Mention It All - Ashley Darby On If Karen Huger Will Ever Return To RHOP Ft. Ashley Darby

Episode Date: October 14, 2025

On this week’s video episode, Dylan is joined by RHOP OG Ashley Darby for an unfiltered catch-up on all things RHOP Season 10. Ashley reacts to Karen Huger’s release from prison, her true feelings... on Mia Thornton’s exit, and gives her honest take on Potomac’s new faces. She opens up about life post-divorce, what she’s really looking for in her next man, and how she’s balancing motherhood and dating in the Bravo spotlight. Go to the BravoByBetches YouTube page to watch full length episodes every Tuesday: Youtube.com/@BravoByBetches Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Starting point is 00:00:36 everyone, welcome back to the Mentioned at All podcast. I am so happy to be joined today by a returning guest to the show and a brand new member of the Real Housewives 10 season club. As of this week, Real Housewives of Potomac, OG, Ashley Darby, welcome back. Thank you, Dylan. You know, OG has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? OG has a nice ring to it. And now that you've hit season 10, it really feels like, it's not just like, oh, I've been on here for a few years. It's like, no, I'm, I'm an OG. I'm still standing. Oh, yeah. I'm still standing. And it will continue to stand. Ten toes down. Ten toes down.
Starting point is 00:01:08 That's right. Standing on business. That's right. How does it feel? I mean, we're fresh off the premiere season 10. It's here. You and you and Giselle have lasted 10 rounds still standing. How does that feel that you've made it to this point?
Starting point is 00:01:24 It feels pretty incredible. And honestly, it feels like it's gone by so fast. You know, like when I stop and actually take a step back and think about all the things that have happened over 10 years, there have been so many huge occasions in my life, right? From divorce to children, both of my children, I gave birth to both of my children while I was on the show, right? Like, I can't even think about that. It doesn't compute sometimes because it's just gone by so fast, but it's an honor.
Starting point is 00:01:53 Yeah, we were just talking about your kids and, you know, Dean's in first grade. Yeah. And when you started this, it was like kids were not even like, that wasn't real yet for you. I didn't want kids when I first started. Crazy. Because I was 26 and I had just gotten married. I was coming up my one year anniversary when I started the show. I didn't want any kids. Michael and I were like on the same page about that. And yeah, I was like, I'm just ready to live and travel. And I think people forget how young you were when the show started. I mean, one of the youngest housewives ever when you started on the show, you have really like grown from like a young adult into, you know, a mom, a businesswoman, a, you know, all of this. stuff on the show. That really is like a pivotal chunk of your life that you have spent on this platform. Yeah. And transformational years too. I mean, 20s and 30s are such big times in our lives and mine have been documented. And it's really cool. For better or for worse. I'm going to say for better.
Starting point is 00:02:53 No regrets here. Absolutely none. And you know, I've just connected with a lot of people through all the things I've gone through. And I've noticed that as I've matured, so have the people, my fans. And it's really cool that like we can talk about things like parenthood, motherhood, sore breasts, mastitis, all the things, you know? Yeah, and I think too, like something, you know, people can sometimes when you live your life publicly like that, they might look back and say, oh, but three years ago you were doing da-da-da-da-da-da, and now you're a mother, you're like, you know, taking it seriously. And it's like, yeah, like that's the trajectory of life.
Starting point is 00:03:28 Like you've gone through changes and you've grown and learned things. Yeah, it's just life, period. And I'm living it. And I think sometimes that people who have those strong opinions, they're just not really living life. And it's unfortunate for them. And if they want to live vicariously through me, they're welcome to do so. On Sunday nights on Bravo. That's right, GPM, Bravo TV, you and me. What has it been like these last couple seasons?
Starting point is 00:03:51 I feel like you and Giselle have really been, you know, you're the ones that have made it through this 10 season arc. You guys got to be on Love Hotel together, which I think is like such a fun kind of. you know, to balance out the year, like before season 10, you went and did this, you know, fun, crazy show in Mexico and then coming back kind of home for the 10th season. What has it been like kind of going through this with Giselle? It's really amazing how much we have evolved, Giselle and I, because when we started, we weren't the best of France, okay? It started very rocky between us.
