Bravo’s New York-based show, ‘Summer House,’ has taken over the pop-culture headlines since co-stars Amanda Batula and West Wilson officially confirmed their romantic relationship on an Instagram story on March 31.
“We’ve seen the growing online speculation, so while this is still very new, we wanted to provide some clarity. It was never our intention to purposely hide anything,” part of the March 31 statement read.
What usually would be considered a normal, not-problematic relationship has become a story of betrayal since Batula was considered best friends with Ciara Miller, a fellow ‘Summer House’ costar and Wilson’s ex.
Now, fans are rallying around Miller, comparing the scandal to the controversy dubbed “Scandoval,” where ‘Vanderpump Rules’ star Ariana Maddix learned in March 2023 that her longtime partner and “Vanderpump Rules” costar Tom Sandoval had an affair with their friend Rachel Leviss.
If you’re not a regular Bravo viewer, here is everything you need to know about the unfolding drama in the Empire State-based show, along with how to watch tonight’s episode.
Who are Amanda Batula, West Wilson and Ciara Miller on Summer House?
Batula has been a full-time cast member on ‘Summer House,’ which follows a group of friends sharing a house in the summer in the Hamptons, since season two. She first appeared on it in 2017 when she was dating her now ex-husband, Kyle Cooke.
Batula and Cooke got married in 2021 and then announced their separation in January 2026, following years of their tumultuous relationship that had been chronicled throughout the show.
Miller joined ‘Summer House’ on season 5 and quickly became a fan favorite. Wilson joined the cast during season 8, which aired in Feb. 2024. During his first season, he became very close to Miller. The two continued their romantic relationship into the fall after filming, before their messy breakup in December of 2023.
The fallout of the relationship was shown on season 9 and has carried into the current season, where the two have made comments about rekindling their romance. In one episode, Wilson moved his chair over to be closer to Miller, caressing her leg during a game of spin the bottle. Previews for the rest of the season show the two cuddling, hugging and even a shot of Wilson kissing Miller on the head.
Why are people upset about Amanda Batula and West Wilson dating?
Fans are upset about the recent revelation of Batula and Wilson’s romance for many reasons. For starters, the two denied the rumors of their relationship on multiple occasions for weeks leading up to their joint statement.
Batula appeared on a March episode of the Trading Secrets podcast, she said she wouldn’t date another cast member following her separation from Cooke, adding, “Love them dearly, but I’m good.”
“That’s a friend. I hope it’s clear,” Wilson told Andy Cohen about Batula on Watch What Happens Live March 24, a week before the pair went public.
However, after the March 31 relationship announcement, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy shared on social media that he’s known about the romance since the Super Bowl, which occurred on Feb. 8.
This also isn’t the first time Wilson was in hot water with the fans. His split with Miller after his first appearance on season 8 of the show left a bad taste in people’s mouths. Throughout season 8, we saw the two get very close, though Miller made it a point to take it slow with him.
During the season 8 reunion, Miller explained how she felt like Wilson attached himself to her out of convenience and for relevance. She said they broke it off due to Wilson’s reluctance to commit to a monogamous relationship.
“I stopped talking to you altogether,” Miller explained, “because I think that’s mean to take someone to your parents’ house and want to sleep with them when you have no intention of doing anything. … You got everything you wanted out of me, and I got literally the bare minimum.”
Wilson explained that his reasoning was tied to it being his first season on Summer House and not wanting to come across as a “dude who came onto the show and is just Ciara’s puppet the whole time.” After receiving fan backlash, Wilson attempted to set the record straight in a 2024 New York Times profile, saying, “I don’t think we were meant to be together, that’s it. I think me trying to deflect the actual relationship and name all these external things really made me sound like an idiot.”
This article was upsetting to Miller as she said on Andy Cohen’s New York-based ‘Watch What Happens Live’ that Wilson never said those things to her before.
A story of friendship and betrayal
‘Summer House’ fans have been quick to point out the deep friendship betrayal this new relationship has caused between Miller and Batula. The two have been close since Miller joined the cast in season 5. She, Batula and former castmate Paige DeSorbo called themselves “the bed bugs” for many seasons. DeSorbo decided not to come back this season, drawing Batula and Miller even closer.
Batula did an interview with Marie Claire, which was published weeks before her new relationship announcement. In it, Batula spoke of how supportive Miller had been throughout the process of her separation from Cooke.
“It would have been a very difficult summer to get through without Ciara. She is one of the kindest, most loving, loyal friends I’ve ever had. She sends me texts out of the blue, reminding me how strong, powerful, smart, and kind I am,” Batula said in the interview.
Batula was also witness to the relationship and subsequent fallout between her friend and Wilson in season 8. “There was a part of me that was hopeful this time would be different, but it just seems like a pattern with you,” Batula told Wilson during the Season 8 reunion. “You have a really hard time committing.”
In the March 17 episode of the current season of ‘Summer House,’ Miller opened up a vulnerable conversation about her experience as a Black woman on a predominantly white cast.
“I was the first Black person in this house,” she shared with the cast members, who are predominantly white, “and then dating publicly − dating white guys publicly, it’s like a whole contraption that I don’t think you guys even understand or can even empathize with.”
“The hardest thing with the me and West situation,” Miller later confessed to producers with tears in her eyes, “is that everyone’s always just like, ‘Oh, you let a white man play you on national TV.’ Regardless of how we feel about each other, it’s like the way that it looks to the entire world.”
During the conversation, Batula got up from her seat to sit next to Miller and comfort her as the conversation continued, another example of the close bond the two women once shared.
When is the next episode of ‘Summer House’?
New episodes of “Summer House” air on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo. The next episode is set to air tonight, April 7.
Streaming providers that carry Bravo, such as Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV and DIRECTV, also air the show on Tuesdays. Episodes will be available to stream on Peacock the day after airing.
The show’s reunion is expected to be filmed later this month. “The reunion is coming up,” Cohen said on the April 1 episode of “SiriusXM’s Andy Cohen Live,” and, boy, do I have a lot of questions.”
Stay tuned to keep up with the rest of season 10 and to know when the reunion will air.
Contributing: USA Today Network.
— Madison Scott is a journalist with the Democrat and Chronicle who covers breaking and trending news for the Finger Lakes Region. She has an interest in how the system helps or doesn’t help families
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: ‘Summer House’ stars spark major betrayal drama in NY-based reality show
Reporting by Madison Scott, New York Connect Team / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
