Mia Thornton Exits the “Real Housewives of Potomac” Season 9 Reunion amid Critiques She's a 'Terrible Mother'
"I'm leaving," the Bravo star told producers before walking out on filming
Clifton Prescod/Bravo
Wendy Osefo and Mia Thornton on the 'Real Housewives of Potomac' season 9 reunionHousewives have walked-off reunion sets before, but Mia Thornton made history on the Real Housewives of Potomac season 9 reunion when she became the first to not return for the rest of filming.
The reality star exited the taping of the annual season wrap-up, storming off set after costar Gizelle Bryant told her she was a "terrible mother."
It was an accusation that came after Mia — who shares Jeremiah, 9, Juliana, 7, with estranged husband Gordon Thornton, as well as a teenage son Joshua from a previous relationship — had questioned whether her ex-boyfriend Incognito was actually her youngest son's biological father.
A DNA test later proved Jeremiah was Gordon's, but the storyline still put Mia in the critical eye of her castmates. And if that weren't enough, in an effort to defend herself, Mia made the mistake of criticizing Gizelle's kids, putting the Reasonably Shady podcast host on the attack.
Clifton Prescod/Bravo
Gizelle Bryant and Ashley Darby on the 'Real Housewives of Potomac' season 9 reunion"I actually apologized to [Gizelle]," Mia said, as the feud was recounted in the final moments of the second installment of the three-part reunion that aired Feb. 23. "[She was] saying I was a terrible mother!"
"You have acted like that this season! A terrible mother!" Gizelle said. "And I stand by that. No woman, no mother, would put their child on a platform to discuss their paternity. No mother would do that. No mother!"
But before Gizelle could even finish talking, Mia was off the reunion couch. "That's my... that's it," she said, leaving the stage. "Not my kids!"
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Clifton Prescod/Bravo
Mia Thornton and Andy Cohen in the 'Real Housewives of Potomac' season 9 reunionViewers wondered whether Mia would return, but when part 3 began airing on Sunday, March 2, it became clear she was done for the day.
Asked by a producer if she was taking a break, Mia said, "No, I'm leaving."
"Not my kids," she repeated. "I should have never put myself in the position to have anybody question my motherhood."
Cameras then kept filming Mia as she moved about her dressing room, stepping into the bathroom to change out of her bedazzled, feathered white gown before walking about the studio's back hallways in tears.
"How do I get out of here?" she asked, while being escorted by a friend and wiping away tears. She was then shown getting into a black car and being driven away.
Jocelyn Prescod/Bravo
'Real Housewives of Potomac' season 9 reunionMia's exit is not necessarily surprising, considering she was in the hot seat for the bulk of the reunion, the women — including Ashley Darby, Dr. Wendy Osefo and Keiarna Stewart — grilled her about supposed lies she told all season.
She had tried to flee once, too, telling producers at the end of the first part of the reunion that aired on Feb. 16 that she was "leaving" the filming. "I can't do it anymore," she said, sobbing in her dressing room after costar Stacey Rusch refused to accept Mia's apology for ditching Stacey and Jassi Rideaux during an off-camera trip to Miami.
"I've been a terrible friend and I know that," Mia said. "If I wasn't in the final weeks of my divorce, I probably wouldn't be this emotional."
Host Andy Cohen stepped in then. "There's nothing worse than a shame spiral and I feel like you're in one. Give yourself a little bit of grace, okay?" he assured Mia, during part 2 of the reunion. "You're beating yourself up. You feel bad. You've owned it. Give yourself a break. ... The fact that you feel ashamed means you're a good person that we know you are."
Clifton Prescod/Bravo
Mia Thornton on the 'Real Housewives of Potomac' season 9 reunionBut Mia's costars weren't nearly as gracious as Andy was when she walked out for the final time.
"The truth hurts, I guess," Ashley quipped, while Dr. Wendy criticized Mia for "doing s--- and not being able to be accountable for [her] s---."
"I think it’s wack," noted Gizelle. "We all have done nonsense, craziness. You come to reunion and you deal with it. ... Not only do you run out, you run out the building?"
"Bitch, please," she said.
All seasons of The Real Housewives of Potomac can be streamed on Peacock.
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