Sutton Stracke, Garcelle Beauvais and Crystal Kung Minkoff were interviewed by the LA TIMES and it is FANTASTIC. It is lengthy and behind a paywall so I have included a few of the excerpts here. And it is still more than Kyle and some of the other housewives are capable of reading. So, that is probably for the best. CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL ARTICLE.
The interview took place at Sutton’s now house, “the nearly completed space now boasts elegant floral arrangements and walls decked with art like Barbara Kruger’s “Who Will Write the History of Tears?” EW SERIOUSLY? THAT IS SOME STUPID SHIT NOT ART AT ALL?! Stracke is playfully posing for photos alongside fellow “Housewives” Garcelle Beauvais and Crystal Kung Minkoff while Taylor Swift’s “I Forgot That You Existed” pulses without irony — albeit muffled by the clinking of Stracke’s dangly bracelet, the sort of detail that almost inevitably becomes a tongue-in-cheek meme. It’s been a few weeks since the the trio filmed the Season 11 reunion and, judging from their bubbly interactions, it’s clear they’re all on speaking terms.”
On Racially Integrating The Cast
Kung Minkoff: It’s never been my mission, but it has sort of grown with me through this process. For me, the representation was, I’m going to come into this sort of very Caucasian world that I live in in my real life, and then the audience will get to see how easily integrated someone of color is in this world. And I didn’t realize how, not necessarily in the cast, but how challenging that looks to people who watch the show. Every single day, I get the word “chink” in my DMs, or “kike.” Every day. And it’s interesting because I think I’ve asked [Garcelle], like, “Do you get this?” I don’t know what it is about the Asian experience.
Beauvais: Exactly. I am the race card. But I loved how we handled it as a cast. I was able to have a really great conversation with Kyle [Richards], who was receptive and understood. And it didn’t have to be volatile. I didn’t have to throw a table or chair. It was just, you know, educating her in a way. And I felt like maybe that’s where our show stood out from others that were more volatile because of race, because we handled it a little more civilized.
Sutton Learned A Lesson
Sutton, there was that moment early in the season where Crystal challenged you on the framing of “I don’t see color.” In the moment, you were defensive. But looking at how things unfolded, could you see how it wasn’t meant as an indictment of you but meant to show the flaws of that logic?
Stracke: 100%. That was a [conversation] that I learned a lesson from — seriously. As a white woman, this is how we do, and this is how we can change.
Beauvais: And what was great, the producers didn’t want to shy away from having these conversations because they were happening in the real world anyway. It’s not like we were pretending or bringing it up just to talk about it, but they were very good about letting us have those conversations.
It was the start of some ongoing tension between Sutton and Crystal — though it now feels like it happened in another season, with everything that has transpired since. There was the coat incident, where Crystal expressed feeling like her space had been violated. As it’s all happening, are you worried and thinking, “Is this going to be what the whole season is about?”
The Ugly Leather Pants
Kung Minkoff: Yeah, it was a lot. I appreciated that Sutton had called me the day after everybody got exposed [to the coronavirus]. We had this sort of 16-day quarantine and, I know it sounds harsh, but it was like our blessing.
Stracke: It was. It was. I was like, “We gotta stop.”
Kung Minkoff: I was like, “Trust I don’t want this to go on; I don’t know why it kept going on.” So I was so happy that [Sutton] called. We had to hear each other out outside of this stressful camera [situation], with everyone around. We really needed to have our own private conversation.
Have you worn those “ugly leather pants” since?
Kung Minkoff: I bought another pair because I knew they were going to sell out.
More seriously, things took a turn this season once we reached election day and Erika’s divorce filing set off a series of questions. It’s one thing to watch it as a viewer and know a little bit of what to expect. But living it must have been a whirlwind.
Stracke: I immediately felt sorry for her. Because divorce is hard and they have been married for so long. I was married for 17 years. And they were married for 20 years. And it’s sad. Divorce is sad. And I don’t think any of us exactly knew why. You just instantly start going through your mind: I wonder what happened here for her to do that? The minute I read that L.A. Times article I just …
It was too long for some, we learned. LOL
Stracke: I went and got it in paper. I read it three times on my phone, and then went and got the paper version. Because I needed to see it in paper. When I left Kyle’s house in La Quinta, my first call was to production. When I read the article the fourth time, I got concerned because we were hearing stories from one side, and I was like, “Are we gonna keep hearing stories? On camera? Do we need an attorney to kind of help us guide us through filming?” That was really my biggest question. And they said: “This is such a great question. Why don’t you get the girls together?”
Beauvais: And then you called me and I was like, “Oh, my God, I never thought about that. We could be implicated.”
Stracke: And using the word “alleged.” I am a very private person and I got freaked out.
The viewers really tried to make sense of the stories. People were making diagrams, they were Google Map searching, trying to understand the crashes.
Beauvais: There were people who drove the street …
Stracke: Should we do that this afternoon? God I love Sutton!
The Reunion
I want to talk about this reunion. It’s four parts.
Stracke: Crystal and I have had back and hip issues afterwards.
