In the wake of multiple sexual assault allegations against Thomas Ravenel, he is under investigation by the network and by law enforcement.
Bravo addressed the accusations by not having him at the reunion. But his castmates were still there. And his absence definitely came up.
During Part 1 of the reunion special, Thomas" ex and baby mama, Kathryn Dennis, finally broke her silence on the investigation.
Though Kathryn goes on quite the face journey (we"ve included some of our favorite stills) during this clip, her actual words are . . . moderate.
"I’m not going to comment until it’s resolved," Kathryn says after Andy Cohen asks her what she thinks.
“What I am going to focus on," Kathryn explains. "Is just the children and staying out of it."
Kathryn does acknowledge that she"s spent time with Thomas, saying: "We’ve been trying to spend more time together in front of the children."
"So things are moving in the right direction the best as they can," she explains.
Kathryn"s words may be almost neutral, but her face speaks of discomfort … and perhaps anger.
Andy Cohen read a statement to the group from Thomas" attorney.
"Along with Bravo," the statement reads. "Our client made the mutual decision not to attend today’s reunion taping as there is a pending investigation."
For Bravo, that"s a decision of taste. For someone under police investigation, that"s an issue of an attorney"s advice — you never want your client talking about the case.
"Our client is fully cooperating with authorities on that investigation,” the statement claims.
“He expects to be completely vindicated once the investigation is concluded," the statement says. "He sends his best regards to his fans and his fellow castmates."
That was intensely awkward.
Andy then polls the group about how they feel about Thomas not being there.
Cameran Eubanks was quick to comment, saying: "I think it’s the right decision for him not to be here."
Any way that you look at it, she"s right.
"I will say this," Shep Rose says. "90 percent of the time Thomas is funny, eccentric, jovial and then we’ve seen that there’s a side of him that’s not really him."
Shep exudes more raw Owen Wilson energy than anyone but Owen Wilson himself. It sounds like he"s being very honest here.
"There"s a big side of him that I really really love," Shep explains. "And a little part that I don"t."
Naomie Olindo (who, not that this is relevant, really stood out with her subdued yet gorgeous appearance at the reunion) spoke up about how Thomas has always been nice to her, personally.
At the same time, she joins in, acknowledging that there is another side to him, that he can be — and Shep jumps in and supplies the word: "Volatile."
Naomie agrees.
Many would point out that someone being nice to one person, or most of the time, does not make them actually a nice person.
Being nice to Naomie is great. There are a few different women who say that Thomas was anything but nice to them. And one of them has photos of injuries. That"s something to consider.
Shep and Naomie may be in agreement, but we already know who isn"t.
Thomas" girlfriend, Ashley Jacobs, will appear in the second part of the reunion special.
You can already guess her opinion as to whether or not Thomas is innocent.
"Of course, yes,” Ashley says in a preview of that special. “He has not be charged with anything."
"These," she says dismissively of the rape accusations from various women. "Are just allegations."
Kathryn Dennis may be Thomas" ex, but she also knew Nanny Dawn for years. For half of her very young children"s lives, really.
It makes a lot of sense that she cannot — one way or the other — speak out about Thomas" allegations.
For many fans, while they know that a single false allegation of rape is statistically unlikely but still possible, they find it hard to believe that multiple women made this up.
Especially when one has photographs of injuries sustained during the alleged assault.
Others aren"t convinced that the seemingly charming man they"ve seen on screen could sometimes be a monster when the cameras aren"t rolling.
While Thomas" legal future hinges upon investigators, prosecutors, and a jury, his future on reality television may hinge upon whether viewers are willing to watch the show if he remains part of it.
