Update!

Brandi Glanville Apologizes for Her Racist Joke on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Reality star jokes that black people can't swim after Joyce Giraud refuses to get in the pool

By Zach Johnson Dec 10, 2013 2:43 PMTags
THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF BEVERLY HILLS Cast, RHOBH, Kim Richards, Kyle Richards, Joyce Giraud de Ohoven, Yolanda Foster, Brandi GlanvilleRodolfo Martinez/Bravo

Brandi Glanville often thinks without speaking, as she did during the Monday, Dec. 9, episode of Bravo's The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. During a girls weekend in Palm Springs, the 40-year-old mom of two stripped down to a skimpy bikini and begged host Joyce Giraud to get in the pool. "Please get in the water," she pleaded.

"I really don't want to get in the pool," said Giraud, 38, who remained in her chaise lounge. Glanville persisted, and eventually the new cast member admitted, "I can't swim."

"You're a black person," Glanville said with a laugh, horrifying Giraud and fellow costars Yolanda Foster, Carlton Gebbia, Kyle Richards, Kim Richards and Lisa Vanderpump. "All my black friends cant swim," she continued. "Is that bad?"

Glanville later explained that "it was a joke, and my black friends would have laughed crazy because they don't go in the pool because they will get their weave f--cked up."

"Yes, I'm black. What's your problem?" Giraud asked in a confessional. "Puerto Ricans are black, they're Indian and they're Spanish, so I am a mix of three cultures, and I am very proud to represent all three."

Glanville continued to offend Giraud by repeatedly calling her "Jacqueline" instead of "Joyce."

"She doesn't look like a Joyce," Glanville said at dinner later that night. "Joyce is a big, fat pig."

The Drinking & Tweeting author apologized for her comments later that night when she called up Andy Cohen on Bravo's Watch What Happens Live. "I know what I said was definitely inappropriate, but I say a lot of inappropriate things. It was definitely not sensitive and I apologize to anyone I offended. But to be honest with you, Andy, my friends joke with each other this way and they're all different backgrounds. So, I'm sorry and I guess you're not ready for the real Brandi? Should I censor myself?"

When Cohen asked Glanville if she thought her joke was racist, she replied, "I think it was definitely inappropriate. I'm the least racist person of all time. I think the more you defend it, the more you look guilty, so I don't have to say that much more. I'm very sorry with whomever I offended."

Kyle—who was in-studio with fellow guest Abigail Breslin—jumped to Glanville's defense. "I think Brandi was just trying to get a rise out of Joyce and I do not think that Brandi is a racist. I really don't," the boutique owner insisted. "I think it was not the greatest thing to say, not a smart comment. She sometimes says things that she shouldn't say."

After the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills episode aired, Giraud weighed in on her exchange with Glanville via her BravoTV.com blog. "Puerto Ricans are a mix of African, Spanish, and Indian. My great grandmother was black. So yes, I'm proud to say I'm a mix and very proud of my African lineage as well!" she wrote. "But even if I didn't have it in my blood I would still not tolerate her racial remarks. She stereotypes and labels because I tell her I can't swim (which I do swim but like a puppy). And FYI, one of the best swimmers in the world is black! He is a gold medalist and his name is Cullen Jones."

Giraud also addressed being called "Jacqueline" throughout the episode. "[Brandi's] behavior is so childish that I don't even know how to comment on that," the former Miss Puerto Rico wrote.

Courtesy of Angela Weiss/WireImage

Glanville continued apologizing on her Bravo blog, writing, "First and foremost, I really do want to sincerely apologize and say I am truly sorry for the insensitive joke I made about Joyce not getting in the water and to anyone of my friends or fans of the show I offended," and explained that she has many friends and former lovers that are of a different race.

"All of that being said, I hope you see that although it didn't go too well, I was just trying to be funny -- as I always try to be. Life is not worth living if you can't laugh with your close friends. In the future, I will remember in to hold back with people who I now see are only looking to take me down so that they can have a something for themselves."

Brandi also acknowledged Real Housewives of Atlanta's Kenya Moore calling her ignorant on WWHL, and simply said, "As far as Kenya Moore calling me ignorant on WWHL, while I do find her entertaining onRHOA, I am sorry but I just don't care nor do I respect the opinion of a grown ass woman who flirts, texts, and tries to sleep with another woman's husband. Once she finds some self respect maybe I will learn to care about what she thinks."

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