Starting point is 00:04:26 And I would never have anticipated or envisioned that she would be my home girl today. So I think that because we had that little bit of. of a rough start, we appreciate our friendship even more now. And I think we understand each other's hot buttons, right? So we want to push them, we can. And it's just really nice to have somebody who is really in my corner. Like, no matter what I'm going through, right after my divorce, when I was just really sad and down, Giselle was calling me, hey, sunshine to cheer me up, you know?
Starting point is 00:04:53 She's like, you're my sunshine all the time. And I just needed to hear that, right? And some people don't even know that Giselle has that side, but she does. And it came through. It comes through for her friends. Yeah, I think that, I mean, Giselle is somebody where, like, she can get herself in some hot water sometimes because she's going to be a little shady. She's going to poke the bear. She knows what buttons to push.
Starting point is 00:05:13 But at the end of the day, you can tell that it's important to her to have that kind of sisterhood and those relationships. And if she, if it's a meaningful relationship to her, she will make sure to nurture that. That's a very good way to put it. Yeah. She's a real person, ultimately, you know? She's not out to constantly just poke everybody and provoke them and be provocative. but she actually has feelings and she does care. Yeah, at least about me.
Starting point is 00:05:39 Yeah. Some of these other girls. I don't know about the rest of y'all, but. TBD. For on Potomac for such a long time, it was the four kind of OGs that had stuck around. Robin, you know, Robin was there for a long time. Karen, obviously, until this season had always been there. Getting to the 10 season point and it just being you and Giselle on the main cast,
Starting point is 00:06:01 is that at all bittersweet for you when you think about kind of all those times? that you spent together as more of a unit? For sure, because especially with Karen, Giselle and I and Robin, we sort of, we built this. We were around at the time when the show was first around, and people were like, oh, this won't last longer than a season. Who are these girls? Where's Potomac?
Starting point is 00:06:22 You know, all the doubters and the naysayers, and we all stuck through it. And so I think that we have an appreciation that maybe goes a little bit deeper than some of the other girls. I will say Wendy has come on really quickly and she's caught on. But we all sort of have this, like, attachment to the franchise and watching it grow and be the best. Yeah, I mean, in 10 seasons, you do think about all the people that have, you know, come on the show,
Starting point is 00:06:47 people who are no longer on the show. Like, you've seen a lot of shifts, a lot of changes, a lot of additions, and really, like, navigating kind of what new challenges and opportunities each season presents. It's like, damn, 10 years is a long time. It is. It's a long time, but again, like I said, it doesn't feel like it. It's so weird. And maybe that's because my life, or better for worse, as we said, just has so many extreme moments. And I realize that's been my life for its whole entirety. There's always been something. Like some big major thing happens to me almost every single year of my life. So that's a lot of, in 37 years, can you imagine? That's a lot. And just the last 10 of it have been chronicled. I was very excited watching the season premiere that, you know, the divorce is final. We all saw the photos, that photo shoot. Which to me was a pure amazing art.
Starting point is 00:07:42 I hope someone has it hung up in their house somewhere. I mean, it was amazing. So you don't have it hung up in your house somewhere? Not yet. I thought, okay, it's funny. Should I put that in my bedroom? I mean, wait, no, because it's like, right? But then it's like the next time you want to have somebody else in the bedroom.
Starting point is 00:07:56 Yeah. But it's such good pictures of me. Maybe the pictures without the text. You Photoshop something else on the newspaper. That would be golden because I am killing it in the photo shoot. Right. You know how to take a good photo. Oh, I do.
Starting point is 00:08:09 And I have a great team. Like literally my stylist's Corey, he like placed my hands, placed my arms, placed the newspaper. It was amazing. I like that you, I feel like you have that instinct, though, that, like, you know that you've been on the show the last couple years. And people are always coming with the questions about why isn't it done yet? When's it happening? Yada, yada, yada. This, that, and the next thing.
