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A sneak peek into an upcoming episode of the Bravo reality TV series Real Housewives of Rhode Island has created some drama in the Ocean State.
A local basketball coach was accused of covering up an affair with a cast member. She was allegedly paid for her silence with hush money. Speculation surrounding the identity of the coach is running rampant on social media.
Who could it be?
To be up front with readers, I will never claim to be an expert in the “Real Housewives” universe. I’ve seen bits and pieces of various seasons from the background while my wife watches along.
That’s at least given me a basic background on characters in the newest edition of the RH franchise. The latest episode preview brought sports fans into the reality TV realm.
Real Housewives of Rhode Island create basketball drama.
Feuding cast members Rosie DiMare and Kelsey Swanson sparked the drama while tossing relationship shade.
The latter was named Miss Rhode Island in 2017. Her TV Insider bio describes her current boyfriend as being “one of Rhode Island’s most notable figures.” They met when she was 19 and presumably a student at the University of Rhode Island.
The anonymity of Swanson’s relationship has led to criticism from cast members, DiMare included.
DiMare, meanwhile, is described as being someone “not afraid to call people out.” She, however, was the one being targeted in the most recent back-and-forth.
Dirty laundry was aired out. An accusation of an affair and coverup was made public. She’s said to have taken hush money from a prominent basketball coach in Rhode Island to keep quiet.
The feud dates back to the last episode, which aired a week ago, with the topic of conversation being home size. It snowballed into DiMare accusing Swanson of being involved with married men. She struck back with the allegations of the affair, insinuating that DiMare used hush money to purchase her house.
DiMare has refuted the accusations, saying she “never had an affair with a basketball coach,” and that she’s never met the unnamed man being referenced.
Who is the coach?
At this point, we do not know. DiMare has previously responded to claims of the alleged affair. She denies any and all speculation, including online threads that reference former Providence coach Ed Cooley.
“Don’t believe everything you read on Reddit,” DiMare was heard saying earlier in the season. To this point, any name mentioned is purely conjecture. That includes the Rhode Island native, Cooley, who left Providence unexpectedly to coach at league rival Georgetown a few years back.
His status, combined with Friars fans’ disdain for the traitorous coach, have made him a popular suggestion in Rhode Island. By all accounts, Cooley left for a better job that offered a higher salary and bigger NIL budget.
There has been no evidence of an extramarital affair provided, nor confirmation of it being his reason for leaving Providence. Saltiness on the Friars’ end is fueling the narrative.
Regardless of the coach’s identity, the accusation is a big one for those in the “Real Housewives” universe. Basketball fans might have some added motivation to tune in for the remainder of Season 1.