Kung Minkoff: It was a lot. We were very close on a couch.
Beauvais: We should have been in separate chairs.
Do you think the right questions were asked? Do you think viewers will be satisfied with the answers we get with regards to Erika?
Stracke: I don’t want to spoil it for anybody. But there’s one thing that I’m still a little like, “Really?!” — about how I was treated about asking questions and then other people were not treated the same way.
What do you think of how Sutton was treated this season in that respect, Garcelle and Crystal?
Beauvais: Oh, I didn’t like it at all and that’s my one regret, and I said that in the reunion: I wish I had stood up for her at Kathy’s dinner because that was completely out of control. Erika’s back was to me so I couldn’t see her face, but obviously I could feel her energy and it was enough. It was enough.
Kung Minkoff: I for sure was still feeling the residual negativity, or whatever it’s called, of our issue and had we not had that, for sure, I would have been more protective of you.
Stracke: Yeah, we weren’t friends yet.
Kung Minkoff: We weren’t there yet. I know if we were friends like today, I would have totally defended you. I regretted that too.
How are you feeling about the prospects of returning?
Kung Minkoff: For me, it’s quite scary. I sometimes just feel like I live my life very positively and I have really good life and this really, like, brings a lot of negativity sometimes, and even though my kids don’t see it, I feel the energy being thrown at them. And I’m like: Why am I doing it? Like what is this for? And so I grapple with that a lot.
Beauvais: Oh. boy … I’m on the fence, honestly.
Stracke: I’m a glutton for punishment. There’s something seriously wrong. It’s the highs and the lows. At the end of the day, it’s this weird bond that we all fight, and to be honest, to sit on this couch with these ladies, is, I mean, such a blessing because I have truly a great friendship with [Garcelle]. And then I get to know [Crystal]. I would not know these women had I not done this. I love meeting people and I love forming friendships with women and close friendships. And let me tell you, this show, you don’t get closer.
Final question. How long should this piece be if we want to get your cast members to read it?
Stracke: A paragraph. Do it as Instagram Stories.
Kung Minkoff: A caption with a photo.
ROFLMAO.
OMG! On the after show tonight, Jennifer Tilly accidentally let it slip that Sutton was asked back for next season. It was so awkward and clear that Dorit (the other guest on the show) hadn’t been asked back. At first, Andy tried to play it off like Jennifer Tilly meant Sutton had been on for two seasons, but Jennifer was like “no, I meant for her third season because Sutton was asked back.” Andy gave her a death look and Dorit goes “ WE DONT KNOW WHOS COMING BACK YET.” It was soooo awkward. Jennifer Tilly was like “sorry. I slipped up.”
LOL! Jennifer Tilly is great. Absolutely smart, funny and fabulous. She would be a better housewife than the glory Kathy is getting this season
Co-sign. I am such a fan of Jennifer Tilly. She’s an excellent poker player in that she’s underestimated. She would run circles around Kyle’s attempts to appear “above the fray” and would be with the Garcelle and Sutton—which is why it would not happen. *dreams*
Jennifer Tilly is also 63 years of age. Ramona Singer who? Tilly is the one who truly looks incredible
Jennifer Tilly REALLY 63?! WHOA…Didn’t realize that tidbit of info. I had an ex-boyfriend that told me that I looked like her. That was 20 years ago. Now my brain is confused…..
She ducked every question and said nothing of substance.
OMG, I didn’t realize how deprived I was of Jennifer Tilly!!! She was such a delight, i want more of her and not just by forcing myself to watch the new Chucky show!
And how is she 63, I hate saying the phrase you look great for your age, especially as I hit 42…. but hot damn I’ll say she just looks great, fresh and well younger than I would have thought. And she’s sooooo fun! Where can I get friends like this!
Good catch!
Hahahahaha! A caption with a photo! Great answer! And I love that the three of them have become friends. I almost hate to say this, but I think the other women are so petty and jealous, they will try to ruin the relationship these three ladies have.
Thank you for sharing this!
Thank you for this!
I still don’t trust Crystal. It is very kind of Sutton and Garcelle to let her join their team after Crystal’s comments this season.
I guess it became very clear for Crystal how she looked on TV, it will be interesting to see how she (if she is to be back) will appear to cope with that for next season.
She asked Erika as seen in the reunion preview, where her anger against Tom is. I was worried Crystal was still on her side.
It is great that she brought up body-& race issues, not so fab how she spoke of Sutton sometimes but I guess she regrets that..
Thank you for sharing! Love hearing this side of the story and not the fake BS and drama Bravo has been pushing on us week after week. I really hope all 3 return next year.
The others may be FFF’s but these women are the dream team!
Thank you for this.
I just love Garcelle. She is the best and very correct in what she said here. Bravo could not have asked for more and should be grateful to her.
To think that Bravo didn’t even want to give Sutton a diamond her first season. Now she is one of the most powerful (and wealthy!) players on the cast. Quite the journey.
