Actress Carolyna Hutchings, formerly part of the inaugural season cast of The Real Housewives of Lagos, revealed her decision not to return for the show’s second season, citing a toxic experience during her tenure. She discussed her reasons with Mercy Johnson on a recent episode of Johnson’s show, “Mercy’s Menu.”
She said:“The reason why I left that show was that it was toxic for me, my family, and kids, It wasn’t showcasing me in a positive light. And it wasn’t really showcasing a lot of the women in a positive light. It was more a less ‘come sit down, abuse each other, call each other ridiculous names.’”
She added that “The truth is if you bring drama I give it back to you. And one of the reasons people liked me was because I stood up for myself. You can’t keep bullying people thinking you’re perfect when you also have scales in your eyes.”
Continuing her discussion on the show’s toxicity, she further emphasized that “The truth is if you bring drama I give it back to you. And one of the reasons people liked me was because I stood up for myself. You can’t keep bullying people thinking you’re perfect when you also have scales in your eyes.”
She made it clear that her decision to join the show wasn’t driven by financial motives. Although the housewives didn’t receive a salary, they were compensated with an honorarium “I was excited. It wasn’t really about the money. It was about adding value to another woman’s life,” she emphasized.
Reflecting on her experience, she expressed frustration at the shift in focus upon joining the show. “When I got on the show, it was a different ballgame. It was about talking about my ex-husband who did not sign a contract with me. He has no business with the show. And they are talking about my innocent children,” she lamented.
Hutchings revealed that her experience soured early on in the show, starting from the second episode when her daughter was brought into discussion. “Right from the second episode (talking about my daughter), I was done with the show. I really wanted to leave from that moment. But because I had signed a contract I had to abide by it,” she expressed.
Despite this, she extended well wishes to the show’s participants, acknowledging that it wasn’t the right fit for her. “I wish them all the best. But for me, it’s just not the right fit,” she concluded.