Starting point is 00:08:30 And you're like, I'll let you know when it happens in this. editorial photo shoot moment. And I think it was also just the culmination of being so frustrated because I'm an oversharer. I want to tell you everything. I'll tell you about what I ate for breakfast. You want to tell you about my period. Like I'll tell you everything, even things you don't want to know, right?
Starting point is 00:08:49 So imagine me being in a position where I couldn't because of whatever was happening. I was sort of bound up legally that I couldn't share. And so for everybody to be accusing me of lying and not being truthful, it was so hurtful to me. Yeah. You know, and that's why I had a tough time with Stacy because, you know, I, I was really trying to operate under real truth. So for someone who wasn't or isn't, it really rubs me the wrong way. Well, I think it's hard because it's one thing when it's somebody who's watching the show, who doesn't know you, who's just, you know, you're a character on a TV show and they're saying, oh, why isn't she talking about yada, yada, yada? But when it's somebody who
Starting point is 00:09:25 you've spent time with and is in your life and you feel like they have the context to know why maybe you can't talk about something or why there might be a long process. And they're not actually giving you that that grace and understanding. Yeah, that was tough. But my real friends did. My real friends really did. And more so, they helped me. So like NECA, for example, even though NECA isn't on the show anymore, NECA was reaching out and actually giving me resources to help me expedite the process. And that's a real friend. Like that's a real home girl. Somebody was going to be like, I see you're having a tough time. Let me help you any way that I can. And that's a real friend. And I really appreciate it.
Starting point is 00:10:03 That's so interesting because NECA is somebody who, you know, she was only on the show for one season. I, you know, I don't want to put words in her mouth, but I imagine that she didn't have the best experience on the show. But it's nice that you can still have that real life connection of like, oh, this is somebody that's in my life in one way or another and kind of be there for each other. Yeah, because even though we're doing a show, we really do become friends. There is a lot of genuine friendship amongst us, which I think is a distinguishing. thing about our cast in particular, not to shade any of the girls, but we really do have a real
Starting point is 00:10:38 friendship. And that extends far beyond the cameras and when the cameras stop rolling. Well, even seeing, you know, Cherise is at your party in the season premiere. And Cherise is somebody who has been on the show, off the show, friend of, just, you know, a guest at a party. Like over 10 years, it's like, oh, she's like a real person in this community beyond just like, when are you filming with, you know, like it's, you can sense that in the kind of fabric of the show. Well, that's because Cherise is the originator of the group. Right. Sherise was the person who first brought us all together.
Starting point is 00:11:13 Depending who you ask. Yes. I think she has the title. At least she had it for a while. She's holding the belt right now. Karen's ready to reclaim her title again, I'm sure. But I think people do forget that about Cherise. Like she wasn't just a fly-by-night person.
Starting point is 00:11:27 Shearice really is the glue or was the glue that brought us together as friends. Yeah, and I think, you know, there are kind of, it does feel like a show and a circle of women where nobody ever is necessarily like 100% gone or out. And I mean, we're seeing Monique come back a little bit later on this season. And that's a perfect example of like, Monique left this show in a, you know, a fiery exit, let's say. Yeah. And maybe four years ago, it would have been like, now, how in the hell would she? would it work for her to come back? But, you know, time, time happens and, you know, things come back around. She's had a lot of change in her life. What was it like for you? How much have you, like,
Starting point is 00:12:11 kept up with Monique in the years since? She and I have connected sporadically over the years, mainly because we were going through a lot of the same things spiritually. You know, when I went to do my Iow Oscar retreat, I called her because she had done it too. So I needed to get the intel about what to expect. So we have so much in common that sort of bound us together as friends. And I've always wanted her to come back to the show. I felt like the pretext or what is it, the pretense under which she left the show was just not quite right.
