On March 25, fans were treated to Episode 17 of Season 14 of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, titled “A Caribbean Send Off.”This episode took viewers to the stunning island of St. Lucia, where the cast members engaged in discussions surrounding a recent altercation involving Sutton and Erika. The atmosphere was rife with differing opinions on whether the previous confrontation was warranted.
The climax of the episode brought an emotional revelation for Erika as she learned of her husband Tom Girardi’s guilty verdict for embezzlement. In a show of support, Kyle was quick to console Erika, emphasizing the importance of standing by her during this challenging time, as Erika had always been there for her.
Reflecting on the shocking news, Erika admitted to the cameras that she never anticipated this outcome, highlighting the dichotomy between Tom’s public persona and the reality of his situation. She expressed uncertainty over whether she would ever heal from this experience. Following the broadcast, fans took to X (formerly Twitter) to share their reactions, with many expressing skepticism about Erika’s claimed naivety.
“We don’t give AF about Tom nor Erika who doesn’t give AF about the victims. She knew,”a fan said.
“‘Miss Boring’? How about a ‘Miss-knew-precisely-how-Tom-was-bilking-innocents’ title? Do not believe in this innocent act for even one second please! #rhobh #bravo not firing her was the one single act that was deplorable. Giving Denise a show second,”said another.
“This final scene with EJ and Kyle was f-cking pointless. We don’t care about Tom’s judgment. We want to know what will happen to EJ because this ordeal is far from over,”added a third.
“Notice how we haven’t seen Erika booking any shows, working on any choreography or shooting any music videos since Tom got caught. Cuz she was using his money to fake like she had a successful music career, like I told you. Like the lawsuit said,”wrote another.
Viewers noted that while Erika reflected on her tumultuous feelings, her narrative lacked any acknowledgment of the victims affected by Tom’s actions.
“She has no path to redemption; her self-absorption is evident as she mourns Tom and her old life, but she fails to acknowledge the victims,”an X user wrote.
“Erika Miss f**king substance still acting like the victims don’t exist,”another user wrote.
“I can’t see it for Erika. She still has shown no empathy or sympathy for the victims. She had Marco Marco sent to the Feds so she and Tom didn’t have to pay her AMEX bill. An evil woman,”commented one.
“Erika acting shocked about the verdict. Nobody feels sorry for her or Tom. He defrauded those people and used it to fund her failed music career; let’s be serious for a minute,”wrote one.
The Aftermath of Tom’s Conviction: Erika’s Emotional Response
In her discussion with Kyle, Erika candidly revealed that she felt devastated by the news of Tom’s conviction, transitioning from initially feeling positive prior to the verdict to a deep sense of fatigue afterward. In a confessional moment, Erika shared her concerns about returning to unhealthy coping mechanisms, including drinking and medication usage.
Erika disclosed that Tom had been convicted on four counts of wire fraud and would face a staggering sentence of 80 years in prison. “Dude ain’t got 80 days in him,”she remarked, reflecting on the gravity of his circumstances.
She expressed deep emotional conflict, revealing how she now views Tom differently and each realization stings deeply. In her confessional, Erika reiterated her feelings, insisting that despite everything, she still loved Tom and wished circumstances had been different.
Tune in to new episodes of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills each Tuesday at 8 PM ET, exclusively on Bravo.