Garcelle Beauvais is outspoken, on and off ‘Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’

Garcelle Beauvais is outspoken, on and off 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills'

As a fan of the Real Housewives franchise, I have always admired Garcelle Beauvais for her resilience and determination. Born in Haiti and moving to the US at just 7 years old, she has not only thrived in Hollywood but also used her platform to inspire others, especially women of color.


In simpler terms, fans of “The Real Housewives” series are used to witnessing the stars argue about various topics, ranging from trivial matters like wearing dubious leather pants or tipping off photographers at Disneyland, to more significant issues such as alleged financial misconduct like embezzlement and mortgage fraud. However, it’s less common for them to express their genuine opinions on political or social concerns.

Garcelle Beauvais, however, has something to say.

As a passionate film enthusiast, I can’t help but admire the raw authenticity that the Haitian actress and producer has brought to “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.” Even with the cameras turned off during the show’s 14th season, she continues to captivate us with her most genuine moments this year.

As soon as someone announces that former President Trump has won the 2024 election, there’s a noticeable tremor in Beauvais’ voice.

She expresses her confusion in a tone filled with disbelief and emotion, “It seems so straightforward and unbelievable, but I just can’t comprehend why the villain keeps prevailing.” She continues, “He’s made his intentions clear, yet we still choose to support him. I just don’t understand this puzzle.

Beauvais’ response was both politically and personally motivated: Following Trump’s repeated spreading of baseless accusations against Haitian immigrants during his sole debate with his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, Beauvais shared a video on social media expressing his disapproval of these comments.

“Staying silent in the face of racism and hate is something that I refuse to do,” she said in the video, speaking in both English and Haitian Creole, which has been viewed more than 1.1 million times on Instagram. “The lies that have been spewed about the Haitian community — about my community — have been disgusting, deeply hurtful and dangerous.”

She sat on the video for a week, wary of the risk in posting it. “But how could I not stand up for my people?” she says when I first visit her Porter Ranch home in late September.

For the next couple of days, I kept glancing back as I drove – whether it was to fetch the boys or run errands. It was a habit that had formed in me.

Would she have been open to the idea of cameras capturing moments like these?

She asserts, “I believe it’s genuine,” she explains. “It’s impossible to produce a reality TV series without depicting the experiences of a Black woman like me.

She clarifies: “I see now – it’s all for fun, with us being the glamorous characters and arguing over trivial matters. I get the concept. However, if it’s meant to be real, shouldn’t it reflect genuine situations as well?

Garcelle Beauvais is outspoken, on and off 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills'

For Beauvais, talking openly about sensitive topics has become commonplace, even though it’s not always simple. Despite her success as a model and actor in shows like “Coming to America,” “The Jamie Foxx Show,” and “NYPD Blue,” it’s on “The Real Housewives” that she’s gained the largest fanbase – “Now, white women adore me,” she states. On this platform, she has introduced candid, thought-provoking dialogues about race and privilege into the typically superficial realm of reality television.

The impact of this series is remarkable and diverse, extending far beyond what I initially anticipated. I hadn’t fully grasped its scale, nor how deeply the audience is engaged. During my first season, a friend texted me, saying “You’re trending.” I was puzzled, as I had done various things and collaborated with many esteemed professionals in the industry. However, it wasn’t until this show that everything took off exponentially.

As a dedicated cinephile, I never imagined my most significant role yet would be on the iconic “Beverly Hills” series. Though I was just a casual viewer and knew some of its stars, I had never dreamed of joining their ranks. However, as the show prepared for its 10th season, producers reached out to my manager. He strongly discouraged me, warning that it could potentially derail my career.

Beauvais notes that there was a certain stigma attached to actors shifting towards unscripted work. However, just as people once doubted models’ ability to act, this is similar to the skepticism they faced when transitioning into acting.

Garcelle Beauvais is outspoken, on and off 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills'

As a cinephile, I found myself drawn to an intriguing proposition. Most of my acting gigs whisked me away from LA, and with my twin sons starting middle school, I yearned for a role that would anchor me closer to home. At a gathering hosted by producer Mark Burnett, I casually floated the idea past my acquaintances Lisa Rinna and her husband, Harry Hamlin. “What do you think?” I asked Harry, and he responded, “To be honest, I didn’t think it was ideal for Rinna either, but it serves its purpose.

In 2020, she became the first Black woman to appear on the show, and her introduction took place during a visit to New York City for Kyle Richards’ fashion show. Over cocktails with Teddi Mellencamp, Erika Girardi, and Denise Richards (friends from their shared experience on a failed ’90s TV pilot), Beauvais casually disclosed a dating predicament as a single parent: “Once, one of my children accidentally discovered my vibrator in my bed,” she confessed.

In her own words, Richards recounts her first impression of Beauvais joining ‘The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ during her second season: “Her debut moment wasn’t what I’d call a scene, since scenes are marked with ‘action,'” she explains. “Instead, we were about to capture an authentic moment on camera. She was unaware that it was time to start. I informed her that there’s no need for ‘action’ in this setting. Her response was, ‘I don’t know when to begin.’ I replied, ‘Well, once the mic is on, you just go ahead.’ It was a learning experience for both of us.

Since then, Beauvais has become comfortable and started sharing more about the end of her nine-year marriage to agent Michael Nilon (including discussing her response to his infidelity). She’s also been vocal about criticizing some cast members, like when she recently challenged Dorit Kemsley for displaying what she perceived as “unconscious racist behavior” last season. This approach has generated a mix of reactions from viewers. However, Beauvais has come to realize that the best strategy is to stay true to herself and keep moving forward.

