Erika Jayne is the second longest-running cast member on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills after Kyle Richards. As Season 14 begins, she’s caught in the middle of a feud between long-time friends Richards and Dorit Kemsley.
Ahead of the RHOBH premiere on Tuesday, November 19 at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo, Deadline spoke with Jayne, where she told us how she handles her friendships with Richards and Kemsley amid their feuds and if she thinks Lisa Rinna would ever return to the franchise.
DEADLINE: This is a milestone season for you – it is now your 9th season, which makes you the 2nd longest-running housewife of the franchise, tied with OG Lisa Vanderpump. How do you feel about this milestone?
ERIKA JAYNE: I feel great. I’ve enjoyed every year, even when it was hard. I’ve enjoyed my entire time on Beverly Hills. It’s given me a lot of opportunity,
DEADLINE: This season starts off with you in the middle of Kyle and Dorit’s feud. How do you feel being stuck in the middle of that situation?
ERIKA: Well, look, I care about these women. They are my friends. They’re going through the worst time in their lives, so it was my goal was to be good to both of them and make it an easier time for them, [but] ultimately, they have to talk to each other. I can only listen to each one of them for so long before they need to talk and work things out
DEADLINE: How do you bridge that gap between them as a friend to both of them?
ERIKA: Well, I hear both of them. I understand what they’re saying. Also, through this process, I did not realize how many things that both of them had swept under the rug as to things that would were bothering them in their personal relationship. I did not know, so I found some of those out. And look, I have the ability, because I’m neutral, that I can see through both of their lenses, and I understand why they were frustrated with one another,
DEADLINE: How do you feel about how it all went down? We see Kyle’s perspective, in that, Kyle thinks that everything escalated when Dorit read her private messages at the reunion, and then do Dorit is saying that there were dips in their friendship for a while now. How do you perceive this and where do you think their issues stem from?
ERIKA: Both of those things are true, both of those things that you just said are true. I mean, Kyle was very upset that Dorit showed me her private text. And Dorit was upset that Kyle sort of brushed their whole friendship off, and has many different moments that she can point to. I mean, and I can’t give away too much here, but as the season unfolds, you will see why
DEADLINE: As Kyle and Dorit’s friendship flounders, Dorit is also facing the end of her marriage, which you jokingly said at BravoCon 2022 that Dorit and PK would be the next couple to divorce from the RHOBH cast. How do you feel after joking about it, but ultimately, it becoming a reality?
ERIKA: I don’t feel good about that, because it truly was a comment that was very flip – just very off the top of [my] head – it’s unfortunate in any divorce. And certainly, when you march yourself out on stage and say something like I said, and then for them to actually be separated now does not make me feel good at all.
DEADLINE: Have you been in contact with PK during this situation, or is your loyalty only with Dorie?
ERIKA: My loyalty is to Dorit.
DEADLINE: Last season, there was a dinner scene between Garcelle, Sutton, and you that fans really enjoyed seeing you three come together. There’s been a history of conflict between the three of you at some point, but can we expect more of these types of scenes between all three of you, and where does that friendship between the three of you stand now?
ERIKA: You will see the three of us having a good time this year, and I actually enjoyed them. We did have a good time at that dinner last season. It was fun. The three of us laugh and like to have a good time no matter what’s really going o
DEADLINE: Sutton has recently been hinting that she’s been feuding with Dorit, who you’re friends with. How do you maintain yourself in the middle of this? Does your friendship with Sutton suffer, or do you maintain yourself in the middle as well?
ERIKA: No, I’ve worked on my friendship with Sutton, so whatever Sutton and Dorit are going through, [that is] for the two of them to work out. I can have my own views on it, and I do, and I say that, but ultimately, that is something that they have to work on themselves if they want to, which I don’t think that they do.
DEADLINE: In addition to being on Real Housewives, your music career and tour, we’ve also seen you do some podcasting with former costar Teddi Mellencamp on her podcast Two Ts and a Pod recently. Is an Erika Jayne podcast in the works?
ERIKA: (long pause) Did you enjoy them? Did you watch them at all?
DEADLINE: Yes, it’s been a lot of fun because we get to see a completely different side of you than the edited version we see on Housewives.
ERIKA: I really enjoyed stepping in and doing that with Teddi, because I was able to watch a show that I had nothing to do with and give my opinion about what I saw. It was fun for me and Teddi and I have a genuine friendship so it was easy to talk to her and the back and forth, and we had a really good time doin
DEADLINE: Have you talked to her since the news dropped today? Is she doing okay?
ERIKA: Yeah, I have. I hope so. She’s a strong woman. Look, no one’s life is perfect. I’m sure she will be just fine.
DEADLINE: And how about a tour? You had a successful one with your Las Vegas residency. Can we expect any more dates in the future?
ERIKA: Yes, June 1 in the UK. I’m doing the Mighty Hoopla. So if you happen to be in London, come on by. I have other dates coming up as well. I’m always creating, always making new music, and you get to see that happen this season. We’re actually shooting a video, and we have a singles release party, which turns into a fight – what better way to celebrate Pride than fighting at a pride event. So it’s wonderful!
DEADLINE: You had been heavily in the center of drama the past few seasons. Did you enjoy having a lighter season than in years past?
ERIKA: I enjoyed the peace and I enjoyed being able to smile more and being able to feel more relaxed. I also let go of some things, like some material things, some furniture. And you see my home get renovated, which was important for me. It’s further letting go of a past life, and I feel good for the first time in a very long time. It’s taken me a long time to get here. Yes, there were bright spots along the way, but my general overall feeling of where I’m going, personally, my direction, feels really good and very solid, and I’m so appreciative of that.
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DEADLINE: Yeah, we like that journey. We have seen some very difficult moments for you, but we have seen you rebuilding your life again.
ERIKA: Thank you. I appreciate that. It’s been tough. But, like I said, I feel good for the first time in a very long time.
DEADLINE: One of your closest friends was Lisa Rinna, who left two seasons ago. Do you think she would ever consider returning to the show?
ERIKA: No, I don’t think so. I think Lisa has moved on and done a whole bunch of other stuff, and I’m going to see her tonight, as a matter of fact. So we’re still very close. The thing about Lisa was, she had a career before as an actress, and she’s still doing that, and turned herself into a fashionista and doing modeling campaigns, and she’s got this huge Walmart campaign right now. So I love Lisa very much. I don’t think we’ll ever see Lisa again.
