Kenya Moore of The Real Housewives of Atlanta is clearly misunderstood. ?While we may view Moore?as merely earning her keep on the popular reality show by stirring the pot and keeping the mess in rotation, she wants the world to know that she’s really innocent and trying to do whats best for her fellow cast members.
During last week’s episode, Moore was the spark that lit the flame when she decided to forcibly boot Glen Rice, Jr. out of the Miami mansion she and the ladies were sharing for the weekend (but only AFTER Rice curved her advances and set eyes on Sheree Whitfield).
[READ: RECAP: RHOA 0807 ‘Miami Spice’ + Watch Full Video]
In doing so, Kenya set off a chain of events that had her cast mates looking at her sideways. ?Kim Fields called Kenya out on her shenanigans and Phaedra Parks even likened Moore’s reaction to the Black Lives Matter movement.
That being said, Kenya has decided to play along and she defends her actions in her latest Bravo blawg, stating:
Glen made me and?Kandi?uncomfortable on several occasions. He came in with a chip on his shoulder, calling us ?b**** and hos.? This was difficult to witness. I clearly saw a pattern of disrespectful behavior.
[Sidebar: …and by ‘disrespectful,’ Kenya?means that Sheree stole the man she wanted to play with… ]
Details below…
Kenya addresses the Glen Rice incident and explains why she chose to ask him to leave. ?She states:
We were all drinking and having fun on the boat, but his first response to me snapping my fingers at him was aggressive and uncalled for. I laughed it off, but I noted it. He was then aggressive with Kandi, who is obviously pregnant. He threatened to show out ?any b**** or hos try him or disrespect him,? and when politely asked to leave by Tammy, he charged at me calling me a ?little b***? and pushed his own Aunt down to the ground.
Kim Fields was clearly sober and called Kenya out on her shenanigans, and Kenya is feeling the heat. ?
Moore strikes back at Kim with the following response:
Further, if a man is acting in a threatening and aggressive manner thereby making women feel uncomfortable, we cannot ask them to leave? According to?Kim Fields?if we do, we are ?hitting a hornet?s nest? and ?provoking? a man. Shame on them! I do not have to accept a man?s abuse ? physical or verbal, black or white. Glen was abusive, period. I deserve to feel safe in my environment. I deserve protection. I deserve respect. This incident is not about a racial divide. I am a woman first.
These women are so resentful of my presence that they will always choose the side that is against me. Would any of these hypocritical mothers allow their sons to talk to women that way? Would that be acceptable to them for their sons to act the way Glen did? We saw Phaedra threaten to call the police on Apollo, but according to them I was wrong to ask Glen to leave.
Kenya also addresses Phaedra Parks’ reference to the Black Lives Matter Movement, stating:
I?m astounded by?Phaedra?s?blatant attempt manipulate the fans and incite anger against me. She stated that my reaction to Glen was the same as that of a ?white women in suburbia? to an innocent Black boy walking down the street.
This had nothing to do with a ?white women in suburbia? as Phaedra stated. Some men, like Glen, behave in a way that is unacceptable in society. We can feel a need to protect our men from unwarranted police brutality as in the Black Lives Matter campaign, but this is clearly not the same.
Regarding Phaedra, she has made it her mission on every episode thus far to call me a villain; making fun of my former skin condition, my dark brown skin tone, and now my preemptive actions made to protect not only her, but all of the women present. It?s evident that Kim Fields, Phaedra,?Sheree, and?Porsha?were all wrong about Glen. Yet, they were all ready to nail me to a stake until Kandi stated she agreed with me. Funny how that works isn?t it?
Whatever the case, Phaedra is sticking to her guns and still feels that Kenya’s actions were indicative of a deeper issue. ?While she certainly doesn’t excuse Glen Rice, Jr’s actions, Parks feels the situation mirrored too many others that got out of hand over ‘poor communication’ and she explains her position as follows:
The plight of African-American boys is close to my heart. Being the mother of two black sons requires me to be more aware of society?s perceptions, because I have to teach them how to appropriately conduct themselves in situations like this.
While Glen?s behavior and actions were clearly unacceptable, seeing him provoked into a confrontational situation is a prime example of how a manageable incident can quickly escalate into a dangerous situation.
A misperception or miscommunication can very well be the difference between life and death, as we have seen time and time again throughout history. Kenya?s fears and poor communication skills turned what should have simply been an uncomfortable situation into an act of violence.
I got emotional because all too often young black boys are in similar situations that unexpectedly and unnecessarily turn violent and result in them either being seriously hurt or killed. I was with the family of Michael Brown in Ferguson and have seen this tragedy firsthand. I am friends with Trayvon Martin?s mother, and I know she never expected to be the face of a movement, but fortunately she turned her sorrow into strength and has led the cause to bring awareness to senseless violence against black boys.
I do not condone violence against women ? I am a woman, daughter, sister, and mother ? but I equally do not condone labeling or stereotyping.
What do you think about Kenya & Phaedra’s statements?