Beauvais recounts, “Before my debut season, I was on edge and reached out to a friend for reassurance.” This period also coincided with her joining the daytime talk show “The Real,” though it no longer exists. She expresses, “I felt the weight of being the first African American woman in this role. Was I supposed to fit a specific mold? I simply wanted to be authentic and not feign an identity that wasn’t mine.

Garcelle Beauvais is outspoken, on and off 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills'

As a die-hard TV enthusiast, I’ve got to say that an unexpected delight for me has been my bond with Sutton Stracke, a sophisticated West Hollywood boutique owner and wealthy divorcee who joined the show in Season 10. At first glance, it seemed like a powerhouse trio was forming between me, Rinna, and Richards, but things took an unexpected turn when Rinna and Richards decided to part ways with the series.

According to Stracke, their friendship is authentic, complete with its ups and downs like any other relationship. When Stracke encountered a health crisis during the previous season’s reunion taping, Beauvais abandoned the shoot to accompany her friend to the hospital until she was released, six hours later, at midnight. Recently, when Stracke was late for a lunch date, an irritated Beauvais left upon her arrival. “I disrespected her time,” Stracke admits. “I realized that and I was wrong. I apologized sincerely. Later, we had a good laugh about it.” Despite the show’s history of damaging friendships, Stracke is optimistic that their bond will survive.

They both agreed the show doesn’t matter compared to their strong friendship.)

Andy Cohen, the chat show host at Bravo and producer of the “Housewives” series, acknowledges Beauvais for not portraying herself as a character during her tenure on the program.

He comments that she’s not playing a part; instead, she’s genuinely like that. If it were a character she portrayed, she’d likely be acting out by smashing wine glasses. Yet, that’s not her true nature.

“But also I really relate, as a viewer and as a parent, to what she shares about raising the boys. And in terms of a group dynamic, she is someone who absolutely does not break a sweat when sharing her feelings and opinions, and that is the hallmark of a great housewife.”

Garcelle Beauvais is outspoken, on and off 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills'

As a dedicated movie enthusiast, I always seize opportunities to stock up on bargains, knowing that the whirlwind of a new season leaves little room for shopping sprees amidst the chaos. I find myself in an intriguing predicament as an actor, diving headfirst into the fishbowl during a time when our beloved reality franchise is grappling with growing pains. The criticism we face—either for performing for the cameras or lacking compelling storylines—is something I’ve grown to detest, a term that has come to sting like a jellyfish in the ocean of our craft.

She expresses her dislike for that particular word, “She finds that term unpleasant.” She admits that it’s unpredictable what actions seven other women might take, comparing it to improvisation, where you build upon each other’s ideas with the phrase ‘Yes, and…’. The cameras are meant to capture our lives, and whatever they capture becomes our narrative.

In this fifth season of “Housewives,” Beauvais has found herself grappling with Jax’s choice to leave the show following online harassment. She expresses difficulty in respecting his decision, maintaining his privacy, and avoiding giving the impression that he is absent from her life.

She admits feeling guilty, saying, “I feel as if I’m responsible for this situation, since it wouldn’t have occurred if he weren’t part of the show.

Garcelle Beauvais is outspoken, on and off 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills'

Asked if she would quit the show if her sons made the request, she says she would.

Absolutely, if the boys had expressed such sentiments, I would certainly respect them,” Beauvais states. “However, they haven’t done so. When Jax shared his feelings, I acknowledged them and didn’t press him further… And it’s important to remember that Bravo has a role in deciding who returns and who doesn’t.

Currently, her responsibilities keep her busy. She mentions that her relationships with Kyle Richards and Kemsley have improved this season. “I made an effort to be present and communicate my feelings,” she says. “Were there times when I may have been too curious about Kyle’s relationship? Possibly, but who doesn’t get nosy at times?

I had the expectation that I would connect with individuals on their level. With Dorit, it seemed like she was isolated last season. So I approached her as she is now, and I was taken aback by her when she unexpectedly apologized to me.

Furthermore, she has utilized her fame from “Real Housewife” to boost her scripted projects, which the first episode of this season showcases. She’s been featured in multiple Lifetime movies, both as an actress and executive producer. For instance, “Terry McMillan Presents: Tempted by Love” features her as a chef who develops a romance upon returning home to nurse an ailing aunt, and in “Black Girl Missing,” she portrays a mother seeking help from a group of internet detectives to locate her missing child.

Garcelle Beauvais skillfully balances being relatable and inspiring, as noted by Lifetime executive Karen Kaufman Wilson who has featured on ‘The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.’ This duality leads viewers to feel both empathetic, thinking ‘I could buy that chic outfit from Zara like Garcelle,’ and aspirational, wanting to follow in her footsteps. On ‘The Real Housewives’ and Lifetime, Garcelle is actively using her influence to promote important causes, such as the search for missing Black girls and advocating for Kamala Harris’ election. This provides a platform for discussions about impactful storytelling that aligns with her values.

Despite any challenges, she’s thankful for the journey she’s undertaken. Born in Saint-Marc, Haiti, and relocating to the U.S. at the age of 7, her current platform – with its promise for positive impact, whether it offers an escape or a voice – is truly inspiring.

In the early stages of my career in this field, people told me that a woman like me, past 40, was deemed obsolete or unfit to work, especially given my ethnicity. Yet here I stand, thriving in my career at this stage in life, and it’s nothing short of incredible. This journey serves as a testament to all women out there not to relinquish hope. It demonstrates that we can achieve anything, regardless of the odds. Moreover, it’s essential for my children to witness me realizing my dreams too.

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2024-11-20 04:32

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