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Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 12 Reunion:  Conclusion

 

As you probably noticed, because the RHOBH reunion part 2 was such a snooze,  I didn't even bother recapping it, and although last night's part three wasn't exactly a thrill ride, I thought not talking about it at all would be weird, so here goes.

 

Part three was all about Kathy Hilton.  Andy Cohen reserved the bulk of the 42 minutes for her to explain her alleged "psychotic breakdown" that Hollywood's biggest bully accused her of having during their girl's trip to Aspen, CO.  But before we get to that, a few other topics were addressed beaten to death; the first one being Erika's drinking.  Andy goes straight to the footage of a trashed Kunty telling Garcell's kid to "Get the fuck outta here" at Garcelle's birthday party.  Erika's explanation was that she was numbing pain and really had no ill intent. Garcelle says she didn't know how bad it was until she saw the episode, and then of course has to make it racial by saying "Can you imagine if I (being a blackish woman) had said that to someone's kid on this cast? !!".  Again with the "angry black bitch" stereotyping ... Zzzz.  

 

Andy then calls out Kyle for laughing about it, and even worse, Stoned Mo' actually saying he was actually glad Erika did it.  Huh? Kyle said they had not yet seen the episode, but were shocked and appalled (at their own behavior) when they did.  It's hard to read Garcelle's reaction, but suffice to say, there may as well have been one of those bubbles over her head saying "Yeah sure bitch, you, Mo' and the Kemsleys can go fuck yourselves".  BTW, although we the viewers already saw said footage, at the time of filming, Garcelle had not.  Although I didn't think it was that serious, I do get where Garcy was coming from, and I would have been more angry with the Umanski's and the Kemsley's than Erika.  Just as I wonder why Dorit and PK were let off the hook in this conversation, drama queen Dorit  inserts herself into the conversation declaring that she was horrified when she saw the footage and apologizes to Garcelle, but at the same time, distances herself from the situation.

 

Andy then brings up a court case that determined there is no evidence to suggest that Erika knew what Tom was doing. It really is an important breakthrough, because normally when one judge rules a certain way, it takes precedence, and other judges follow suit ... and this lawsuit was a whopper (in the tens of million$).  Of course, even if EJ does weather all these lawsuits, she will always be guilty in the court of public opinion. 

 

Andy and Erika then spar on the infamous $1.3 million dollar earrings.  He clearly thinks she should give up, which is easy for him to say.  Andy apparently doesn't get that defendents in lawsuits don't generally skip the judgement and award the plaintiffs who are suing them.  They get rather testy with each other, and Andy eventually calls her out on what many believe is her lack of compassion for Tom's victims.  Again, Erika tries to explain the basic strategy of law, adding that she's showing as much compassion as she (legally) can, but Cohen snaps, "Well it's not landing". Fox Force Four buds, Kyle and Dorit, chime in, again trying to explain to Erika that she can show compassion without incriminating herself, but Erika just remains emotionless, allowing her eyes to tell them to STFU.

 

Kathy Hilton finally joins the stage, seating herself next to Kyle.  Andy starts with Kathy’s tequila, which I believe is at the root of all the controversy.  Andy rolls the footage of Kathy becoming incensed at Kemo Sabe in Aspen, when Lisa had the audacity to order "her friend", Kennell Jenner's tequila instead if hers.  I think this scene is key for a few different reasons.  The first one being, it most definitely showed a side of Kathy Hilton that people have been talking about for years; that of a spoiled, rich, and entitled White lady with a nasty temper.  But before we cancel Kathy and throw away the key, let's remember that production is very skilled at manipulating story lines by only showing certain behaviors, without fully showing the whole picture. Case in point;  all we see is Kathy seemingly throwing a tantrum for something very trivial, but the truth is, as unseen footage (until now) indicates, this thing was brewing throughout the season.  Also, for all we know, Kathy might have first asked Lisa if she were having "her" tequila, only to have Lisa then order Kennell's 818.  That would piss anyone off, and I certainly wouldn't put it past Rinna.  Incidentally, I guess by now everyone knows that Kathy and her daughter Nicky are merely investors .... Eva Longoria actually owns Casa Del Sol Tequila. 

 

But regardless, the second reason this is a key scene is that it shows Kathy's temperament, when "loyalty" is involved.  This season, Kyle finally confirmed that Mauricio's leaving Rick Hilton's real estate company (to branch out on his own) is at the core of Kathy and Kyle's strained relationship.  In other words, if Kathy could get so twitchy over a stupid investment in tequila which isn't even hers, you can only imagine her rage over what she perceives as her brother-in-law directly betraying her and her husband, especially when said Judas then goes on to build a billion dollar company. 

 

Anyway, Kathy comes up with some cockamamie excuse that she admittedly,  naively thought that her sister was going to prominently display her tequila on that day at Kemo Sobe. Kyle immediately takes umbrage to this and says "So it's My fault?".  It's hard not to agree with Kyle, but as Kathy eventually says to her, it's hardly worth crying about.  But Kyle starts with that annoying "Kyle voice" anyway ... you know the one where she struggles to speak with throaty voice choking back the tears.  Kathy goes through all the motions trying to comfort her baby sister, but Kyle isn't having it, flipping the switch from sadness to anger and then back to sadness. 

