Michael Darby is taking his strained relationship with Real Housewives of Potomac star Candiace Dillard Bassett from our television screens to court.
Darby is reportedly suing Candiace for defamation. His lawsuit is based on her allegations in aired episodes that Michael paid a man for sex. According to legal documents obtained by TMZ, Darby is seeking $2 million in damages.
Fans saw the oral sex allegations play out in season seven, episode six, during Wendy Osefo’s ‘burn session.’ Osefo hosted a group event with the RHOP ladies in hopes of having everyone take accountability for hurting each other and move on. Instead, it turned into a face-off between several cast members, including Michael’s estranged wife, Ashley Darby, and Candiace.
Ashley initiated the back-and-forth. She said Candiace’s husband, Chris Bassett, flirted with her friend Deborah at a Karen Huger event. Production later showed that Chris did have an interaction with Deborah. However, it appeared to lean toward casual conversation rather than flirting.
But Candiace was already frustrated with Gizelle Bryant‘s allegations that Chris made her ‘uncomfortable. Additionally, Mia Thornton claimed that Chris sexually stared at her during a party. Mia later recanted, saying the stare was non-sexual, but production footage showed no staring.
“You don’t have enough going on in your own lives so you want to bring drama to my door,” Candiace said. “This is now the third time someone is coming to me in the group to tell me some bullsh*t about my husband.”
But Ashley kept pushing–insisting that Chris also sent private messages to other people that weren’t “innocent or innocuous.” Candiace clapped back at Ashley about her rocky marriage and husband’s alleged bedroom activity.
“Ashley, your husband likes to leave you and go to man named [redacted] house and suck his d**k,” Candiace responded.
In a confessional video, Candiace said she “wasn’t supposed to talk about this person.” However, she added that the unnamed man claims Micahel Darby is a “client,” meaning Darby allegedly pays for sex.
The episode aired on November 20, but Michael’s lawsuit paperwork reportedly states he sent Candiace a cease-and-desist earlier this year. Despite insisting her allegations are false, Darby says Candiace hasn’t retracted her statements.
Candiace, Chris, and Ashley haven’t responded to the lawsuit online.
Meanwhile, Candiace celebrated her husband’s birthday on Wednesday–just hours before TMZ broke the lawsuit story on Thursday.
“My FAVORITE person! My heart. You are my home wherever we are. I love you to infinity and beyond! Happy Birthday, Swan!!,” she wrote.
