How Venita Aspen Modified Southern Appeal

“As a Black girl in The South, you sort of already know that you may be the final resort for lots of people,” Venita Aspen says on a 2020 episode of Words With Witte. “You gained’t be the primary particular person they name and that’s simply the unhappy actuality.” 

When Aspen entered Bravo’s Southern Appeal, the Charleston, South Carolina native was thrust right into a predominantly white forged with little to no backup. Though Leva Bonaparte joined the sequence in season seven making her the primary forged member of coloration, Aspen’s introduction as a “pal of” in the identical season aligned with the world-wide protests relating to the homicide of George Floyd. 

In Charleston, actions happened to take away the statue of John C. Calhoun statue, the seventh Vice President of the US who fiercely defended the rights of white Southerners. He additionally owned enslaved Africans. It might be coincidence that Kathryn Dennis, a descendant of Calhoun and one of many authentic forged members of Southern Appeal, despatched a monkey emoji to Mika Gadsen, a Black girl radio host in the identical 12 months. 

That is the second the place Aspen made her actuality television debut.

Not like her counterparts on The Actual Housewives of Atlanta and The Actual Housewives of Potomac, the place the predominantly Black feminine casts characterize an idealized model of The New South, Aspen was burdened with the duty of becoming a member of a actuality tv present that glorifies and pays homage to The Previous South. 

Since her debut, Aspen has skilled racially charged feedback on social media from the sequence’ followers, accusations about her having a crush on Chleb Ravenell, (Ravenell was the sequence’ second Black forged member. He joined season eight. On the time of filming, he was romantically concerned with Dennis) and harsh therapy from her white counterparts. 

A via line among the many commentary on-line was that Aspen was a variety rent. Though she has made appearances within the present’s background since season two, her presence was seen by some as a counter to Dennis’ anti-Black feedback. Nonetheless that might not have been farther than from the reality.

“Bravo observed and acknowledged that she was important. She’s been round for thus a few years as a pal of those people. That this particular person must be a principal forged member” says Thomas Kelly, Government Producer and Showrunner of Southern Appeal. Kelly has additionally labored on The Actual Housewives of Dallas, The Actual Housewives of Orange County, The Actual Housewives of Potomac and Promoting Tampa.

After the filming of season eight, the place Aspen was left in tears after a falling out together with her childhood pal and fellow forged member Naomie Olindo and tense reunion with shut pal and forged member Madison LeCroy, she retreated to New York Metropolis the place she spent 5 months in a darkish and depressed condominium, whereas her mates blocked and deleted feedback from followers. 

Earlier than Aspen started filming for season 9, Kelly and the present’s government producer met with Aspen at Island Provisions, a close-by espresso store in her neighborhood. As the brand new showrunner, it was Kelly’s intention to create an surroundings the place she was capable of really feel comfy. “I needed her to be in a protected house the place she may inform her story and open up extra as a result of Venita is a star,” says Kelly. “Having her really feel like a revered, admired, and valued forged member this season helped give her extra confidence and luxury within the present.”

When requested about her choice to come back again for season 9 on the “Bravo! We’re Black” podcast, Aspen stated “One thing I take lots of delight in is that almost all of the alternatives which have been given to me I’m the door holder, proper? So, I’ve to be the one which takes all of it in and do all of the onerous stuff first, so when the subsequent particular person comes via like they don’t need to take care of half of what I needed to take care of as a result of I labored it out, so that they don’t have too.”

It might be remiss to not acknowledge Aspen’s feedback in gentle of Bethenny Frankel’s “Reality Reckoning” in opposition to the community. The previous Actual Housewives of New York forged 

member has known as for better protections for forged members on the community and throughout actuality tv. But her critiques fall flat, with regards to the therapy of Black girls. NeNe Leakes, authentic member of The Actual Housewives of Atlanta, and Eboni Williams, the primary Black forged member on The Actual Housewives of New York, have publicly disclosed their experiences as Black girls on Bravo.