 

Kathy finally tells her story about what exactly triggered her at the Caribou Club.  She says when she went over to the DJ to request he play a song "Billie Jean", he was very dismissive and didn't even make eye contact with her.  She then goes to the manager and asked if she gave him some money, would they then play a few songs, and he said no.  At this point, Kathy reveals that she has been a member of this private club for over 30 years. She then says that the manager then asked her where she was from.  She then claims that when she said  “L.A.”, he then told her to back to L.A. 

 

Kathy then admits that she did get pissed and did indeed want to leave.  Kyle hears her out (as if it's her first time hearing it) and says that Kathy "demanded" she and all the ladies leave, and Kathy doesn't dispute it.  But here's where it gets dicey.   Erika then chimes in and says that when she asked Kathy what was wrong, Kathy said "That DJ is an old fucking faggot".  Of course Kathy denies it.  OK, here's the thing.  While I do completely believe Kathy used those words, I don't know why Erika had to tell the world.  I mean let's be real; how many women in the entire housewive galaxy has not even jokingly used the F word, including Kunty herself.  Phony woke Andy then reveals that Bravo's HR (Human Resources) investigated the accusations, but they concluded that it was a "she said, she said" situation and closed the case. 

 

In retaliation, Kathy then makes a silly attempt to shift the narrative to Erika’s expensive purses and jewelry, but it clearly isn't working ... for Andy, any of the women on the couches, and I'm guessing for most viewers.   Only Kyle speaks up, declaring that she didn't hear Kathy say that.  At one point, Kathy tells Erika, "I think I've got more credibility than you", but that too falls flat as an uncomfortable silence envelops the group.  Oh Kathy, please put down the shovel. 

 

Now at this point, I'm wondering, what about the N word accusation?  Lisa begins to revisit Karen's Kathy's rant in the sprinter van, but there's still no mention of the N word, so apparently Kathy's cease and desist worked.  But of course the accusation is out there, so the damage is already done ... thank you Lisa Rinna.  As Lisa talks about Kathy’s meltdown in the van, Kathy does a 180 and is now denying basically everything.  Pot stirrer Andy then begins to list all crap Kathy allegedly said about everyone, and again I am believing Lisa.   God knows Rinna is a lot of things, but I completely believe her on this one.  RInna's is acting exactly like someone who is telling the truth, and Kathy is exacting exactly like someone who is lying.   Case in point, Kathy tries to get Lisa on a technicality but then unintentionally busts herself by saying that Lisa was agreeing with her (thus admitting that she said those things).  

 

Kathy continues denying that she made all those comments (which btw, the other ladies are basically laughing at) and then claim that Rinna made up the texts she posted on social media about her behavior.  Again, oh Kathy ... poor technology-challenged Kathy.  Of course Rinna still has them on her phone and Andy verifies it.  Erika chimes in about the leaks saying that her publicist has been Nikki Hilton’s publicist for years and he would never do that, abd Kathy actually agrees.  Sidenote:  Both Lisa and Rinna and Erika parted with their publicists just a few weeks ago, right before Bravo Con.   Garcelle adds that Rinna puts a LOT of stuff online, and Rinna responds by revealing that she was contacted by TMZ who had already gotten wind of what was going down in Aspen.   Lisa wisely admits that she did talk to them.  Still sniffling and with blood shot eyes, Kyle says she wishes it had never gotten out!  Now that's the understatement of the season..

 

In yet another childish attempt to redeem herself, Kathy claims that Rinna wanted all the drama on camera because her contract was up for renewal, and then finally utters the words that we've seen in previews for the last week, "Rinna you're the biggest bully in Hollywood, and everyone knows it!".  Lisa calmly responds, "Really?", allowing Kathy to hang herself with her own words.  Kathy continues, "You drove my sister, Lisa Vanderpump, Denise Richards ... Camille off the show".  Well that did it brother, and Kyle is now sobbing uncontrollably.  I was really expecting her to jump up and sprint off the cheesy stage like she did in Amsterdam, but no such luck. 

 

Andy laughingly suggests that perhaps Rinna shouldn’t have told Kyle all the ugly things Kathy said so she could still be close with her sister.  Yes, thank you Captain Obvious.  Rinna says she will back off and maintains that all she wants is for the two sisters to work things out (she should have included Kim in those negotiations).  Kyle continues to cry and says that she doesn’t want to be estranged from her sister, explaining that their fighting affects the entire family, particularly noting Paris’s recent hurtful tweets against her.   Andy tries to get the two sisters to a better place. Kyle is willing, but now Kathy is not. Kathy thinks that Kyle is acting like a martyr (as if Kyle is the only one who was hurt).  Dorit tries to interject, but Kyle snaps at her and says that she really doesn't want to hear from her.  Dort and Rinna then vow the battling sisters are now on their own.  Spoiler alert:  They are still not in a good place. 

 

They hug it out, well sort of, and Kathy is allowed to leave the stage. There was no real resolution. Kyle doesn’t know why Kathy is so mad at her. Kathy is apparently pissed because Kyle didn’t stick up for her? Seriously? Kyle says it is always her fault. When Kathy leaves, Kyle says, “Well now it is completely done”.  Dorit attempts the traditional reunion toast, but Kyle tells Garcelle that she can’t do a toast right now. Garcelle pretends to "get it", but I swear I caught she and Sutton rolling their eyes at each other.   Well kids, that concludes Season 12 ... it's a wrap!