Starting point is 00:12:42 And thankfully, I'm very thankful to Bravo and to truly original, our production company, that the door is usually pretty open. If someone wants to come back and it's a good fit, then they can. So I was really thankful that that opportunity was still there for her. Yeah, I think it makes sense to kind of be open to the possibilities and whatever feels feels like it works at the time that it's not just like, oh, but we said this person wasn't coming back, so now it's weird if they do, it's
Starting point is 00:13:05 like, but if there's a friendship there, if there's a situation there, like it's nice to be, to feel like we're following kind of the ebbs and flows of a real group. Yes, and it is organic. Our friendship is genuinely organic and real and, you know,
Starting point is 00:13:21 so many things that we have in common, our exes are similar, like all of this really crazy stuff. And I've always told her it was just a matter of time. Just a matter of time. And sure enough, how do you feel like her, you know, overall, obviously we'll see it play out on the show. But like her coming back into the group, do you think overall people felt pretty good about it? Or was it kind of a mixed bag?
Starting point is 00:13:45 I know, you know, maybe she and Jazeel didn't have the best. I think they had some unfinished business. The best relationship in the past, yes. Monique is just a different person. Yeah. And you guys will really see that. You'll really see how she's changed, how she approaches challenges. But at the same time, Oneik is still herself at the end of the day.
Starting point is 00:14:08 So I would say that a lot of the girls were excited to see her, especially Wendy, myself, Giselle, people who knew her. And then you have some girls who have been fans of the show. Stacey. You know, like who are just excited to see and touch somebody in the flesh who had been on the show. Like, oh! So good. So good.
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Starting point is 00:16:02 who have been around for a season or two and are kind of becoming more and more, I would say, you know, ingrained in the fabric of the show. What is it like kind of as that, that OG who's been here since day one kind of navigating the shifts and the new people coming in
Starting point is 00:16:20 and seeing like, okay, what is the equation looking like this season? How is this going to work? Well, our friendship group has sort of a standard. And it's just, It's the way it is. Our friendship group almost exists independently, and we all have to sort of act accordingly in the group, okay?
Starting point is 00:16:40 And I think that's why some of the girls who come in have a difficult time, i.e. Stacey and even Kay had a bit of a challenge in the beginning, because it is. Like the friendship group is its own organism. And if you're not putting good stuff into it, you're not going to get good stuff back from it. Yeah. Right? So that's been sort of the, I think, defining moments of where they've been. had challenges. But one thing, you have to either fall in line or hit the road.
Starting point is 00:17:10 Something that isn't just a Potomac thing, but with any housewives show, any ensemble show, you can't be only by yourself. Like you can't, you can't be disregarding all the other relationships. You can't be, you have to be buying into kind of the group aspect. And it does feel like watching the beginning of this season after that reunion with Stacy, it feels like she is kind of not, she's not like playing along the same way that everybody else is. And even in the premiere when you were talking to her about her divorce, her maybe theoretical divorce, more than an actual divorce. And we had watching the episode, which obviously you didn't know this in real time, she had
Starting point is 00:17:53 just been out at dinner with her ex-husband, husband, whatever. whatever. And she's clearly choosing in that moment not to share that with you. And watching it, I'm like, oh, yeah. Like, it's not even, oh, did you lie about TJ? It's like, oh, you're, again, currently not being honest. Yes. And the thing is, I think that Stacey is just trying to portray a facade. I think she's trying to say what she thinks we want to hear or create this sort of narrative about herself. But that's not going to fly. I don't want your lies. Because I come forth with truth. And the truth, it hurts. It's tough. It's brutal. But that is the beauty of housewives to me in general and to our group, to Potomac is no matter how difficult it is to confront
Starting point is 00:18:42 your truth, to talk about infidelity, to talk about financial hardship, to talk about legal troubles. We do it. To constantly make up these things and project these lies in order to make yourself look good, it just gets old and it's not going to fly. Yeah. And I think also it's like if you if you lie for about one thing, for whatever reason, maybe it's a good reason, maybe it's a bad reason, but then people kind of figure it out then to kind of continue doing that same behavior or to not kind of address it and really feel like you're starting fresh and moving on, it's like how is the group then going to want to kind of invest in the friendship with you? That is a exactly the word invest. That is the biggest word because we spend a lot of time together.
