Candiace Dillard on why people are starting to pay attention to ‘RHOP’

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“Real Housewives of Potomac” star Candiace Dillard thinks “Housewives” fans are finally starting to tune into her franchise because of the drama between her and Monique Samuels. “I am really of the mindset of, ‘Well, duh. Of course we’re an amazing show! Like, thank you for finally noticing!’ Yes, I absolutely feel that way,” she …

“Real Housewives of Potomac” star Candiace Dillard thinks “Housewives” fans are finally starting to tune into her franchise because of the drama between her and Monique Samuels.

“I am really of the mindset of, ‘Well, duh. Of course we’re an amazing show! Like, thank you for finally noticing!’ Yes, I absolutely feel that way,” she said on Wednesday’s episode of the “Reality Life with Kate Casey” podcast.

She continued, “I honestly believe that it was the loss of control by Monique that really gave the show more headlines. People were intrigued by someone who appeared to be so — contained, put together, poised — how could it get to the point where Candiace is pressing charges?”

Page Six reported in December that Samuels, 36, and Dillard, 33, attempted to file assault charges against each other but the Maryland state attorney’s office dismissed both of their cases. The cases were filed the previous month over a physical altercation that took place in October.

Dillard was the first to file, with Samuels counter-filing and claiming that her actions were in self-defense.

She said on the podcast that she has not taped with Samuels since their altercation.

“No, I am not taping another season with her,” she said. “I will not be doing that. Everyone knows that. That has been made clear. I will never film another season of any show with someone who can do what she did, and then conduct themselves in the aftermath of what she did the way that she did.”

Dillard also noted that the name of the franchise may have deterred some people from watching the show.

“I just think number one, ‘Potomac’ is the only city/state in the ‘Housewives’ franchises that is not a common name,” she explained. “People couldn’t even pronounce Potomac. I remember watching ‘The Real’ one day and Adrienne Bailon was talking about us and she’s like, ‘Yeah, ‘The Real Housewives of Poto-mac’ and I was like, ‘What?’ But I really do believe that the name sort of made it harder for the audience to play catch up.”

The former Miss United States made it clear that she appreciated the efforts of the original cast members as well, as there was a time after Season 1 (2016) that the cast did not know if there would be another season.

“I remember being like, ‘What’s going to happen?’ cause I’ve watched from the beginning because I was excited about a second all-black ensemble cast on Bravo. So I think that they had to really push and fight to ensure that we could get to where we are today and here we are. Season 5. I think Season 4 is really when we started to sink our teeth into everyone and now we’re solidly on the map. Season 5 has done that.”

“RHOP” airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.