 days after TT. They are a little late to the Brooks Faked Cancer party..
This was NOT an exclusive story. It was all over the Internet.
I like Heather. And I want to see her ginormous home.
Well, Meghan was right. I don’t have the hate for her that most here do. She’s just a flawed human being, like the rest of us.
I think it was clear that Vicki knew of Brooks’ deception. She loved him and wanted to be loved by him and so I think she just pushed the truth to a corner of her mind and didn’t/couldn’t think about it. Every time it was mentioned, she just wanted to shut the discussion down.
Vicki is the type of woman that needs to have a man around or she can’t be happy. To those of us looking in at her life, she appears to have so much, two healthy children, two beautiful and healthy grandchildren, wealth, friends, etc. She has money to do anything she wants and yet she is an unhappy person. I think Brooks made her happy. She likes to be in love and I think she allowed Brooks’ cancer fraud to continue because she wanted him around regardless.
I don’t understand how she fought with her own daughter over this (especially with all the glaring red flags). That right there proves she values the love of a man over her children.
I think she’d still be with him defending him if things hadn’t blown up the way they did. Her instagram is filled with positive thinking quotes that imply she’s some sort of victim. I don’t think so, Vicki.
This whole Brooks-cancer story is so wrong. He forged documents and went on national TV – what a tool. I think that there were a lot more we didn’t see, and now I see how Brianna was so frustrated. She’s a nurse and it was obvious to her that the man has a pattern of poor behavior. I just remember when we first were introduced to him , he told Tamra that Ryan was the bomb dot com……..that really should have shed light on his judgement.
I am curious if City of Hope has grounds for litigation against Brooks for forging documents with their letterhead and info. Also, what about the doctor he claimed to be treating his cancer before Heather shut that down- she’s neighbors with him and he denied treating Brooks. Do they have cause to at least stop him from spreading false info? I know I would in no way want to be associated with him and Bravo.
(Notice how, when questioned on inconsistencies Vicki protests that she was traveling or in Oklahoma, and doesn’t know, and Brooks smirks and blames Vicki saying she misspoke- geez, for such a self-proclaimed smart woman she sure misspeaks a lot.)
As entertaining as street hustlers with a three card monty scam. Then your friend looks you right in the eye and lies about their cancer. They say it’s only.in the lungs. You look him right back in the eye and lie saying that good. He loves me so much. He didn’t want me to know it’s now in his spine as well. Who the fuck is responsible for thinking this story line fit for airing? Bravo executives please feel free to come clean so you drag yourselves up to Brooks level.
The poker game is over and the cards are on the table. Went to hospital today with my friend and waited until after treatment. The hospital allowed his best bud and me in for the consultation. Status and strategy were discussed in depth. My friend’s path is uncertain as is yours and mine. I’ll walk every step with him.
So what’s the next storyline by Bravo? Murder?
I know that ratings were high for Bravo but I wonder if it ever occurred to the Execs what damage could be caused by the backlash of this storyline. They have to be getting bombarded by all the viewers that are upset and rightly so. Yet they still continue the interviews w him which is fine I guess. But what I don’t understand is how he goes on E news (which is affiliated w Bravo) and allow him to show these documents that are so obviously faked. I would think Bravo and the network would be happy w what they got for ratings but make sure that it quietly goes away. I just don’t get why the network would want to expose this vs just letting people wonder as he quietly goes away. They would have had to know the wrath that the show/cast would face. I don’t get it. I think I am one of many that will not be tuning in again because of this disgusting storyline. I just don’t get where dragging out one season for really high ratings is worth the loss of viewership this will cause going forward. I’m pretty sure most people have an emotional connection to cancer so I can’t image this will go over smoothly for Bravo, Andy, Vicki or Brooks and I’m sure their phones/emails and social media are blowing up. The least they could have done was help him with Google but no the stupid sister station outs all of them by showing this evidence. I would think Bravo would just say thanks Brooks, we got the ratings we wanted and now that the season is over you can move along quietly w or without cancer. Let’s not keep pushing this sensitive topic especially since you and Vicki are no longer together and you are not a HW.
Also someone asked if the think it will effect Vickis business. I remember back when she got into it with Laurie yrs ago she said she lost clients just because of that so I can only imagine what this will do. Whether she knew or not people will always question her now.
I have heard in comments other housewives say that they were given “ideas” for storylines before the filming starts. Some times it is in regards to other cast mates sometimes themselves. So, I can’t help but think that besides the fact that Andy is in love with Jim, it was also a plus that they were involved with someone who was dealing with cancer and would know something was off. (i.e. Meghan). So they bring them in and Megan goes all out war on Vicki. Bravo has a win win. Maybe they want Vicki gone because of salaries (Nee Nee is gone another OG). Maybe it was a win win because they knew something wasn’t right with the whole thing and they would “look good” by exposing it. I don’t know. But I would bet my bottom dollar that at the end of this tunnel Bravo and Andy are well aware and involved in the end result of this. They really make me sick.
At the end of the interview on E the journalist asked Brooks if she could have permission to contact his Dr and he said she definitely could. What happened with that? Did she contact his Dr? Why isn’t she stating that she either did contact the Dr or if she didn’t why? I guess I’m just finding it very difficult to believe someone could lie like this and think they could possibly get away with it! Damn he sounded so convincing and believe me, I don’t have straw in my hair! If this man is not telling the truth then he is a true sociopath! Pretty scary stuff. I’m surprised he hasn’t put up a fund me site!
If you don’t want to see the franchise or anyone’s face again, stop watching. Who are you to decide what shows a station carries or who is on it? No one, I say. No one.
Now the question will remain: Does California insurance Licensing have a Morales code; The first code of most state licenses are to protect the public trust has Vicki unwittingly put her insurance and securities license in jeopardy from all the lies.
Vicki not only knew but cooked the documents for him. I know this. Brooks didn’t want Vicki until she suggested they cure him from cancer and they both make a ton on a deal with Club Detox. There are signed legal docs. She refused to produce his med records to Club Detox attorney well bf the season aired and they took a leap of faith.