On every reality show, there's at least one friendship that you don't think will be tested during the run of the show. Yes, these are melodramatic people thrust together through circumstance and dealing with people they may not care for, but some pretty decent friendships have been formed on reality TV and sometimes it's hard to believe when one finally bites the dust.
Tonight we may have seen the beginning of the end of Jennifer and Evelyn's friendship on Basketball Wives, as accusations of jealousy and media whore-dom flew through the gorgeous Italian evening with reckless abandon. It was a little sad to see the formerly tight duo let their emotions get the best of them, their past issues finally boiling over after simmering for supposedly quite a while. I'm admittedly not the biggest fan of either lady on the show, though this season has brought them a little closer to planet Earth through divorce and family issues, but here are two people who seemingly liked each other that may be permanently estranged over some stupidity. Reality TV or not, it's hard to find a good friend these days and when you do, you've got to hold on pretty tight to keep 'em.
But that brings the question. How tight will Jennifer and Evelyn hold on to their friendship?
I don't want to completely close the door on a reunion between the two former (?) friends, but I have a feeling it'll be at least a few episodes before we get a sniff of a possible reconciliation. We've made it through the storm, but the hard part is what begins starting next week, as these two have to put their pride aside, be able to sit in a room, and talk about their issues like two grown women. It's hard to find the maturity needed to patch up a friendship, no matter how good it was, when your feelings are hurt, so couple that with Evelyn's obvious stubbornness and it may be a pretty icy time between her and Jennifer for the time being. I don't think a permanent wall has been put up, though. When you go through enough crap with someone, it makes the times you get hurt a little easier to forgive and like it or not, the two of them seem like they've been through enough to where time and a little talk can help ease them back into being friends.
However, this may be the cynic in me talking, but if you take their friendship away on the show, who do they have? They're both close to Shaunie, who doesn't show up that much, and they're civil enough with Tami. Neither likes Royce, neither likes Meeka, and despite the weird allegiance shifts this season has seen, neither likes Suzie, so it's not like they have a gaggle of gal pals on this show to fall back on. Just like most reality friendships, they make each other more interesting and even though they each have pretty solid B-stories this season, they each lose a little luster without one another.
As far as my opinion on who's right, well...I have to say Jennifer, but for the most part, I'm keeping my pom-poms in the closet this go-around. On one hand, I see Evelyn's side of things. She overreacted x 1000, but I understand that you want your best friend to be happy for you and when they're not supportive of what you do or who you're seeing, it can be a pretty crushing blow. On the other, Chad Ochocinco is an attention whore and it's not because he's simply in the media/does interviews. (Seriously, no shade, but someone who does reality TV doesn't know what an attention whore is?) I think Jennifer's comments come from a good place, in that she expressed worry that her friend will get her heart broken again by a sketchy athlete, but I just don't think she articulated her point well enough. As weird as it may be, what she said came from a place of love and right now, Evelyn's only seeing "attention whore" in big neon letters and not the intention behind what Jennifer actually said.
While I love the dynamic shift that a Jennifer/Evelyn "break-up" brings to the show, a little part of me feels sorry about the situation as a whole. Whether you're on a top-rated reality show or work at the sanitation department, it's hard to lose a friend and I'm interested to see how each woman handles her grief for the rest of the season. On every reality show there's at least one friendship that you don't think will be tested during the run of the show. Turns out in the case of Basketball Wives, anything's fair game.
Ta-ta, Jevelyn. We hardly knew ye.
You'll probably be back by the season finale, but whatever.
Thoughts, Observations, & Quotes:
- Apparently having three boyfriends in a year means that you are a piece of trash. Who knew the Basketball Wives, of all people, would be so prudish?
- Quality Tami quotes: "I'ma tolerate her...'cause she's here.", "Stop being a fan.", and "Is that a clock, boo?"
- Speaking of the swarthy Italian wine expert in that awesome underground winery, did he look like Justin from The Amazing Race or was I seeing things? My reality TV wires may be crossing.
- Ashley's still being mentioned on the show, even though the last two seasons have been very scant in appearances. Tonight's text/tweet-gate may be the first crack in Suzie's "friendship" with the inner circle, though, so at least she made it count.
- Can Evelyn wear her hair curly more? She looked absolutely stunning in the talking head with curly hair and a dark shirt.
- Say what you want about the quality of the shows and what they represent, but VH1 reality always brings it with the music. Tonight? Jazmine Sullivan, who has two stellar albums of material out there and has been featured on The Game, among other shows.