Starting point is 00:19:28 Yeah. And I let everybody into my life. Giselle, she's learning how to let people into her life. She's getting there. Yeah. But it's a very vulnerable thing. And that vulnerability comes at a cost, which is some of your comfort. And instead of you, if you choose to not be comfortable and lean into the process and trust the process, then it's just not going to be a good result for you. So I do, Ultimately, all I want for Stacey is for her to tell the truth for once in her life. I even thought in the premiere, the scene with Kay and her mom was like a nice moment of it felt like, okay, we're getting a little bit more, a little bit more depth of last season, maybe. All we saw was the positive with Greg.
Starting point is 00:20:07 And we could see that it wasn't all positive, but that was, she wasn't kind of willing to, to dig into that a little bit. And I feel like that's something where especially as you stay on the show longer, you have to be kind of able to peel back those layers. a little bit or else it's everything's always going to feel surface everything's always going to feel like a storyline and that's how you get to sit in this seat and be here for 10 seasons is you do give depth and you do delve into the hard things right and I appreciate that Kay is now realizing that sometimes when we are on these shows and we're talking about our issues it can be so therapeutic
Starting point is 00:20:42 the relationship I have with my mom has improved drastically from when we first started talking about things that we'd just been caring in our relationship between us for like 30, at that point was like 30 years that my mom and I had been just having these things. We swept under the rug, but then I had to confront them because I'm like, I'm on this show. I need to be honest. I have to be genuine. And it made me have that sit down with my mom that was so challenging and so hard. But yet it helped our relationship tremendously. I mean, you and your mom have like really put it out there in a way that not necessarily everybody needs to, but like it certainly is, it's going to gain you a lot of, you know, trust and, you know, authenticity and things like that, that if you,
Starting point is 00:21:27 if you're not willing to do that, it's more challenging to kind of build that. Well, let me be honest. I mean, it's not always nice. Like some of the mean things that people have said and some of the harsh comments and critiques that you get, that's why it's difficult. But you can't let that scare you. You really can't. And that's my advice to everybody.
Starting point is 00:21:44 People always ask me like, oh, I really want to do a show or do you have any advice for me about starting this business or what I'm like, you just really have to not care what anyone thinks of you. It's harder. It's easier said than done. But you just have to do it because if you're so conscious of every opinion of you, you won't even get out of bed in the morning. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:22:02 And also like whatever you put out there, you're in control of the intention, but you're not always in control of how people are going to receive it, whether it's something serious or whether it's like you putting out a song that you're performing at the Pride Festival and people are like, why she's singing? It's like, just, I don't know. That's why I don't give a game. Enjoy the song or keep it pushing.
Starting point is 00:22:21 That's right. You better bob your head to the beat and do what you need to do, okay? I'll give a damn what anybody says, okay? I'm actually performing at Studio 54. Okay. Coming up on the 19th here in New York. Okay.
Starting point is 00:22:33 And it's going to be with Broadway singers. So I'm going to be performing Roxy. Roxy. Yes. Okay. From Chicago, yeah. So I'm very excited. I mean, I've seen a couple of your fellow Bravo Lebrides in Chicago on Broadway.
Starting point is 00:22:47 You have? I. Really? I didn't know. Yeah, but this is just a little warm up for me to meet some of the people in Broadway because I do want to get on Broadway. Well, I think like it's like whatever the end result is or even the end goal, it's like you have a platform that has brought opportunities and, you know, cool things into your life. And it's like, yeah, take advantage of it. 100%.
Starting point is 00:23:11 And I'm going to keep giving. I'm going to keep giving myself to the people. I'm going to keep trying to inspire and motivate. Yeah. You know, keep delivering the fashions, all the good things. And, yeah, in turn, I want to be able to also share my passions and things that I love to do. Ready to soundtrack your summer? With Red Bull Summer All Day Play, you choose a playlist that fits your summer vibe the best.
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Starting point is 00:25:03 I think it's really interesting. You know, Mia's been on a few seasons. We got a lot of information from Mia, and I'm curious for you, what was it like having her not as part of the dynamic for this season? Because it felt like last season it had really become, there was a lot going on in her life. Yeah. You know, no one's asked me that. Even my friends, no one has asked me.
