Roxanne 
This week on Real Housewives of Orange County, Slade Smiley made a comment about Lydia’s weight to Gretchen, which Lydia overheard. Lydia decided to ask Slade head on why he would say that, and she was obviously offended by his comment (he said he wanted to give her a cheeseburger, pointing out that she may be too thin!) but Slade kept defending why he said it instead of just apologizing.
Some may have thought that Lydia overreacted but her issue is not so much about his comment, her issue lies in Slade not taking ownership for his comment, especially when he has a history for making fun of women’s appearances, such as perpetuating the Miss Piggy joke about Vicky! Lydia writes in her Bravo blog:
Slade’s comment and the whole situation upset and frustrated me on many different levels, which is why I think I got more and more upset. First of all, I am the hostess of the party. Secondly, I don’t know him that well. So the fact that he whispered what I perceived to be an insult about me was not cool. It was also inappropriate that he didn’t say “I’m sorry. Let’s move on,” but instead continued to explain all the reasons why he felt his comment was OK. Don’t forget that we had just gotten back from Mexico where Gretchen was whispering sweet nothings about me in the limo. I’m more of a direct person and I don’t understand whispering about someone when they are right there. If he would of just taken ownership for his comment, apologized if it upset me, we could have moved on. . .but that didn’t happen.
It’s not what Slade said that upset me so much. It is his history of putting down other women’s appearances publicly. Last year he called Tamra too fat and he’s made fun of Vicki’s nose. Now he’s going after me at my own party!?! Who died and made him the appearance police? It’s just not OK, which is why I called him out on it. And, for Gretchen to say I’m making a big deal out of nothing just showed me how insensitive she is. Maybe love is blind, but I can’t image my husband Doug ever acting like that. Men should be lifting woman up — not critiquing our appearance.
It might seem like the cheeseburger comment was harmless, but I have to agree with Lydia that it’s not Slade’s place to comment on her weight or her looks, especially since he is not close with her like that! I also loved that Doug did not get involved like a thirsty “househusband “looking to be a Housewife.
Do you agree with Lydia? Was Slade crossing the line with his comment?
