'Basketball Wives' Season 5 Creator Shaunie O'Neal Regrets Jennifer Williams Exit? Preview VIDEO
VH1's Basketball Wives creator Shaunie O'Neal has overseen the departure of five cast members on the show since it first premiered, but a recent interview suggests she might regret Jennifer Williams' exit.
Sista 2 Sista reporter Tracy Scott alleges that O'Neal was referring to Williams when she said, "I wish some people could have stayed and made it work."
O'Neal discussed the departures of Royce Reed, Kenya Bell and Kesha Nichols at length with the magazine. She told Sista 2 Sista that some of the eliminations were necessary because it "wasn't clicking anymore."
Reed, who appeared on seasons 1 through 4, announced she will not be returning for season 5. Rumors claimed that because the other women refused to shoot with Reed, she filmed most of season 4 by herself and with her boyfriend and family members.
"It's hard to continue filming with people that you just have nothing else to talk about or nothing in common with, or that relationship has withered away," O'Neal explained. "You have other people that situations made it bad and situations made your friendship different... that are out of your control. I hate to see those moments happen. That's not a great way to see somebody go."
O'Neal also explained why Tami Roman, who was introduced in season 2, will return for season 5. She described her personality as "incredible."
"You love her, hate her, whatever," O'Neal said about Roman. "You can't live without some part of Tami on Basketball Wives. She just brings so much to the show. There's still something about her that drives you to watching."
O'Neal described season 5 newcomer Tasha Marbury as a "true diva."
In the teaser for season 5, Marbury tells Evelyn Lozada's BFF Suzie Ketchum that the Lozada does not need a boyfriend following her ordeal with her ex-husband Chad Ochocinco. Marbury joked that maybe Lozada should "wear a helmet" on a future date. When Ketchum shares the tale with Lozada, she is visibly upset and asks her about Marbury's remark, "And you thought that was funny?" she says in the clip.
The new season of Basketball Wives premieres on Monday, Aug. 19 at 8/7C on VH1.
Watch the preview for season 5 below.