Starting point is 00:25:26 And I haven't really thought about it. But when I do think back, I would have loved to have had Mia because I, Mia and I, even though she went a little low and did some things that I didn't agree with, the reality is the bitch is entertaining. I mean, there's always something, right? And if you ever feel bad about your life, just look at hers and you'll be like, oh, I'm fine, you know? Not in a bad way.
Starting point is 00:25:53 Let me say it's not a bad. Because, I mean, she comes out on top. One thing about her, she's going to come out on top. She'll figure it out. She figures it out, right? She might be in the back of the plane, but she'll figure it out. She'll figure it out. So if you're ever like, oh, my gosh, I don't know how I'm going to.
Starting point is 00:26:06 master this, you might be like me, I end up with Bobby V. You never know. I wonder like when you having been on the show for all these years and having seen people come and go, when you're filming a season, do you ever kind of have that sense that it's like this might be kind of, this might be your last, you know, go around? Like you might kind of, this, this chapter might be coming to an end for this person. Is that something that you can't really see maybe until when the show's airing or when people are reacting to it? You really can't see it at all because it's up to the production and it's up to the fans. And so it's not, sometimes it would be blindsided and not know.
Starting point is 00:26:55 Sometimes you'll want it to happen and it's not. You know, so. She had a bad season, right? She got to go. Yeah. You know, so it's not predictable in any way. Yeah. But like I said, it is an organism.
Starting point is 00:27:07 And the things that are supposed to be there will stay. And what isn't, we'll leave. Has there been, is there anything like in, that you can think of in the past where you were really surprised that something felt really different when you were filming and when you were living in it versus how it came across on the show or how people reacted to it where you were like, oh, I thought this person was going to have a good season and then it just didn't pan out or like, or kind of vice versa. No, honestly, I feel that fans are very perceptive.
Starting point is 00:27:34 It's one of the things I've said that you can't lie to the fans. They will see through you so fast, quick and in a hurry. And there are moments where people have tried to put up facades, maybe about, oh, we're in this happy marriage. I'm happily married.
Starting point is 00:27:49 But in actuality, there starts to be faults in the foundation. And, man, people who watch the show, they're like private eyes. They see through it. It's actually quite impressive. Yeah. And when you read the comments
Starting point is 00:28:01 and some of the feedback, you're like, man, cis clock this sometimes I look back on comments from like past seasons or past scenes and I'm like man someone was hip to this long before any of us even knew you know and it's pretty amazing there's people I mean people out there with their theories and their you know horoscopes and tarot cards okay well I'm one of those girls with the tarot cards and so you know you can see what season you're going to have three years from now yeah actually I do I do that with my card reader okay Was there anything going into this season in the cards that you were like, I don't like that or like, okay, let's lean into this one?
Starting point is 00:28:41 Well, something I didn't really expect was a little bit of a rough patch with my mom. And it wasn't terrible, but something that I never expected to come up or be even the topic of discussion between us. So that, that shocked me. I did see in my cards that I was going to have something with a mother figure in my life. life. Okay. And sure enough, it was my mother. Okay. Mm-hmm. Oh, it's, I mean, there's always something. It is, but that's the beauty of life, right? I, I know. I was, um, I did think it was, I'm curious how you felt in the season premiere, Angel, who's one of our new ladies this season, she remembered you from being a bottle girl or something? Um, she says that, but like, I don't know when
Starting point is 00:29:31 that would have ever. I was a bar. bartender for two years. She said from bottle girl to Duchess. What a journey. I love it. But again, I never served her. So let's, that, like, what are you even saying? Like, I never served you, girl.
Starting point is 00:29:47 It's so, because right away, it's like you have that. And then you have, oh, like, Wendy and I were, we cross paths, but she's several years older than me. It's like, careful. She came in. She came in hot, didn't she? Yeah. And then Tia, I mean, Tia with the accent, very posh. Very posh.
