Marysol Patton and Alexia Nepola.Photo:Todd Williamson/Bravo via Getty
Todd Williamson/Bravo via Getty
Fans ofThe Real Housewives of Miamiwere shocked to seeAlexia Nepolaremain silent when her longtime friendMarysol Pattonasked her to speak up for her during an argument with their costarJulia Lemigovaon the show’s season 6 premiere.
But while speaking exclusively to PEOPLE atBravoCon 2023, Nepola maintained that she always supports her friend and there was a reason behind her staying quiet.
“And I wanted her to prove to herself that she can fight for herself,” Nepola, 56, continued. “She doesn’t need me to fight, and she actually did really good job.”
“I was good,” added Patton. “It was great. I could see in her eyes that she wasn’t even looking at me when I was saying, ‘Say something,’ and I could tell she was very distracted with the whole thing thatTodd[her husband] wasn’t there. It’s not a big deal, but everyone is offended for me.”
Marysol Patton and Alexia Nepola.Todd Williamson/Bravo via Getty
This led to the beauty salon owner questioning Patton over occasions when she didn’t stick up for her, too.
“Hold on a minute, but what about when you haven’t had my back?” asked Nepola.
“S— happens," laughed Patton.
“OK, now you know how it feels,” quipped Nepola.
Marysol Patton and Alexia Nepola.Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty
During last week’s season premiere, Nepola got all of the girls together at her home for a “Nuevos Horizontes” (“New Horizons”) party so the group could start afresh following their heatedseason 5 reunion.
But while at the party, Lemigova said she was “surprised” to see Patton there as she had previously said she wouldn’t attend the event if their costarAdriana de Mourawas also there.
“I feel I am also here to heal my best friend, but you are here to harm your best friend,” Lemigova, 51, told Patton.
“Julia, you’re saying weird s—,” interjected Patton. “I’m trying to harm Alexia? Alexia please speak. Come on!”
Julia Lemigova and Adriana de Moura.Rich Polk/Bravo via Getty
Rich Polk/Bravo via Getty
Speaking in a confessional, Nepola said, “Sometimes I feel like you have to fight your own battle.”
“Right now, I really need you my friend to step in,” added Patton in her own confessional as Nepola remained silent.
Addressing Patton, Lemigova continued, “You have this selfish attitude of putting, in my opinion, Alexia who is your best friend in this impossible situation where she has to choose. You said you’re not going to be here tonight if Adriana is here and now you’re here. You crawled back here when you heard that we’re all moving on.”
Patton shouted back at her, “I don’t need to crawl, this is my best friend’s house, I’m invited here before all of you!”
“You are the problem in this group whether you like it or not,” added Lemigova.
Dr. Nicole Martin, Guerdy Abraira, Lisa Hochstein, Julia Lemigova, Alexia Nepola and Larsa Pippen.Gizelle Hernandez/Bravo
Gizelle Hernandez/Bravo
Lemigova also opened up to PEOPLE over the weekend at BravoCon, addressing her disagreement with Patton and accused her of “hypocrisy.”
“It was supposed to be a party where everyone will be united and yet she did not want Adriana there and suddenly she shows up,” said Lemigova. “I had to speak up my truth. I found my voice, so to speak, this year.”
“I cut my hair, nothing scares me at all, especially after what Martina was going through,” she added of her wifeMartina Navratilova, whoovercame throat and breast cancerearlier this year. “So I’m not gonna sit back and watch Marysol’s behavior like I did for two years.”
The former model added that she believes Patton has been “creating division in our group for quite a few years.”
As for whether or not she and Patton can heal their rift, de Moura told PEOPLE, “I went in literally wanting peace, I wanted to start fresh and rebuild our friendship, but I feel some resistance. I feel like Alexia was open to it but not Marysol. And like Julia said, Marysol was trying to tell Alexia what to do.”
For more of PEOPLE’s BravoCon coverage,click here.
The Real Housewives of Miamiairs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo, and the next day on Peacock.
source: people.com
