After a season filled with tension, it is clear that the friend group formed for the Season 14 reboot of The Real Housewives of New York City will not remain unscathed going into Season 15.
Ubah Hassan, one of the stars of the reboot, has been trying to determine which women in the group she can trust and which ones she considers to be “pigeons,” spreading rumors and misinformation among the group.
Brynn Whitfield is no longer part of Ubah’s circle of friends after she exposed Ubah’s secret relationship last season, and this revelation has caused ongoing strain within the group ever since.
Ubah’s reactions this season were often justified, particularly after she repeatedly reminded her friends that English is her second language. She explained how difficult it is when people speak over her, as it derails her train of thought. Ubah specifically asked her friends to let her finish her thoughts before they interjected, so it was no surprise that she grew frustrated with Brynn.
Brynn would frequently speak over Ubah, often in a way that seemed intended to provoke a confrontation. This made Ubah’s irritation with her co-star grow throughout the season. In turn, Brynn leaned on Erin Lichy for support, which didn’t bring out the best in either woman.
Ubah Hassan faces manipulation, stereotypes, and privilege as RHONY’s drama intensifies
Both Brynn and Erin have relied on negative stereotypes as part of their ongoing attempts to make Ubah seem like the one starting trouble in every conflict.
The term “mean girls” has been used on Bravo for so long that it has almost lost its impact. However, Brynn and Erin continue to act in ways that fit the stereotypical “mean girl” behavior. During the Season 14 reunion, Erin made a revealing comment about the group’s treatment of Jenna Lyons.
While the group apologized for their harsh behavior towards Jenna, Erin leaned over and joked, “This is a sorority, you have to get hazed.” This remark highlighted Erin’s belief that hazing is a normal part of friendship, revealing her “sorority attitude,” which contributes to the mean girl behavior within the group.
While Erin might be unaware of how damaging her actions can be, Brynn is more deliberate in her payback. At the start of Season 15, Brynn was upset with Erin over comments she made during an appearance on Jeff Lewis’ radio show. When Brynn visited Erin’s apartment to make amends, she deliberately gave Erin bottled water instead of tap water and sent Erin’s new puppy away to deny her the joy of seeing it.
These small, petty gestures reflect how Brynn uses passive-aggressive tactics when she feels hurt. Erin even wondered if Brynn had made sure the elevator in her building was turned off, forcing her to walk up several flights of stairs.
Both Brynn and Erin use mean girl tactics to control the behavior of their friends and get their way in the relationships. For Brynn, these tactics seem like a defense mechanism. She will make harsh comments to provoke a confrontation, and then, when someone reacts, she becomes upset and distances herself.
Erin’s mean girl behavior, on the other hand, appears more subconscious, shaped by her past experiences with group dynamics where such behavior was normalized.
Even more concerning is how Brynn and Erin rely on their privilege, which can exacerbate their behavior. Brynn, as a light-skinned biracial woman who grew up in white spaces, often benefits from the privileges associated with perceived whiteness.
This allows her to silence Ubah during conflicts, using the stereotype of the “angry Black woman” to undermine Ubah’s position. Erin also benefits from white privilege, often using tears to manipulate situations and avoid taking responsibility for her part in disagreements. This tactic, used by many white women, helps them silence women of color and avoid accountability.
The combination of mean girl behavior and white privilege results in Brynn and Erin pushing harmful stereotypes on RHONY. Whether intentional or not, their actions contribute to a toxic group dynamic that impacts the rest of the women in the group. The drama continues to unfold as the show heads into its next season.
The Real Housewives of New York City airs every Tuesday on Bravo and can also be streamed on Peacock.