Crystal is very interesting to me and I can’t wait to see what she does on her second season. It can go many different directions with her.
this was great. I would just watch a show of the three of them going on adventures and doing weird stuff. I think they would have a lot of laughs. I am glad that they are all friends, and now I am hoping Crystal gets another season. She may have filmed a ton of things that ended up on a cutting room floor (so we could see more video of Rinna screaming and kicking her feet up). Sutton is really showing some growth, but dont forget she is still the person who used a roller on her face when she was stressed and I hope that part of her never goes away!
Glad to see Sutton and Crystal are getting along and I suspect that Garcelle has a lot to do with that. As women…deep in our hearts we always want to see women getting along and not fighting each other at every turn. All three of them have shown growth. It is tough to step into the World of Excisting Shrewd Housewives. Hopefully next Season RHOBH will be FUN to watch.
TT, you should post the clip of the reunion so people watch it here, I hate having to search for it. lol I love the purple pen! I feel badly for Crystal. She doesn’t deserve to be called names. Sutton has come a long way since using the roller on her face. I can’t get enough of Garcelle. I want her to be my bff. Their shade of the instagram and a photo with captions is so funny.
I’m happy to see Crystal found the normal women. It would be great if Dorit and Lisa Rinna were not asked back, or demoted. Dorit is a fraud and Rinna is a miserable person. I’ve never liked Erika, but she still has a lot of story left to add. And unfortunately Kyle will never be going anywhere, but it’s refreshing to see her agenda so clearly now that LVP is gone. No one left to hide behind.
I have generally liked Kyle, but your comment on her hiding behind LVP is true- she showed that especially this season.
I agree that I hope Dorit and Rinna are not asked back. They are phony and mean. Rinna is also annoying always cackling and talking too loudly. Dorit speaks so oddly and slowly. Neither is fun to listen to.
OK. My lips are burning!!! I have to somehow get through that paywall, if it was the NYT, I could actually buy a copy of the paper, but we sho’ don’t have the LA Times available here in the Smokies! Thanks Tamara, this is awesome!!!
And Yes!! Jennifer Tilly was EVERYTHING. So shady of Andy to have them on together, I love it! She was not nice to Dorit at all, and gives zero fucks! Loved it-
I had no trouble accessing that article and I didn’t pay anything.
Most newspaper websites will allow for 1 or 2 free articles before locking everything behind the paywall.
@Nancy—-YES!
I’ve said from the beginning that these 3 are the best of the lot. I am SO SICK of Kyle & Rinna and their antics at stirring up shit. Kyle’s comment to Sutton about “sweeping it under the rug” is the perfect example of this. If anyone is NOT sweeping things under rugs, it is Sutton. THAT comment would apply to everyone else. Sutton has expressed her thoughts honestly despite how it makes the Ice Queen feels. Kyle, Rinna & Dorit have just danced and danced around it. In their confessionals, they express their thoughts but NEVER in front of the Ice Queen. Such hypocrisy.
Kyle’s head must have exploded when she saw this.
She tried to throw Sutton under the bus and it backfired big time. She’s greedy and shady like her husband.
ITA!! She needs to go. Her boot licking of whoever will get her further is tiresome.
I found the full article! Thank you for posting about it! It was a fun read. I’m glad to see Crystal, Sutton, and Garcelle are getting along. Also, I did not know that production asked Sutton to get the girls together. Sutton has been vilified this season and she is the best (tied with Garcelle) person on the cast. Good to see how these women present diversity in the best possible way.
I’d like to know how they feel about not being asked to Kyle’s for a finale viewing party. What a quintessentially mean-girl thing to do. Or perhaps it’s a badge of honor not to be in their embarrassing, high school clique.
So Sorry. I apparently forgot to include the link to the full article. I thought I did. It is now at the end of the first paragraph. Also, my Dutch server seems to be acting up again today. I pay them WAY WAY WAY TOO MUCH MONEY FOR THIS.
Crystal does not impress at all. She is another one who kissed the butt of the mean girls to gain entry into their “club”. Now she’s groveling to the nice girls since the mean girls don’t care about her.
i was disgusted by her saying “I didn’t stick up for you because you weren’t my friend yet”. You should always stick up for the person who is telling the truth and getting bullied for it, whether they’re your friend or not.
Exactly.
How do you watch the after show? Is it just on after WWHL and you have to watch it live? Is it on the bravo website? I can watch bravo online but I never see the after show listed as something you can watch.
You can watch on YouTube. Just search for WWHL or the Bravo channel.
Thanks. I was able to find clips.
Thanks for the heads up. I went and paid the $1 for six months of access. It was definitely worth the money. 🤑 I really like Sutton and Garcelle and Crystal has redeemed herself just enough that I wouldn’t be so mad if she gets a season two.
Oh the commenting rules…..
Indeed, it was like reading Morse Code.
If they drop Rinna, I will miss Harry Hamlin. He is my favorite House Husband. Dorit on the other hand, is just a walking billboard for Louis Vuitton. I would not even notice she’s gone. And my ears will thank me for not listening to that faux Eurotrash accent. The more I hear it, the more fake it sounds.