Starting point is 00:30:02 Very posh. very British, very posh. But she has another side to her. Okay. Tia, she like, she opens up. Okay. Yeah. I'm always, I mean, it's so interesting to me.
Starting point is 00:30:13 I feel like Potomac in particular, like, there's so many different, there's so many different personalities and flavors and types of people that exist in this world. And I'm always curious to see, like, who have they found now? I know. What is, what is this person going to bring to the table that we haven't seen before? because I feel like over the years, y'all's casting has been pretty strong. Very good. Yeah. Our casting director is Adrian. And he puts, he like gets down there. He meets everybody, starts asking around. He knows who is who in the area. I mean, and he really
Starting point is 00:30:48 understands the intricacies of our friendships. Like, yeah, it's a lot of thought and consideration that goes into the girls who join the group, for sure. I want to talk a little bit about Karen. Obviously, at the beginning of the season, we see a few of you guys meet. right after Karen's sentencing happened. And I thought that was a really interesting look. It was before you had really jumped into filming, you know, full speed for the season, but I think it was important to kind of have that moment
Starting point is 00:31:15 of you guys reacting to that together. What was it like kind of having to navigate that with her, obviously not being on the show this season, but just sort of, you know, her presence looming large? It was very challenging, mainly because I was pretty sad about it. And I know sometimes, people like, oh, Ashley isn't authentic. She don't really care about Karen, but I really, I really do.
Starting point is 00:31:36 And no matter what obstacles Karen and I have, I never went to see her go to jail, right? That wasn't something I ever had in the cards for her. But I think the harder thing was talking about it and she's not there to defend herself. Yeah. Right. So even if I wanted to make like a shady joke or two, it kind of felt wrong because Karen couldn't be there to hear it. Right.
Starting point is 00:31:56 Or defend herself. Even if she might have been laughing along, you know. I don't think she would have laughed at some of the jokes I had. But, you know, it just didn't feel right, not being able to have the moment with her and talk about it with her. Yeah, and it was tough because last season, obviously, she was really in the thick of it. So there never was that time where it was like, we can be open about this and we can kind of hash it all out. Have you seen her at all? Have you checked in with her since she's been out?
Starting point is 00:32:22 I've checked in with her. We've chatted a little bit, but only be a text. It will be very interesting. And fingers crossed that she's back for season 11. because, you know, like finally, we couldn't talk about a season nine. We couldn't we talk about a season 10, season 11. Well, I think for a lot of people, you know, from a, from a viewer perspective, Karen is such an important part of the show that you guys have made in the last decade.
Starting point is 00:32:46 And like, you know, there is that time for accountability. But also it's like we want to, we want her to be there for that. Like you said, it's like hard when she's not there. And it's like, okay, maybe that time is coming. Yeah, I think so. And I think that Karen, too, I mean, to her credit, she's got a little street red now. So, you know, I mean, the Grand Dame, she's seen some things now.
Starting point is 00:33:06 The clank to claim. I know. That didn't age well, did it? That didn't age well whatsoever. Look, if you stay on the ride long enough, it's going to come back around. Babe, I tell everybody this. I tell everybody this. Everything that I've said or throw in shade about somebody has come back to me.
Starting point is 00:33:24 Okay? So I'm like, I'm, you know, kind of minding my words a little bit because I'm like, damn, yeah, the pendulum always swings back the other way. You're like, so I did get divorced. I haven't paid a man to be my boyfriend yet, so hopefully I won't have to do that. Let's not put that into the universe. It's like, now anybody you date, somebody's going to be like, I heard that there was an arrangement. How much am I going to pay for this? No, no.
Starting point is 00:33:49 Somebody's going to have like a DM from somebody, like a Zelle payment. I know. The receipts, yes. We don't have the receipts for Stacey, but we would have the receipts for me. Go figure. Yes. But that's never happening because, you know. You don't need to pay, man.