- Is it just me or do Basketball Wives and Mob Wives have some parallels? I've noticed that Jennifer is very Renee-ish (concerned friend who doesn't present her ideas properly) and Evelyn has some Drita in her (sensitive, blacks out when mad).
- Once again, no Royce, although she made an "appearance" when the inner circle was throwing shade at her during the beginning of the episode. If Royce was/is so much drama, why even bring her up? Why not completely ignore her existence and enjoy Italy if she's such a nuisance?
Do you think that Evelyn and Jennifer will make up sometime this season? Who do you think is in the right? Have you ever had a similar fight with a friend of yours?
Re Jen and Evelyn: I don't think the person who wrote the atticle above truly knows what friendship is all about.To put it in a nbutshell: men come and go, but your girlfriends are (or should be) forever. What Jennifer did was wrong on so many levels. She could have finessed the situation by responding with a non-answer, such as for example, "Evelyn is my friend and I don't talk about my friends.". Whatever her personal feelings about Chad Ochocinco (such a silly last name), as Evelyn's BF(F)she should never have commented publicly on Evelyn's relationship. I think Jen was totally naïve in her reaction to Evelyn's upset feelings. Did she not learn anything from the falling out between Evelyn and Suzie? My thinking is that Evelyn felt betrayed by Jennifer (and rightly so), particularly when as her BF(F) Jen never did offer best wishes on Evelyn's engagement. What's up with that? Regardless of her personal feelings about Ochocinco, Jennifer should unconditionally support Evelyn, which she hasn't done. Add the negative interview to the mix, and is it any wonder that Evelyn is so upset? I don't blame her one bit. Your friend should always have your back. Whether or not what Jen said about Ocho is true, a real friend would never have voiced her negative opinions for all the world to hear. She should have known that Evelyn would be upset. Jennifer needs to understand the value of a friend, as she so obviously doesn't seem to.say what you like about Evelyn, she's a loyal friend and she should surround herself with women who are as loyal to her as she is to them.
i agree that evelyn did take it overboard but n da end dats supposed 2 be her bffs. jen doesnt hv 2 lk dude but she should respect her bf decision 4 bein wit him. but evelyn shouldnt tk da situation 2 dat point cuz jen told her on da previous season dat her dude is a media whore and dat she wasnt feelin her datin him sooooooo she jus needs to chill. i undastand dat she dnt xpect for jen 2 publicly broadcast it but dat aint nothin that wasnt already said n heard.
Yes, Jen was wrong, yes Jen should support her "friend's" choice, right, Jen shouldn't have put it on blast like she did, cuz BFF's can be brutally honest with each other ( in private) and still in the end come out still BFF's. BUT!! Ev should not hold onto this for ever, I mean, would Chad fall out wit one of his boyz to the point of ending a friendship over Evelyn? NOPE! My point, don't let a man come between you and yo girl! I think they should apologize and keep it movin! Cuz I also believe that Chad is somewhere wit his boys laughing.
I gotta go now!
Jen don't like him I don't particularly care for him as a manly man it's too much intouch about him for me to even look at him as a sex symbol perhaps a decent piece of eye candy yet too sweet on the teeth and if you look too long you just may start to think ump um something aint right! Although I do agree she should've not commented. But frankly my dear she didn't give a damn she said it to you so she can say it to the world-Wrong consider your friends feelings even though they aint getting married aint no babies coming and she's gone run right back into your arms if she can put her pride aside and if not then ole well two peas in a bucket you know the rest and let her walk around shitty inself pitty
tami said her daughter it sick with kidney disease diaysia 3 time day sleep with her huban 4 clidren from hin feb 4 back on you evelyn
i have never seen such immature, petty over-exagerrated women in my life. where do they find the time to be so constantly negative and gissipity?
their behavior is not classy yet very trashy –
Jennifer was wrong to go on a radio show and say those things about Chad. Evelyn is her friend and even if she feels that Chad is a media whore ( which he is) Evelyn must like that or she would not be engaged to him. Jennifer can speak to her friend about how she feels about Chad, but to go on the radio and speak about him negatively that was just flat out wrong!!! Jennifer needs to tell her friend that she did not mean to hurt her feelings, but she really does not know what to expect out of the situation. Evelyn has not known Chad for that long and personally she feels like they are moving pretty fast. She does not want Evelyn to get hurt and that from what she heard Chad has a rep that is not that good. Just tell your friend honestly how you feel and that you have concrens about what is going on. Not talk about about him on the radio and let everyone else know what's up that is just wrong. If your friend is happy just be happy for her. These women have plenty to learn. I do however think that it is very funny that no one likes Meeka. It seems that she feels like she has friends in Jennifer, Evelyn & Shunnie and just like Tammi said "they don't like U boo boo, stop trying to be a fan". I do find it funny that Suzie looks absolutely retarded there in Italy with the girls she always seems to look lost and confused. Royce is not there and there is soo much drama brewing that it is not funny. Evelyn & Jen's net meeting will not be a pretty one if we can all remeber the way Suzie was treated, Suzie said she was wrong and kept apologizing every chance she got. Evelyn talked about her and made her feel like a joke every chance she could. Jennifer is in for a big challenge to try and make this better.
