Meredith Marks
Appearances
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Yeah. I mean, look, if I if I am in the wrong, I have no problem apologizing. I can even apologize for a situation where I don't think I'm in the wrong. It was very easy for me to say to Sean, I didn't do this, but I feel badly that you even went through it and that you even thought I had a part in it. I could apologize even for that, even though I didn't do it. To me, I don't understand.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
If somebody's hurt, I'm sorry that they are hurt, whether I caused it or not. It's at least
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
I think I learned a lot more about myself. I think I learned a lot more about most of the other women. I think I learned that you can't change the game. You have to change the way you play it. And I think that's really important.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
I learned that I've become a little reactive on things, and I want to go back to not being as reactive. I think that I felt for a long time that I was not being heard because I wasn't yelling and screaming, and that yelling and screaming could solve some of that, and it really doesn't.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
It is, but it just kind of makes me feel crazy. That was iconic. I've learned that there's always going to be another perspective in the way people view things, especially with the conflict I had with Mary and how she viewed this all unfolding versus how I did.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
So that was very interesting that you also don't necessarily always know what's going on behind the scenes that's impacting the way someone behaves and treats you. And it's important to do your best. I mean, I did ask and I tried,
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
I just took like a quick bath to get dressed and go to dinner because I was moving really slow.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
maybe could have done better you know always try I'm always trying to do better I am I don't know I mean that's you know kind of okay that's a great answer what about what did we learn about Lisa I learned that Lisa and I really had a lot of misunderstandings. We really went into this whole process with pretty poor communication with each other, and it led to a lot of really big problems.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
And I've learned from Lisa that different friends have different needs from their friends, and they have different requirements that you may or may not require. And sometimes it's hard to navigate that. Like I'm not someone who needs a ton of reassurance and Lisa is, and my husband is, and that's something I learned, you know, through a lot of the stuff I went through with Seth.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
And so once I was able to understand that, which, you know, Took a while. I was able to better navigate the friendship. And Lisa and I have learned really just to be very straightforward with each other and we're not letting everyone else get in between us. You know, there's a lot of gas thrown on the fire. I think there's a lot of jealousy that we are friends.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
maybe some fear to some degree, I don't know. But I think a lot of the women don't want us to be friends. I mean, you saw a lot of it through the season, a lot of meddling, and now we're very aware of it. So it's like, keep trying, go for it. It's just gonna show who you are.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
I mean, I think over the long term, we'd have to say Whitney, for sure.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
um why do i think she does that i don't know i don't know why do you think that is i guess like it like what are oh like the evidence why is it evident what's the evidence from your perspective um just things she said to me about lisa things i know she's said to lisa about me things she's you know stirred the pot in like my father's memorial you know she told me it was all lisa's fault like that she had nothing to do with it this that and the other you know
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Things like that. She plays a lot of behind the scenes games, stirring things up. She told Lisa, like, there's this whole thing at Whitney's. What was it when she rebranded and she invited some guy to the party that she was saying that was like sleeping with Lisa, which wasn't true and was like trying to apparently make a whole thing out of it. And then she told Lisa that I invited this guy.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
I didn't even know who the guy was at the party. I found out after the fact when Whitney told me. So, you know, it's like, how could I have invited the guy? I didn't even know who he was, you know? And the whole thing's insane. And who was the guy again? Some guy. I don't even know. And then Whitney was saying how there was something going on between Lisa and this guy? Yeah.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Whitney was making this whole thing up that Lisa was having an affair with him and was bringing him supposedly to like out Lisa. I don't know. The whole thing's insane. You know, but then she went. The whole thing's insane to begin with, that anyone's going to those lengths to try to out somebody. But above and beyond that, she then tried to blame it on me.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
She tried to blame calling Mary a predator on me. You know, like it just it keeps she keeps trying to blame her actions on me. And usually it's in the form of trying to ruin my relationship with Lisa. But apparently it branched out into Mary now, too. So there we go.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Yes. Lisa and I are definitely closer than ever. And we have a totally new and different friendship. And it's kind of like, you know, I say the same thing with my marriage. Like Seth and I went through some really tough times and we nearly got divorced. We didn't. We were separated, but we called our second marriage. It's a new relationship. And I feel the same way about Lisa.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
And so like when the girls are always trying to throw history in our face, like you did this, you did that, da, da, da, da, da. We embarked on a new friendship. So we don't care. about what happened in the past and we're not going to let it impact the present.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
And so maybe when they get that memo, maybe if they're listening, they will, and they stop trying to do that, they can come up with a new mechanism to try to destroy our friendship and maybe they'll succeed. I don't know, but the old one's not gonna work anymore.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
I mean, I think it will be much more enjoyable to be in a pillow. It will be so much more enjoyable. I didn't know that was even a possibility.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with Reunion. Okay.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Oh, my gosh. Well, we were separated on and off multiple times over, like, years. And when we were almost getting divorced and when we had filed was when the kids all left the house. Mm-hmm. And that became the time where it was kind of like... So you got straight up filed? Yeah, but we never really went down the path. It was a filing that never went anywhere.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
But basically we went and found a better therapist. But yeah, when the kids were all out of the house, it was like there's no reason to stay together anymore. And so if we're not going to make this work, and we didn't really think we were because we had seen other therapists. We had been in couples counseling and counseling. We just thought that it was not going to happen.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
And then we got this incredible new therapist we were recommended to. And he basically taught us how to communicate with each other. I mean, that was the whole problem. Our communication was completely broken. Wow.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Yeah. Yeah. Like instead, like if someone tells you their feelings, accept it and don't take it as, you know, a judgment on you, you know, and embrace and tell them like, of course you don't want them to feel that way. Like Seth would be like, I feel that. And I'd be like, well, you, you know, defensive. Yeah.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Exactly. Exactly. And so. of course, like if Seth is hurt or upset, I don't want him to feel that way. And maybe I don't agree with what he thinks I did, but he still is entitled to feel that way. And I don't want, you know, you have to be respectful. So that's really the bottom line for us more than anything was learning how to be respectful of each other's feelings and
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
And then we started to communicate deeply again. But for a while, our communications just became completely transactional because when it went beyond that, it was just nasty.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Really during COVID more than anything. I'm probably one of the few people on this planet who can say that Real Housewives coupled with COVID saved their marriage.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
I mean, they can use like the gel you use like in an ice pack.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Yeah, I mean, because we were in the space that we were in, working on our communication and, you know, with the therapist. And then, of course, when the world shut down, you know, you do a very deep re-evaluation of what's important in life. Like, everyone thought they were dying, you know? And so I just think that those things...