Nonetheless Southern Appeal, one of many community’s youthful reveals, which embody Vanderpump Guidelines, Summer season Home, Winter Home, and Summer season Home: Martha’s Winery, the all Black Summer season Home spin off which follows a gaggle of younger Black professionals as they trip within the historic Massachusetts seaside city that aired final 12 months; the sisterhood that exists among the many Housewives is non-existent in Bravo’s youthful reveals. Except for Martha’s Winery, Black forged members, particularly Black girls, are positioned into predominantly white casts.

Ciara Miller joined Summer season Home on season 5 making her the primary Black forged member. The subsequent season, Mya Allen joined, making her the second, since then, the sequence has continued so as to add extra individuals of coloration to the Hamptons, NY based mostly sequence. Jason Cameron, a Black man, was a principal forged member on seasons one and two of Winter Home. Whereas Vanderpump Guidelines has but to forged a Black forged member.

Regardless of the abundance of Black expertise on the community, Aspen continues to be the topic of relentless assaults on-line. When Aaron Marcellus, co-host of Bravo! We’re Black, a podcast he hosts with Kaya Wilson, that provides a Black perspective on Bravo was requested about this, he talked about the racial demographics of the forged. As one of many least various reveals on Bravo, the bulk white forged places Aspen at a drawback.

“It has a bunch of racist undertones as a result of we’re specializing in these white individuals after which you might have this Black girl who’s an influence participant,” says Marcellus. “She has a lot happening for ourselves however we’re so restricted to what we see with regards to Venita.”

On the most recent season, Aspen’s storyline centered round being a sounding board for Olivia Flowers, who was within the means of therapeutic from the sudden passing of her late brother Conner Flowers and grappling with the revelation that her former greatest pal and fellow forged member Taylor Ann Inexperienced was intimately concerned together with her ex and fellow forged member Austen Kroll. 

Followers acquired little details about Aspen’s journey to New York Trend Week, her relationship with boyfriend Manny Houston, or any behind the scenes footage about her assortment with Dillard’s, that launched Spring 2023. For followers of Aspen, the consensus was her being regulated to the position of the Black sidekick. 

In line with Kelly, that preconception is fake. Due to the present’s modifying course of, which tends to be very excessive paced and inflexible to maneuver storyline alongside, Aspen and several other different forged members filmed scenes that didn’t make it on-air. Regardless of this, Kelly witnessed Aspen’s development this season. “She’s arrived. She spoke up in opposition to Shep. She was there for Olivia. She spoke up in opposition to Taylor,” says Kelly. “She’s not as concerned as one would possibly assume, however when she will get concerned, her voice is heard. It’s clear. She has a really robust perspective, and it’s wanted. She’s actually discovered her footing on this group.”

Within the universe of NeNe Leakes and Karen Huger, Venita’s method to actuality television is extra subdued, however simply as poignant. “She’s not going to be silent. She’s not scared to face up for what is correct, however she doesn’t fall into the sassy Black girl stereotype” says Wilson, co-host of Bravo! We’re Black. 

Kelly, who labored on The Actual Housewives of Potomac for 2 seasons, additionally sees Aspen as a brand new kind of actuality star. “I really like that she’s displaying that Black girls are available in all sizes and styles, power ranges, completely different approaches and types. That’s why we want extra illustration to indicate how layered and nuanced individuals could be and having her on this particular discussion board is so vital.”

And persons are beginning to take discover. Glamour revealed a bit on her pure hair journey. She has secured partnerships with Astral Tequila, Clif Bar, Dashing Diva, DSW, J.McLaughlin, Previous Navy, Skinceuticals, and extra notable manufacturers. Aspen is positioning herself as somebody to look at within the community’s roster of burgeoning expertise.

The nice ole days of Southern Appeal being a boys membership are over. Aspen and the opposite feminine forged members are not secondary gamers on an ensemble forged that largely favored the white male majority. Now the ability resides in forged members like Aspen who should not solely representing a cultural shift on the community, however within the South and within the nation general. 

Aspen’s life as a Black girl in The South is just not a deterrent to Southern Appeal, however an asset, and it’s time for the community to deal with her as such.