Starting point is 00:34:03 Oh, no, absolutely not. Well, I think also, like, in this chapter of your life, it's like, maybe you're going to date somebody and maybe it's going to be really fun. And maybe you're just going to be, like, doing your own thing for a while. And it's like, whatever happens, happens. But now I think I'm really ready to date seriously. Okay. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:34:21 Now that my divorce will be finalized February of next year. So that'll be four years that we haven't been together. I think that's enough time to breathe. Yeah. I mean, we've seen. You've, like, dated. a little. I've dated, but I think I'm ready to find, like, my man. Okay. My partner. Do you, do you, do you, would you date a man with kids? Do you think that would be ideal? This is, this is what I want, okay? A man in
Starting point is 00:34:43 his 40s, okay, making a seven figure salary. Yes. Divorced, but still on good terms. Maybe she lives across the country. Children, I would say between six and ten. Okay. Perfect man for me. There are other things on the list, but those are the, that would be ideal. Easy, then find him for me. Where's the Etsy witch? You need to cast the spell. Yeah, well, because right now I meet guys who have like one or two of those qualities, but not, you know, and I need all of them. Yeah. Well, and it's hard because it's like you, you know, you're a mom, you have kids at a very specific age. Yeah. You know, they're in school. You are on this show that is a machine that you... That I'm not getting off anytime soon. So like, you have your own set of things that isn't going to be what everybody's
Starting point is 00:35:40 wanting to sign up for, which is not a bad thing, but it is what it is. Yeah, it does sort of sift out the nonsense for sure. Yeah. But I've been drawing these younger guys lately. And, yeah. Yeah, I gotta get it together. You know, like they're good for a fun time, but not really a long time, you know, so. Uh-huh. Yeah. Unless I find a guy who's in his 30s and has all those other things, seven-figure salary, divorce, wife, cross-country, and young kids, like, then we could talk. Okay.
Starting point is 00:36:09 Okay. Yeah. So far. Yeah. The 20s, that's not a father figure. No. Yeah. It's a fun time, though.
Starting point is 00:36:20 Boy, howdy. Yeah. Okay. So you have until February of next year. Yes, yes. I'm going to be married next year. So I'm going to be engaged next year. Okay.
Starting point is 00:36:29 I'm sitting here on your couch. Okay. And I'm telling you that next year, yes. By December of 2026, I'll be engaged. Okay. Mm-hmm. I know it's a bold statement to me, isn't it? Bring it into the world.
Starting point is 00:36:44 Yeah, I am. I am. I mean, one thing I was looking back at, though, this is season 10. You guys premiered in 2016. you have not missed a year. Like Potomac has been a very consistent show. You guys have always turned it back around, whether people are leaving,
Starting point is 00:37:00 whether people are coming. You know, I think that, you know, you have this consistency in your life for a decade. And like, you could, you could work it in.
Starting point is 00:37:09 You could find something new to add. Yeah. I think so too. You know, if it's meant to be, it'll be. And I think that's a very good point because even during the pandemic,
Starting point is 00:37:18 like we were filming during the pandemic, we were social distancing, we were testing every week. I mean, like, we were doing all the protocols to still be together and to deliver a great show. So I commend us. Through, you know, come hell or high water, Real Houseways of Potomac. Potomac will prevail.
Starting point is 00:37:34 Comes back every year. Yes, indeed. That's right. Just like the cherry blossoms. And Ashley Darby is always there. Yes. Congratulations. I loved the season premiere.
Starting point is 00:37:43 I think you guys are going to have a really fun one. Thank you. I'm excited to see it. I think so, too. A lot of strong personalities, a lot of fun times. And I think viewers will be very surprised. Nothing is expected. Just to let you all know.
Starting point is 00:37:55 Okay. I'm good with that. I like the unexpected. Yes, me too. Well, thank you so much, Ashley. Of course. Great to see you. Always a pleasure.
Starting point is 00:38:02 You too. Thanks everyone for watching. Don't forget to rate, review, and follow the show. And until next time, be cool. Don't feel like, un-e-cool. Yamava Resort and Casino at San Manuel is California's number one entertainment destination for today's superstars. Catch the Jonas Brothers return to the Yamava Theater stage on April 30th.
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