Model Amiyah Scott was supposed to appear on Real Housewives of Atlanta as the first transgender cast member in the Bravo franchise, but there’s been a setback.
Scott—who wasn’t yet hired as a season regular—says she left a taping and quit the show one month into filming after reportedly being pressured to wear lingerie in a scene. According to TMZ, the episode’s plot involved cast member Porsha Williams (the one who thew a surprise introduction party for her boyfriend of one month) asking Scott to model a piece from her lingerie collection.
RHOA producers dismissed Scott’s claim, and countered that she was fired because her storyline was too dry. TMZ reports:
...Our production sources say Amiyah never walked off ... she just didn’t make the cut because she brought nothing interesting to the table ... being transgender doesn’t make you automatically interesting.
As for claims she was forced to wear lingerie ... producers say that’s ridiculous. Porsha Williams — who has a lingerie line — thought Amiyah was beautiful and made the offer and Amiyah declined ... simple as that.
Citing “contractual complications” and “the magic of editing,” Scott explained her absence on the show in a lengthy Instagram post on December 27:
“I’m in my 20’s and when this opportunity was BROUGHT to me, It was no guarantees & I was cool with that, but I wasn’t going to exploit myself or act out of character for it... I honestly saw a chance to help change the perspective of MY community, but I wanted to maintain my dignity. Housewife and Transgender aren’t words that are usually associated...”
Scott adds on IG: “Filming with the #RealHousewivesOfAtlanta was not for attention, but to assist in breaking a stereotype. Trans women are not only sex objects or prostitutes. We are strong, educated & human just like everyone else.”
Choosing not to appear on a Real Housewives show feels like an okay career move. And it appears that Scott has already moved on and joined the cast of Lee Daniel’s Empire spin-off.
Image via Instagram