Many viewers watching this season are miffed and confused about the Brandi-Lisa friendship. Season 2 ushered in Brandi Glanville (the underdog) who is befriended by Lisa Vanderpump (the fan favourite). It was delightful to see this mismatched pair get on so wonderfully. By season 3, the duo’s friendship had solidified into an unbreakable bond. However, this season of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills their friendship deteriorates into a ball of suspicion and angst.
Not surprisingly, both women have their own perception about events leading up to the fall-out. Let’s take a look at both sides of the coin.
Season 2, Brandi was the outcast and snubbed by the cast mates. Initially, Lisa was hesitant about Brandi due to her affiliation with Cedric. But during a group trip to Hawaii, a friendship began to develop. She did not want Brandi to be ostracised and treated poorly by the other cast mates. During season 3, when Kyle invited Lisa to Portia’s birthday party, Lisa encouraged Brandi to “mend fences” with Kyle. Going to the party would give Brandi the opportunity to put her best foot forward. Lisa’s intention was for Brandi to gain acceptance with the rest of the ladies.
Season 3 wraps, the reunion show filmed, and the off season starts: The off season (Sept. 2012 – March 2013) is when the issues began.
August 2013: During the filming of the Puerto Rico episode (which airs tomorrow), reportedly there was an argument between Lisa and Yolanda. Lisa temporarily un-followed Yolanda on Twitter, and then later re-followed. Brandi tweeted, “If un-following some1 on FB or Twitter is ur way of dealing with, really anything!! Especially friendships, ur WEAK & probably crooked as fuck.”
September 2013: Brandi appeared on Bethenny and stated, “This season it unfolds that she [Lisa] is very manipulative and everyone serves a purpose.”
October 14, 2013: Brandi tweeted, “She [Lisa] plays more games than my children.”
October 21, 2013: Brandi tells Extra, “It really just comes to, was she using me this whole time to get ahead in something else? Some things that I found out that were really disappointing, and when the cards were down for me, she wasn't really there. It's actually super sad. I just hope that we can reconcile at some point. I miss her and I love her. I just want to make sure our friendship is really real, and I'm not just a pawn in some sort of bigger deal."
I don’t give a damn if Lisa dropped kicked Chica in the chest. Brandi should have NEVER EVER handled her discord with Lisa the way she did. No matter how used and abused Brandi felt, you never publically attack and try and humiliate a friend. Let’s put this into perspective. If Lisa was a mediocre, never really there for her, lukewarm kind of a friend, I guess Brandi’s actions wouldn't seem that bad (I guess). But Lisa wasn't that kind of friend at all. She really WAS there for Brandi and put her neck and reputation on the line by maintaining a friendship with Brandi whilst the other women were in utter disgust with her behaviour. So…..Brandi should have had the decency to go directly TO Lisa and express exactly what was bothering her. Instead, Brandi avoids Lisa altogether but tells others about her feelings instead of the person who she’s angry at. I'm stunned by this lack of integrity.
The way she publically threw shade on Lisa is simply disgusting. What's really strange is how Brandi would simultaneous open up a can of public whup arse on Lisa, but then turn around and say she loves Lisa and that their friendship is just going through a little "hiccup". WTF? That's some laughing whilst you're stabbing kind of psycho mess. And, it seems at this point Brandi has a vendetta against her! Slanderous bankruptcy allegations and hinting around that Lisa had a hand in deporting Cedric. She’s making it seem like Lisa is one of the Mob Wives or something.
There are clearly two polar sides to this dynamic, but its evident viewers are not pleased with how things were handled. Brandi has received tremendous backlash on Twitter and on her Bravo blog. Coincidentally, right before her book was to be released, Brandi became very kind to her Twitter followers. I suppose after it sells she'll go back to telling them all to "fuck off". I've been watching the show since the beginning, but this season was very hard to watch. Before the season aired, I knew Brandi had publically turned on Lisa so I girded my kitty loins as the season unfolded. I tell you one thing; Season 5 will begin taping in a month or so and I sure do hope we've seen the last of Volcano Vag.