Is Wendy Osefo's mom ok? 'RHOP' star reveals Iyom Susan Okuzu's mysterious hospitalization amid witchcraft allegations against her
POTOMAC, MARYLAND: Nneka Ihim's charges against Wendy Osefo's mother continue in a new episode of 'The Real Housewives of Potomac,' as Wendy's mother, Iyom Susan Okuzu, has surgery and is admitted to the hospital for an unexplained reason.
At the beginning of Season 8, Nneka became a part of this DMV social circle, thanks to Ashley Darby's introduction. Not long after, Nneka confided in Robyn Dixon about some strange goings-on behind the scenes: Nneka claims that before joining the group and, consequently, the show, Wendy's family tried to discredit her name by sending ambiguous threats through Wendy's sister to her (now-ex) friend Lebe, who also happens to be Nneka's cousin-in-law.
One of Wendy's mother's reported threats was submitting Nneka's name to a "shrine," seemingly as a curse. Wendy refuted Nneka's account of events and referred to the "shrine" narrative as "xenophobic," even though the ladies share a common cultural heritage.
The other ladies have hinted that delivering Nneka's name to a shrine may include voodoo or black magic, although it is unclear exactly what that means. Although Wendy denied that her mother had ever sent Nneka's name to a shrine, she did mention that shrines are a common practice in her family's Catholic religion as a means of offering prayers to different saints.
In the 'RHOP' episode airing on December 7, Nneka witnesses Wendy casually revealing that truth.
"First you're talking about, 'There is no shrine, my mama didn't say this...' but now there's positive shrines?" she inquires in a confessional.
"Like? She's just trying to find a way out in case I reveal more than I have revealed."
Wendy says that her mother is in the hospital while having lunch with Candiace Dillard Bassett and Karen Huger.
Without giving too much away, she reveals that shortly after the group arrived in Austin, she received a text from her brother informing her that their mother had been taken up in an ambulance and had been in the hospital since the entire cast had been in Austin to celebrate Karen's birthday.
Wendy's mother was slated for surgery on the last day of the vacation.
A flashback shows Wendy and her mother talking about how the surgery would just take 10 minutes.
'RHOP' newbie Nneka Ihim reveals her cousin is mourning loss of decade-long friendship with Wendy Osefo's sister
'RHOP' newcomer Nneka spoke with ET about her rookie season, as she continues to piece together the so-called "shrine" story. Nneka is as perplexed as the viewers about her 'RHOP' drama with Wendy, and she lived it.
Nneka says she hasn't heard from Wendy's family while the drama unfolds on TV ("I don't know them," she adds), but she has seen her cousin, Lebe, lament the loss of her decade-long connection with Wendy's sister as a result of the situation.
"It's all very unfortunate," she confesses.
"She and I are very close. She's more like my sister, more than a cousin-in-law, and she lost a friendship, a 13-year friendship, by virtue of just being related to me through marriage. So she's hurt, deeply hurt by what has transpired. But she's doing OK."
'RHOP' cast questions Wendy Osefo's account of witchcraft allegations
The bulk of the cast seemed to believe Nneka, despite Wendy's response to everything. Wendy said she was not close to Lebe, despite involving her in a show-recorded ceremony commemorating the birth of her daughter, now 4-year-old Kamrynn.
Wendy's problem with Nneka has been diagnosed by the 'RHOP' stars, with Ashley, Robyn, and Mia Thornton reducing it to envy and wanting to be the only Nigerian at the metaphorical Housewives table.
Candiace comes out in a confessional on Sunday's episode after discovering Wendy's mother has been hospitalized unexpectedly. Even though Wendy's mother's situation is unpleasant, she believes it is separate from "Nneka and her attacks on the shrine."
She doesn't believe it's fair to contradict the two when Wendy suggests that the claims against her mother come at a bad time for her.
'RHOP' newbie Nneka Ihim open to friendship with Wendy Osefo
Having said that, Nneka is open to friendship with Wendy, though based on the midseason teaser, this appears doubtful. Wendy storms out of a one-on-one meeting with Nneka in the sneak peek, accusing her of not seeking "peace."
"I definitely always want peace, or at least an opportunity for perspectives to be shared," she says. "Then we can reach a place of understanding of each other's point of view."
"It's unfortunate that this has transpired, and I definitely want peace with her," she said, "and if I have issues with anyone else, I'm always open to reconciling and having a meeting of the minds there."
The ball appears to be in Wendy's court when it comes to advancing toward any form of relationship with Nneka, a discussion that will almost certainly take place during the soon-to-be-filmed all-cast reunion. Nneka's top priority for the big day is to find out why Wendy called her a "crackhead" during a heated debate about the shrine scandal.
'The Real Housewives of Potomac' Season 8 airs on Bravo on Sundays at 8 pm ET