After what she went through last season, Dr. Wendy Osefo deserves a little peace on The Real Housewives Of Potomac. While Osefo still manages to dip her hand into plenty of drama from time to time, she fully embodies her “Zen Wen” persona in her 40th year. Her mother, Iyom Susan Okuzu, is at peace with Osefo’s decision to leave academia, so Osefo now feels free to pursue her passions, including The Dr. Wendy Show.
Just this past year, Osefo was contacted by the White House to interview Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on her YouTube channel. “There’s just so much beauty in that interview,” says Osefo. “She’s an immigrant. I’m an immigrant. You see two immigrants in the White House, and there’s power in that.” Best of all, Osefo’s family was able to accompany her to watch the conversation in person. “I’m so grateful that they got to be present,” gushed Osefo.
Even though Osefo is thriving professionally and personally, she still has time to get into the mess of all things RHOP. One of the most surprising moments of the season occurs when Osefo allows her former frenemy Gizelle Bryant back into her life. After turning 40, Osefo doesnât want to hold on to any past bitterness with Bryant. “Each new year, especially a milestone birthday, is like the first page in a blank book,” explained Osefo. “If she messed up, then that’s on her, but I didn’t want to be the one who was holding back our relationship.”
Osefo also had a front row seat to Karen Huger‘s plight this season. Recently, the Grande Dame of Potomac was found guilty on charges of DUI and DWI from her March 2024 arrest. Instead of attending the Season 9 reunion, Huger checked herself into a “private recovery program.” Osefo understood Hugerâs decision but said it was “disappointing” Huger didn’t attend the reunion. “There were a lot of conversations that involved her, that were about her,” said Osefo. “We would have benefited from her perspective now.”
Oswego stopped by the DECIDER studio to talk about her current situation, share her thoughts on the Mia Thornton-Gordon Thornton-Inc rollercoaster, and tell us why her husband, Eddie Osefo, deserves the title of Hottest Househusband.
DECIDER: Dr. Wendy, you’re having a great season, and I think itâs because youâre exactly where you are meant to be, career wise and family wise. Do you feel the same way as you watch this season back?
DR. WENDY OSEFO: Absolutely. I’m having so much fun this season. I feel like I got to let my hair down. I got to be myself. Itâs not like I wasnât myself in previous seasons, but thereâs been so much tension within the group, and I had to protect my peace at times. This season though, I’m just Wendy, loud cackle and all [laughs].
I was really glad to see that your mother was encouraging you to leave academia to pursue The Dr. Wendy Show and your other endeavors. What has her support meant to you?
WO: It means the world to me. I hold my mom so near and dear to my heart. I know that some people may watch this show and ask, âwhy does this woman care about what her mother thinks?â I just have so much respect for her. There’s a part of me that will always want my mother’s blessing and approval, even if I can do things without her. I know how much she sacrificed in her life for my sister and me to be who we are. The things I do in my life are almost an ode to her. I want her to know that her struggles weren’t in vain. Sheâs happy and supporting me in my decision. It just makes it easier to do what I want to do.
Speaking of the Dr. Wendy Show, I’m still so impressed that you had former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on as a guest. Can you talk about how her appearance came to be?
WO: The White House actually reached out to me. That will forever be one of the accomplishments in my life that I hold the most sacred. To me, it’s like they said, “we see you, we see the work you’re doing, and we want to have one of our representatives on your show.” Iâll be forever floored.
When they reached out, my team responded, and everyone worked together to make it happen. There’s just so much beauty in that interview. She’s an immigrant. I’m an immigrant. You see two immigrants in the White House, and there’s power in that. My children were with me too. They got to see their mom doing that. I’m so grateful that they got to be present.
Did Karine Jean-Pierre share any Bravo hot takes with you?
WO: Aside from the fact that she loved me? [Laughs] No, but that was enough for me.
I was really glad that you and Gizelle started to mend your friendship this season. What made you want to give her another chance?
WO: You saw me celebrate my 40th birthday all season. I was open to mending that friendship because I feel like each new year, especially a milestone birthday, is like the first page in a blank book. Since I am at such a secure place in my life, I felt like I could give her the opportunity. If she messed up, then that’s on her, but I didn’t want to be the one who was holding back our relationship.
Now, did you mean to outshine Mia’s Lake George trip with your fabulous cast trip to Panama or did that just happen naturally?
WO: It just happened naturally [Laughs]. I didn’t have to do much. Sometimes when you do the least, you still give the most.
Let’s talk room assignments. You admitted to wanting to cause a little chaos (especially with Gizelle and Stacey), but your choices ended up garnering a bit of peace between different factions of the group. Was that a happy accident or part of your master plan?
