Eboni K. Williams is looking forward to “representing Black excellence” when she makes her debut as the newest cast member of Bravo’s Real Housewives of New York City franchise! The accomplished media personality, who has also worked as an attorney, was a guest on the December 14 episode of HollywoodLife‘s TVTalk, where she admitted that in season 13, “No one’s afraid to say sh-t.”
“We’re all five such strong, dynamic personalities [but] let me just say this — we don’t need to be overproduced. It already is what it is right out the gate, so you guys can buckle up, strap in, get ready for a hell of a roller coaster [ride],” Eboni teased in our exclusive interview. She admitted, “I almost wish I wasn’t on it because I could just sit back with my popcorn and Sauvignon Blanc and watch it.”
Eboni went on to tease the “very surprising and unexpected relationships” that will develop between her and some of the women. She joins RHONY OGs, Luann de Lesseps, Ramona Singer and Sonja Morgan, along with sophomore cast member, Leah McSweeney. The addition of Eboni came after the exits of longtime fan favorites Tinsley Mortimer and Dorinda Medley.
“I know for a fact there’s going to be some things in my personal life and in Leah and Sonja’s personal development that are going to take people by surprise,” Eboni said. “And, as for me and Ramona, which I know people have waited with bated breath just to see how that relationship plays out — I am still figuring out me and Ramona,” she admitted, adding, “That’s what I’ll say about that.”
Despite the latter, Eboni continued, “The only thing I can tease is Ramona is Ramona. What can I say? Nobody’s walking on egg shells, and I can tell you there’s been a little bit of concern around that,” she said about the cast’s candid and fearless nature in front of the cameras. “They all have no fear… No one’s afraid to say sh*t. These are some grown a** women and that’s how we approach it. So, all of the drama that is expected or anticipated, it’s just a natural collision of what happens when you put five dynamos together.”
The reality star, who also hosts a podcast Holding Court with Eboni K. Williams, said it took the women some time to get used to her “vibe” as someone from the south. “I think all the ladies were intrigued [by me]… But, listen, this group has history, right? And, I think anytime any third party is trying to fit into that, it’s a thing. It can be challenging,” Eboni explained. “What I think they’ve been able to see is we have a lot more in common than it would appear on the surface. At the same time, I’m a very different woman. I’m not a woman that seeks approval, I don’t tolerate being hazed in new groups and this is no exception,” she said, having recalled, “I told them from jump that I would give them the exact same amount of respect they would give me.”
While she’s seen the women out in the “charity circuit” in New York, Eboni, who was admittedly a RHONY fan before joining the show, said she got to know the cast on a “deeper and more personal level” after filming. Now, she’s looking to carve her own lane in Housewives history as the first-ever Black cast member of RHONY.
But, don’t get it twisted. — “There is no replacing Dorinda, there is no replacing Tinsley and there is certainly no replacing Bethenny [Frankel],” Eboni said about three of RHONY‘s most famous stars. “This is all about evolution and addition rather than subtraction.”
The Real Housewives of New York returns for season 13 on Bravo sometime in 2021. There is no official premiere date amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.