Is Erika Jayne on the road to redemption? After getting slammed as a “narcissistic bitch” in the most recent season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills for her lack of empathy toward those affected by her ex Tom Girardi’s alleged scamming, the star is opening up about why she finally decided to meet with victims last month.
On Tuesday night’s (Aug. 1) episode of Watch What Happens Live, Jayne told Andy Cohen that she’s “always had empathy” for those whom her now ex-husband stole millions of dollars in settlement money from. The individuals impacted by Girardi’s legal scandal range from burn victims to orphans he once represented as their attorney.
“I’ve always had empathy for them,” she insisted. “It’s just that timing is very important when you’re in litigation. And we met to discuss corruption, judicial lending and banking in the legal industry.”
Jayne added, “I felt very comfortable. I, like I said, went there with an open heart. They were very nice to me and they did not have to be. I’m sure that they were very hurt still.”
When Cohen asked if any of the victims “confronted” her or viewed her as “an enemy,” the reality star admitted that she doesn’t know — but noted that she “certainly didn’t feel like they were being unjustly harsh.”
In a Season 12 episode of RHOBH, Jayne came under scrutiny after delivering a vicious rant where she seemingly discredited Girardi’s victims. In a heated conversation with co-stars Garcelle Beauvais and Crystal Kung Minkoff, the former Broadway star lost it when they accused her of not showing enough compassion in the situation.
“I’m not saying I don’t feel for the potential victims … Because who knows that they’re true or not. Because someone said something, does not make it true,” she said at the time, before later adding, ” I don’t give a fuck about anybody else but me.”
The uncomfortable scene led fans to brutally blast Jayne as “gutter trash” and a “scumbag,” while others called her out for not expressing any “empathy” or “remorse” for the victims.
But, hey! It’s good to see she’s making amends — or, at least, attempting to.
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen airs Sunday through Thursday at 10 p.m. ET on Bravo. You can watch the full clip above.