bomber they all some media whores!!1. they getting paid to look ignorant 2.there are much more intelligent black women we can be watching on tv besides basketball wives3. I think they all weak minded and will do anything to maintain food on the table to feed their families, and if its act a fool they are surely doing it. I would rather be watching Oprah a least she got some intelligence and money and she didn't depend on Sted to help her get it when you look at the big picture none of them would be nothing if they hadn't latched on to a rich man. GOLD-DIGGERS!!!
If you check out the whole interview that Jen did you would get the whole story, everything she said on the radio she said to Evelyn on the last season of Basketball Wives and the whole world heard her say it. That is why Jen did not think it was such a big deal, and if you listen to the entire interview and not just the Vh1/Evelyn edited interview then you would hear Jen at the end saying but Evelyn is her girl and if she is happy with Chad then she is happy for her, and listen to the tone of Jen's voice during the interview she doesnt sound malicious at all. Evelyn is an angry b**** and the whole world hates her, she says that she doesnt care what prople thing about her but I know it has to get to her, she is taking out her anger on Jen. Evelyn is mad because she doesnt want Jen to ruin her potential alimony / child support. One thing I have learned in life is that men come and go, she should know this by now, but friends are forever. WHEN, WHEN, WHEN Chad Ochohoho breaks her hear, she's going to come running back to Jen.
i love that you said this because thats another spin the show did to make Jen look bad. I also read an article that quoted Jen saying Evelyn didnt even tell Jen she was engaged personally, she just tweated something and took her awhile to let Jen know. So i think Evelyn knows what ppl think about her relationship with Chad and is sick of it because they are both attention whores and was taking it out on Jen because she can. Evelyn says she didnt even congratulate her etc yet we hear all the time that Jen says shes happy if Evelyn is happy, so i think Evelyn just wanted more lime light on her. Just like the way she was cutting everyone off and is alway the one talking and dominating. Similarly to her publicity over her shirts that she wouldnt mend things with Tami over which till this episode i wasnt a fan of. Evelyn has dug herself a deeper hole, because now almost everyone including her BFF will hate her. good luck biatch, she thinks shes popular now but wait till she realises she has no one. Jen is a good friend to her, Evelyn is just a bully.
I think that although what Jennifer did isn't a good move for a BFF but i think sometimes when you feel strongly about something you cant help but voice your opinion esp. when someone asks you such a direct question. To me she pretty much tried to say that she is concerned that her friend will get hurt again (just with less tact) and has voiced this to Evelyn but knowing Evelyn anyone would know not to persist the point.
I dont think Jen had the intention to hurt Evelyn but Evelyn as always is a hot headed drama queen and out to cut anyone who messes with her. Ive been a fan of Evelyn from season 1 in fact she was my favourite character till this episode. I think she needs to respect ppl for the amount of respect she demands. In season 2 when Evelyn met Chad and slept with him on the first date, Jen kept it real and wasnt happy with it. Evelyn didnt like her reaction and said on screen, "get that stick out of your a$$". So to me it seems that Evelyn just doesnt like anyone fighting her and cant hack it even though she dishes it out more than anyone. The way she attacked Suzie when she suspected her of leaking something to Royce is another indication that she judges, doesnt forgive and is cut throat, so why is it that her BFF has to always be submissive towards her?
Im happy Jen is finding her voice and speaking up though i dont think she should have said what she said in that way, i think she can be left off the hook this time. Evelyn needs to calm the f down and teach her daughter her mum has some class coz Jennifer despite what she did has been classier than Evelyn from the get go. Evelyn resorts to swearing and physical fighting all the time – girl youre a grown a$$ woman you need to start acting like one. Compose yourself better!
How about Jennifer and Evelyn are both media whores as well. How about Jennifer is telling the truth and Evelyn knows it she is over reacting period end of story>>>>>>>>>>