Amanda Batula finds herself confronting the emotional repercussions of her relationship with West Wilson in a new bonus episode of Summer House, entitled The Aftermath, which aired after the conclusion of Season 10.
This chapter comes after some drama and includes individual interviews of cast members recorded after the taping of their reunion.
One of the central exchanges involves Amanda Batula, 34, speaking with longtime friend and co-star Lindsay Hubbard, 39, about how her romance with West Wilson, 31, began and why it unfolded the way it did.
“Maybe I confused going out with West and falling in love with myself again and, like, remembering who I am with feelings.”
Amanda Batula said the period following her separation from Kyle Cooke earlier this year left her feeling unsteady, explaining that reconnecting socially with West Wilson brought a sense of excitement and emotional relief. She described the time as one where she felt like she was rediscovering herself after a difficult breakup.
“This person that, like, wanted to have fun, wanted to go out, like, loved life again didn’t feel lost and alone and scared anymore. I felt such a euphoric feeling. It was hard to think rationally or logically through any of that.”
Lindsay Hubbard countered with both an appreciation of the other’s feelings and a question regarding the appropriateness of the timing of this romantic entanglement, referencing West Wilson’s previous romance with castmate Ciara Miller.
“It does not excuse going for the one guy that has broken Ciara’s heart multiple times and got it back and broke it and got it back and broke it and got it back.”
Despite this, Amanda Batula maintained that she did not initiate the romantic connection and that it was Wilson who pursued her.
Lindsay Hubbard leaves Amanda Batula a piece of advice: “Save yourself”
Recalling, while Miller and Wilson were attempting to work things out between them since the start of the year, Amanda Batula and Wilson made a surprise revelation that they were in a romantic relationship. This raised questions on the overlap of the two women.
Hence, Hubbard pushed back on Batula’s claim, stating that she had heard a different version of events from Wilson himself.
“Why didn’t you shut it down? Why not at that point say, ‘No, I’m not doing that to Ciara’?”
Batula then answered truthfully that it was a “selfish” time for her as she basked in her feelings for Wilson and what he was making her feel.
“I was so focused on my happiness and like feeling good for the first time. It overwhelmed me, this feeling of just, like, someone caring about me.”
Still, Hubbard cautioned Batula about Wilson and gave her sincere advice on the need to love herself first, arguing that he will “manipulate women wherever he goes to fall in love with him.”
“You are getting self-worth from Kyle, or lack thereof, and that ruined you. And now, you’re doing it with another guy, hoping that this guy is the reason you have self-love. You have to learn how to do that on your own.”
She added:
“To be honest, you should feel stupid. The only way to save yourself in this moment is to separate yourself from the sinking ship that West Wilson is.”
The Summer House bonus episode arrives amid exit of West Wilson from the series due to the non-renewal of his contract. As of now, he and Batula are still together following their joint announcement in March.
Edited by Gladys Altamarino