Gizelle Bryant wants to clear up every word on the street about her alleged involvement with Peter Thomas.
The 52-year-old “Real Housewives of Potomac” star tells Vidak For Congress in an exclusive interview why she would “never” date her close friend’s ex-husband Cynthia Bailey — despite romantic rumors set to unfold in the next episode of the Bravo reality show.
“I know Cynthia. I love Cynthia. I went to Cynthia’s wedding with Mike [Hill]Bryant says of her friendship with 55-year-old Real Housewives of Atlanta. “So this was just weird.”
When speculation began to swirl that Bryant and Thomas were an item, the “Reasonably Shady” podcast co-host said she “immediately” called Bailey to clarify that nothing was wrong.
“I wanted her to know, because I know what the housewives thing is like. If there’s a rumor that I’m dating Peter, she’s doing the press for other things, she’ll be asked and I wish she could tell the truth, which is, ‘I’m not dating Peter,’ she says.
Bryant adds that Bailey was not bothered by the gossip and even encouraged her boyfriend to investigate a relationship with the restaurateur.
“She said, ‘Girl, you could do you. I don’t care what you do. If you want to date him, do it,’ Bryant says. “And I was like, ‘No.’ No shadow for Peter, but no!”
Thomas, who appeared on “RHOA” with Bailey before their split in 2016, came across via Dr. Wendy Osefo on “Potomac”. The professor and political commentator, 38, is working with the founder of Bar One to open a Nigerian lounge.
Bryant says she “wasn’t mad at” Thomas filming with the Maryland girls.
“You know, Peter Thomas is good TV. Let’s start there. I’ve known Peter for a long time,” she says, before repeating, “but I’ve never dated him, never kissed him, never held his hand. I’m not going to date him. Peter and I are just friends.”
The mother of three – who shares teenage daughters Grace, Adore and Angel with ex-husband Jamal Bryant – claims “that whole [was] thing started by one of the ladies on the show” to deviate from their own associations with Thomas.
“Yeah, someone had to deviate from herself and Peter,” she says without naming the “housewife” in question.
“So they did it to me right away. I’m the single girl, it’s easy to believe, I know Peter, I’ve been out – not with him – but I’ve been out and he’s been places I’ve been, we have pictures together, all that,” explains Bryant. “It was easy to believe. But it was a distraction.”
Although Candiace Dillard brings up the rumor in the season 7 trailer of “RHOP,” Bryant confirms that her known enmity is not behind the rumours.
“She is not [the one who started it] … I was like, ‘Yo, we’re closing this now. Like, absolutely not. I’ll call Cynthia,” she says, teasing the explosive scene for which Thomas was apparently present. “I mean, it was a thing!”
“The Real Housewives of Potomac” Season 7 premieres Sunday, October 9 at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo.