The fallout from the clash between The Real Housewives of Rhode Island stars Alicia Carmody and Liz McGraw almost took a different turn.
“Normally, I would have never spoken to her again,” Alicia, 41, revealed during the Thursday, June 25 episode of Jake Shane’s “Therapuss” podcast. “Because we’re on the show together, I felt like, ‘Well, I have to forgive her,’ and that’s good. Forgiveness is good.”
Alicia admitted she often “runs away from problems” rather than addressing them, but the show has been instrumental in changing that.
“I tend to shut down and avoid. I won’t answer calls and steer clear of issues. But in this setting, you can’t do that,” she explained. “You have to confront your fears and respond. I didn’t know how to do that before.”
She further stated, “It made me much stronger. Much stronger. I didn’t know I was so sensitive.”
Alicia Carmody and Liz McGraw Clifton Prescod/Bravo (2)
Viewers witnessed Alicia’s heated argument with Liz, 55, during the first season of RHORI. The confrontation began after Alicia stated she was “homeless” as a child when her father left the family, while Liz disputed this claim, insisting Alicia was “never” homeless. This disagreement escalated into a loud exchange during a car journey to Boston.
“I never said I lived on the streets,” Alicia clarified on Thursday’s podcast. “I meant my father sold our home, took our money, and I had to move from place to place.”
She added, “When she questioned me, I felt like, ‘You know my story.’ We had similar upbringings. Being stuck in the car for two hours, reliving the same story, I had a severe anxiety attack.”
The first glimpse of the RHORI reunion hinted that Alicia and Liz would revisit their car altercation. Liz claimed she was caught off guard, while Alicia appeared to have “nervous breakdowns.”
During Thursday’s podcast, Alicia remarked to host Jake, 26, that the reunion was “very much needed” for the cast.
“I feel there were many things that needed to be said and explained,” she shared. “I didn’t realize, starting the first season, that you have to repeatedly discuss things. It’s very emotional to talk about upsetting experiences.”
Alicia continued, “I had no idea how the public would react. You’re just trying to be genuine and figuring it out as you go.”