WO: It was my master plan. I had this all concocted in my head. I knew that once we got there, the women would hate the assignments, but by the time we left, they would love them. And it worked.
The incident with Miaâs and Gordonâs kids put a temporary damper on the trip. I felt you were genuine when you suggested that Mia take advantage of her full custody rights. Were you disappointed that she brushed you off?
WO: I have been disappointed with the whole situation because, at the end of the day, it’s really not about Mia and Gordon or who she’s dating. It’s about those children. For me, in anything I do, I’m a mom first. I wanted to make sure that sheâs doing what’s in their best interests. I just hope that she continues to try to do that.
The Mia-Gordon-Inc roller coaster is never dull! Are you ready to exit the ride or are you still fully seated?
WO: I got all five stops ago [Laughs]. The ride is still going. I’m not there. I’m off, and I’m never gonna get back on.
Every Potomac Housewife I’ve spoken with said Mia would have the most to answer for at the reunion. Now that the reunion has been filmed, were their predictions correct?
WO: Mmmm⦠50% yes. However, thereâs a surprise. Thatâs all I can say.
It’s no secret that this is the first RHOP reunion without Karen Huger. What was it like filming without the Grande Dame?
WO: It was disappointing because there were a lot of conversations that involved her, that were about her. We would have benefited from her perspective now. I will say that though she wasn’t there in person, she was there in spirit.
Do you think Karen should have attended the reunion? Or do you think she needed to start her healing journey ASAP?
WO: She checked herself into rehab. I think that her trying to find a way for healing supersedes anything that goes on in front of these cameras. She has to do what’s best for her right now.
I was hoping she would be present to address a small moment in the trailer that we haven’t seen on the show. We see Stacey report to you that Karen allegedly called you “self-absorbed” and you later confront Karen about that. The pain on your face is tough to watch. Why did that comment hit you so hard?
WO: We’re more than 90% done with the season. Out of all the ladies, I really had Karen’s back. When people were talking about her and she wasnât present, I would say, “Wait, Karen isn’t here.” I defended her. I rode for her. She asked her friends to soldier for her, and I did that.
Outside of the cameras, when Karen got into her accident, I sent her flowers. I texted her. I called her. I drove to her home. All of these things happened. I was really selfless for my friend in her time of need, only to find out that behind my back, she said I was selfish. That is hurtful. It’s a dagger in the heart, especially when you see women in the group who have gone out of their way to make her life a living hell. In that respect, Karen has a lot to answer for.
I’m sure your friend Candiace Dillard Bassett was also missed at the reunion. I miss her myself. Do you still speak to her? Have you gotten to meet her son yet?
WO: I have not gotten to meet her son. We were actually texting on reunion day, so that was just last week. I miss Candiace, too.
Would you be open to her returning in a future season?
WO: Why not? Yes, absolutely.
I am tired of Eddie not being included in debates about who is the hottest househusband. Why should Eddie be #1 on the list? Can you make a case for him?
WO: Can I tell you something? He was included during Bravo Fan Fest. I wasn’t in the room, but fans came out and said Eddie should win the Hottest Househusband title. I think the tides are turning [laughs]. I think Eddie is 1,000% the hottest house husband on Bravo. Not just for his physical attributes, but because he’s just an amazing husband. I think that supersedes everything.
I love those scenes at the Osefo house on the show. Those scenes with just you, Eddie and the kids in the kitchen or running around outside. It’s been really sweet to watch your family evolve over time. What do those moments mean to you?
WO: It’s really good for me because I’m not great at scrapbooking [laughs]. That’s never been one of my strengths as a mom. So, I have seasons of television I can look back on. I can ask my kids in the future, “Do you wanna know what you looked like when you were 7 in Season 9, Episode 3?” [Laughs] I’m really happy about that. Those are the moments that I enjoy the most.
My kids have so much fun when the cameras are around. They know they don’t have to film if they don’t want to, but it’s just a part of their lives now. I love the fact that they’re okay with it and it doesn’t bother them because these moments are special. It’s nice we’re able to capture them.
We’ve still got a few more episodes of RHOP. What can you tease about the rest of the season?
WO: We get back home from Panama, and it’s like we all just lose our minds [laughs]. A few things happen, and it’s all going to make sense in the next few weeks. Pieces of puzzles are all going to start fitting together. I can say that the reunion answers every single question fans will have.
The post Dr. Wendy Osefo Calls Karen Huger’s Absence From ‘Real Housewives Of Potomac’ Reunion “Disappointing”: “We Would Have Benefited From Her Perspective Now” appeared first on Decider.
