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'RHOP': Is Ashley Darby helping Monique as payback for protecting Michael from sexual assault allegations?

'RHOP' fans are convinced that Ashley Darby is helping Monique Samuels against Candiace Dillard-Bassett just as payback for protecting her husband Michael Darby.

It looks like Monique Samuels won't leave any stone unturned when it comes to settling the score with her fellow housewife, Candiace Dillard-Bassett. In an earlier episode, we witnessed both the ladies get into an explosive fight, which ended with Monique dragging Candiace across the room by her weave. The former beauty queen was so upset and hurt by Monique's aggressive behavior that she decided to file a lawsuit against her. 

Initially, Monique showed no sign of remorse over her actions towards Candiace and justified it saying that her fellow housewife was asking for it. But eventually, Monique came around and declared to everybody that she was sorry and ashamed of how she acted around Candiace. The apology was unfortunately very short-lived because Monique was left seething with rage when she learned that Candiace was suing her on charges of second-degree assault, and she could be potentially arrested.

Monique then decides to play dirty and immediately counter-sues Candiace. While the housewives continue to fight, they are also dragging the other ladies into their drama. Unfortunately for Monique, aside from Ashley Darby, all the ladies seem to be siding with Candiace. But that doesn't stop Monique. In the latest episode of 'Real Housewives of Potomac', Ashley shocked everybody when she revealed that Monique had reached out to her asking for a character witness statement against Candiace. Gizelle Bryant and Robyn Dixon were appalled on hearing about Monique's dirty tricks, and hopefully, ask Ashley if she turned down the request. Ashley then explained to them that she agreed to Monique's request and penned down all about her unpleasant interactions with Candiace. She then reminded them that Candiace tried attacking her with a butter knife, and took to social media to humiliate her.

Despite Ashley's explanation Gizelle and Robyn weren't pleased over Ashley's decision to help Monique by tearing down Candiace. They point out to her that she could have helped Monique by writing a glowing testimonial about how Monique is a good person and friend, instead of assassinating Candiace's character. But when Ashley refused to hear anything about it, and was being very adamant about helping Monique, Gizelle comes up with a theory to explain the bizarre behavior.

In her green room interview, Gizelle wonders if Ashley is blindly supporting Monique as payback for protecting her husband Michael Darby. Gizelle then reveals that when  Michael was accused of squeezing a cameraman's butt, Monique allegedly had a video of it. But Monique reportedly destroyed it to save Michael from the sexual assault allegations. So Ashley might be trying to help Monique as a token of gratitude for helping her husband.

Fans too took to Gizelle's theory, and felt that Ashley might simply be helping Monique to return the favor, since she wasn't even present during their fight to take any sides. A fan tweeted, "Soo basically Ashley is helping Monique because she didn't release the video of Michael being inappropriate??? #rhop." "The Samuels are TRASH covering Michael’s sexual assault at their house smh. Ashley is only taking up for Monique b/c of that #RHOP. Their relationship is strictly quid pro quo. I can’t wait until that dusty friendship falls apart w/their fake a**es," wrote a fan.

"Exactly Robyn...Ashley all giddy about doing her statement on behalf of Monique when all their coming together to do is assassinate Candiace's character because Ashley owes Monique for hiding that tape on Michael #RHOP," observed a fan. Another fan shared, "Ashley bye girl. This is payback for your arguments with Candiace and because Monique likely still has the footage of Michael assaulting that camera man...allegedly. #RHOP."

'Real Housewives of Potomac' Season 5 airs every Sunday at 8/7c on Bravo.