After just six short weeks (or was it six long weeks?), MTV’s Housewives-esque reality series The Real Friends Of WeHo comes to an end.
Since its announcement, the show’s been mired in controversies: Is it the reason Drag Race episodes are shorter this season? Did they boot a cast member because he had an OnlyFans? Do any of them actually live in WeHo?
But just because the season’s ending, that doesn’t mean the drama between the Real Friends is over—far from it, actually.
In a new piece for Interview Magazine, star Joey Zauzig chats with fellow influencer Ty French about the intense reaction to the show, claiming the gays didn’t give it a fair chance.
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Related:
Todrick Hall drags the gay community for hating on ‘The Real Friends of WeHo’ and oh, brother
As Saucy Santana once said, “One thing about the comments: they are not on your side.”
However, the juiciest part of the conversation comes when French asks Zauzig about being “the drama” of the season. The Real Friends star says he didn’t expect to earn that title, but was surprised to be one of the only guys on the show who knew what they were getting into:
“When you go on a reality show, you sign up to be vulnerable and to be yourself and nothing can be off limits when you sign that contract, b*tch,” he shares. “So yeah, in the beginning, I felt like, ‘Okay, I’m the only one bringing up sh*t.'”
But it seems his frustrations are pointed at two cast mates in particular:
“I hope I don’t get in trouble for saying this, but certain cast members, Dorión [Renaud] and Jaymes [Vaughan,] it was very difficult to work with them.”
Zauzig says his issue with Vaughan was that he didn’t seem willing to talk about the drama, and instead wanted to be a peace-maker and a mentor, of sorts.
“With Jaymes, he was kind of trying to be like, ‘I’ll be your big brother,'” Zauzig reveals. “Like, I don’t need a big brother. And it’s definitely not gonna be you.”
As for Renaud, well, their issues—many of which have played out over the course of the season—seem to run much deeper.
“Dorión was trying to hold his whole persona as being better than everybody,” Zauzig says. “And like, that didn’t work out too well for him.”
“The thing that really pisses me off,” he adds, “now Dorión has gone on these interviews and he’s like, “This isn’t the show that I signed up for” What contract did you sign, sweetie? We signed the same goddamn thing. I want people to know. He tried to go on and make it the Dorión show.”
Zauzig is clearly referencing interviews Renaud gave last month, in which the entrepreneur claimed he was misled—and even betrayed—by the show’s producers.
Apparently, after filming wrapped, Zauzig even texted his co-star to figure out went wrong. He says that text has gone un-answered, and that Renaud is “still talking to Curtis [Hamilton] about me behind my back.”
Frankly, this would all make for good TV, and excellent reunion fodder, but Zauzig doesn’t think that’s in the cards—as much as he’d like it to be!
“I want to do [a reunion,] but I don’t know if everyone would show up. I think there’s a lot of sh*t that needs fixing. I would love to clear the air.”
Interestingly, Zauzig brings up the idea of a “season two” a couple times throughout the interview, but adds that he “can’t talk about” it.
If the show does come back, it sure seems like Zauzig and his drama will return—but will Renaud?
Related:
Before ‘The Real Friends Of WeHo,’ there was the loveable trainwreck ‘The A-List: New York’
The show got mixed reviews, but it also highlighted some actual gay community issues of the time… kinda sorta.
thisisnotreal
“When you go on a reality show, you sign up to be vulnerable and to be yourself and nothing can be off limits when you sign that contract, b*tch,”…umm yeah…thats where you lose me. did this dude not remember he was signing up for reality tv? for something called “reality” we all know that ish is HEAVILY scripted and faked to create the maximum amount of drama and tension (even if there is none). so no, you dont sign up to be yourself on reality tv, you sign up to be a problematic, dramatic, scene stealing b!tch. and the more you play to those roles, the more the audience and the show creators will love you (unfortunately).
Thad
I didn’t watch tonight’s finale. But then, I didn’t watch any of the other episodes.
The art show that’s replacing it looks interesting.
Jamesehank
I enjoyed watching the show, I hope Dorion can look back on the time on the show and not be so serious about discussing gay life with a group of gay men. I think the show is given many aspects of gay life and culture, at times it is raw, sexually charged, vulnerable, uplifting, and a journey. I applaud the show to be themselves and when gay men hang out this is what I see which I love! It is just people being honest about who they are. I felt like Dorion was trying to put us back in the closet, it is how his character made me feel, I still like Dorion, however Gurl lighten up, it is locker room talk all coming from a loving place. We have come a long way and had to fight for everything in our past to get to where we are now, and we have a long way to go… Thank You MTV, Thank You Boys for being honest and true to our way of life!!! Peace and Love.
Paulie P
not one episode watched that does not represent the every day life of the community.
storm45701
Narcissistic jackass, party of one.
Toofie
It was as trashy as any Real Housewives show. All fake drama. Joey was amusing on Instagram giving his pep talks, but once seeing him interacting with others, I think it really hurt his “brand”. I can’t imagine a season 2 with the toilet ratings it received.
nilehouse1232
Zauzig is clearly past his expiration point as an influencer. His brand is as stale as his representation of the community.
bachy
Give me scripted drama! Anything other than a pack of thirsty morons, mugging for the camera, desperate for attention!
Kangol2
The show wasn’t as awful as predicted, but there was no real story, beyond Curtis’s continued coming out and Joey’s pending nuptials. The Jaymes person was basically a non-entity; Todrick actually turned out to be more sympathetic than in prior TV appearances, somewhat redeeming himself; Brad Goreski is clearly the sanest one and the group’s social anchor; and Dorión came off as screaming out for psychological help. I’d say if there’s a season two, drop Jaymes and Dorión, find Latino and Asian American WeHo socialites to add to the mix, and more cameos by interesting people like Patrik-Ian Polk. That was one burst of realness the show needed.
lou lou de la falaise
Here here. Good points and I want to see Chris Salvatore on the next season as he was allegedly blackballed by you know who. I loved the show, peoples just gotta hate on realty tv.