Monique Samuels Addresses Ashley Darby's Written Statement

Ashley Darby and Candiace Dillard Bassett have been committed to rebuilding their friendship this season of The Real Housewives of Potomac. However, their drama was reignited during the group's trip to Portugal.

During the last night of the vacation, Ashley revealed to Candiace that Monique Samuels had asked her to write a legal statement amid Monique and Candiace's cases filed against each other. Candiace had filed charges against Monique following their altercation earlier this season of RHOP. Monique later filed counter charges against Candiace. The charges against both Monique and Candiace were ultimately dropped.

Monique opened up about that written statement during her appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on November 29 while addressing a question from a fan who wanted to know what Monique thought about Wendy Osefo becoming so upset about the revelation in Portugal. "I don't think she has a right to be upset about that," Monique explained. "I didn't ask Ashley to write anything that was a lie; I just asked her to write her history as it pertains to Candiace and her belligerent behavior." 

Wendy addressed her reaction to the written statement, including why she called Ashley a "snake," in The Real Housewives of Potomac After Show. "How are you able to smile in Candiace's face? How are you able to tell Candiace, 'I appreciate where our relationship is?'" Wendy said. "If you are so genuine about appreciating where your relationship is with Candiace and you guys have grown, then you could have extended her the courtesy of a phone call."

Ashley explained why she wrote the statement in the RHOP After Show. "I decided to write the statement for my friend because she was really facing some real serious charges," she said. "Honestly, while I know [Candiace and I] were trying to rebuild our friendship and while we were making a little bit of headway, that outcome of what could happen to Monique was so much more important to me in that moment."

It was because she had been making progress in her friendship with Ashley that Candiace said she was so caught off-guard by the news of the written statement. "I think I was hurt first and then I was shocked because I honestly thought that myself and Ashley were moving into a functioning space, a positive space after having a lot of drama and tension for a long time," Candiace shared during the RHOP After Show. "There's something about that kind of hurt that hits differently because it's like, 'Damn, I thought we were good.'"

Want more RHOP? New episodes air every Sunday at 9/8c or catch up on this season through the Bravo app.

Get your first look at the RHOP Season 5 finale, below.

Your First Look at the Shocking Season 5 Finale of The Real Housewives of Potomac

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