Monique Samuels is back on Bravo in a “friend of” role for Real Housewives of Potomac Season 10, but her return comes with reminders of past drama.
Speaking exclusively to Page Six’s Virtual Reali-Tea, Monique claims her ex-husband, former NFL star Chris Samuels, is keeping tabs on her through others rather than contacting her directly.
According to Monique, the tension between them is most pronounced when it comes to co-parenting their three children: Milani, Christopher, and Chase.
“Oh you better believe he’s paying attention and keeping tabs. But the thing about Chris and I, we are not in a good space. The co-parenting is a nightmare,” she said. She adds that Chris’ approach is underhanded: “He won’t ever come to me about anything that he sees. He goes through people and he has them do their bidding for him. It’s very sneaky, it’s very shady. It’s very him. It’s on brand for him.”
Monique also addressed the contrast between Chris’ on-screen persona and the man she knew during their nearly decade-long marriage.
“Unfortunately, because I had maintained such a good front and image back then, it’s unbelievable for most people,” she explained. Even when the show’s cast reaches out to him, he reportedly acts as if he’s unaware of ongoing drama.
Behind the scenes, Monique claims that cast member Cookie functions as Chris’ mouthpiece, keeping him informed while giving him plausible deniability.
“He knows about it — because Cookie’s the mouthpiece. So she’s doing his bidding. Why is he talking to her? Because he knows she’s gonna run her mouth and do his bidding. And then he can play innocent and say, ‘I don’t know what y’all are talking about.’ I’ve seen this a thousand times,” Monique said.
Monique also addressed the controversy surrounding Stacey Rusch, the former QVC host, saying that Chris had been communicating with Stacey even before Monique signed on for her return to RHOP.
“There was definitely communication with Stacey because she showed it to me. She showed me a message from way before I even signed my contract, where he was texting her, asking, ‘Hey, I heard my name’s being talked about on the show?’ They were already communicating, so why would they not communicate later on?” Monique explained, noting inconsistencies in Stacey’s story only heightened her suspicions.
Charrisse Jackson’s decision to openly call Chris during filming also raised red flags for Monique. “And then she said, ‘I’m filming,’ and then [Chris] proceeded to talk. So ain’t nobody stupid,” she stated.
Now removed from the marriage, Monique is prioritizing her own narrative. She is preparing to share her full story in her forthcoming memoir and self-help guide, Love Letters from Versions of Myself: A Memoir of Self-Discovery, Transformation & Healing.
The book will explore her personal challenges, her relationship with Chris, and the self-awareness and growth she achieved in the aftermath.
