Former “Summer House” star West Wilson has broken his silence on Bravo’s decision to fire him from the long-running reality show after three years. On an episode of the “Broadcast Boys” podcast, Wilson, 31, said he stood by the network’s choice, adding that he likely wouldn’t have meshed with the cast for the upcoming season due to his new romance with cast member Amanda Batula.
According to a previous report from The Blast, Wilson was let go from “Summer House” just ahead of season 11. A source close to production said the Missouri native won’t be part of the main cast; however, there was a slight chance he could make a cameo.
On the “Broadcast Boys” show, Wilson confirmed the reports, saying, “I wanted to tell it on my own, but that [rumor] is true.” He added, “In [Bravo’s] defense, I don’t think it would have been a fun summer.”
Wilson Was In The Hot Seat During The ‘Summer House’ Reunion Over His Secretive Romance With Batula
Wilson’s firing comes months after the sports journalist confirmed he was dating Batula. Although celebrity relationship announcements are nothing unusual, this one caught Bravo fans off guard because of his past relationship with Batula’s former best friend, Ciara Miller, and his friendship with Batula’s soon-to-be ex-husband, Kyle Cooke.
The pair released a joint statement about their bond, according to The Blast, saying that they never meant to hurt the people they cared about. “It was never our intention to purposely hide anything. Given the complicated relationship dynamics involved and the scrutiny that comes with being on a reality show, we need a little space to process things privately before speaking on it,” the post read.
It continued, “We’ve shown up for each other as friends over the years, through all the highs and lows, and what’s developed recently was the last thing either of us expected. Our connection grew out of a genuine, long-standing friendship, which made it especially important for us to approach this with care.”
Wilson’s ‘Summer House’ Co-Stars Aren’t Too Pleased With Him
Wilson’s exit from the series likely also stemmed from his strained relationships with the majority of the cast.
Jesse Solomon, Wilson’s best friend on the show, even admitted to being frustrated with the reality star and said he was spending time away from him.
“I don’t know,” he said, per The Blast. “I’m a really slow decision-maker, one of my Achilles heels. In this case, I think it’s fair to need some time. West needs to learn how to treat people, in particular women, because he treats other people in his life — friends and family — really well.”
Solomon—who spent the majority of season 9 in the hot seat due to his relationship with Lexi Wood—went on to say that Wilson needs to make a “change” in his life after being publicly blasted by a number of his ex-girlfriends.
“I think a change there is necessary. And then just apologizing for the things that actually hurt people. I know he’s full of regret with how this all went down, so I’m hoping he can learn and grow from it and be a better person and friend,” he said.
This Bravo Executive Was Irritated With Wilson During The Reunion
Bravo executive Noah Samton recently reflected on the “Summer House” reunion, saying that Wilson had a chance to address his issues with the cast but ultimately decided against it.
“When you watch the reunion, as incredible as it is, and as great television as it is, you walk away feeling a little unsatisfied because of the way that West and Amanda handle themselves,” Samton said. “They didn’t explain themselves in a satisfying way. And then there was a whole separate conversation with Meija, who nobody knew anything about. To me, those were the three stories that needed to be fleshed out further.”
Samton then called Wilson’s behavior “frustrating,” adding that the reunion is the place for the cast to offer clarity not only to each other, but to the audience.
Miller Is ‘The Future’ Of The Show
The upcoming season, which begins filming during the July 4th weekend, will certainly have a different dynamic without Wilson on the show. However, Samton isn’t worried about the series’ future.
“I told Ciara a few months ago that I think she’s the future of ‘Summer House.’ She has a voice that we love on [the show], has the connections with the rest of the group, with Mia and KJ, and she’s tight with Kyle. She feels like she has become the center of the show. And that’s a story I want to continue telling,” he said.