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
put together reality tv yes it can be very difficult but it also can be like i said enlightening and very if you're someone who can be introspective and self-reflective and i'm not saying everyone of the women that are on my show can be
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
but some can some cannot and I think I can you really can learn a lot about yourself and about like the way if you are open to learning you know and and to me it's like it's not just about always being right it's about me understanding like why someone perceived what I was doing was whatever it was when that wasn't my intentions that I can do better and be better you know and a lot of
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
The women play this like tit for tat game. Like you did this to me, so I'm gonna do that to you. You were nice to me, so that's not the way I live at all. You know, I try to do better. I try to be better. I try to grow. To me, giving is about, you know, wanting to get like Angie's whole thing. I gave you a present. I don't give people presents to hold it over their heads.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
I did have an anniversary gift for them. She knows this. I had received some sad news right before I walked in to the thing and was very stressed and forgot her gift. And she knew that. But it's fine. It's no big deal, you know. And then the next time I saw them was Palm Springs and that didn't go well. So I didn't feel like giving them the gift. So I wasn't going to. Still have it.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Maybe it's just caviar. She wants to give me the shampoo, I'll give her, no, it's not caviar either.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
We are. It's been a little bit of a tougher year because, like I said, this whole thing, everything locked down in COVID. And then he was like, I was with him during lockdown. And then after that, he was pretty much working remote. So he was just traveling wherever I needed to be and doing whatever I needed to do. And then this year, in the new year, in January, he
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
That's next for you. I think we need to make a tub where the pillow is a part of the tub.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
really needed to be in Columbus. And as the year progressed, needed to spend more and more and more and more time there. And it was hard because it's not what we were used to. We got very used to being together all the time. And as much as he can get on my nerves from time to time, it is really nice. And it's like you're connected. And when we're in different places, it's tough because Hulk,
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
call me when he gets home from dinner and I'm on my way out to dinner and you know, you're on different schedules and so it's hard to even connect and catch up. So it's been tough.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Exactly. Even if we're just in the same bed at night, you know, even if we're both running and doing totally different things all day and we're just like that intertwined leg, you know, whatever it is, that little, like those connections I think are important. So it's, it is difficult, but we'll see, you know, what the next chapter brings. He's,
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Oh no, we're doing great. We're nowhere at that place. Nowhere even near that place.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Yeah, it's horrible. Because, you know, all you every parent wants to do is to protect their kids. And that's all we wanted was to protect our kids. And that's why we were, you know, very secretive about all of our problems from them. Like they really didn't. I mean, at least I like to think they didn't know they probably did at some level. And I don't know.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
The crazy thing for me is that I had always said, like, I want my kids to witness healthy relationships. And like, if my marriage isn't good, I need to just like move on and get a divorce and not, you know, let them live in that life. And I did the exact opposite when it actually happened to me.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Everyone wants a Meredith Marks bath bomb. Wow. We love that.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
And I don't really know why, you know, I'd like, I think it was kind of like, oh, we've made it this far. There's not, you know, the kids are almost out of the house, let it just whatever. And it was a really bad idea because the more you try to try to sweep things under the rug, the more they like rear their ugly heads and it just gets worse and snowballs and exacerbates itself. And
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
So I wouldn't recommend anyone following the path that I went down during that time. I don't think it was a positive way to handle things. The path I would recommend following would be our reconciliation.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Yeah, I'd love to point something out about that. That's interesting that you brought that up because you know what you're talking about. You were talking about when we were at Mary's lunch and Angie said something about the past and I said, well, if you want to go backwards, I don't think that's productive. Do you want to go backwards? I don't want to go backwards.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Why are they so hard to find, Meredith? They sold out in like a week. Let's get more. That's up to Lush. They've got to do it. I don't control the inventory. They do. You just control the demand. They're the ones with the whole factory. That's true. That's true. You just control the demand. Exactly. There's too much demand. I did my job. They sold out in like a week.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
For a few reasons. First and foremost, you saw that exact same dynamic moments earlier with Bronwyn and her prenup and nobody had a problem with her saying that. She's like, you want to talk about my prenup? We can go there. I don't think you're going to like the outcome or whatever it was, something like that. Same exact dynamic. Not a problem. It's a double standard with me, with the ladies.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
I was not threatening Angie. I was saying I don't want to go backwards. I don't think it's positive for me or for her. That's not a threat in my view. Just like in general, you don't want to live in the past. No, I don't.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
But the reality is she's the one who has threatened me in the cave in Bermuda. She flat out looked at me and said, I am threatening you. Like it couldn't be any more clear, you know? And then we see her confessionals, her like speculating and taking a hit out on my family, whatever. I think that was a joke, but my point is I'm not the ones making the threats here.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Well, maybe I should make a threat. You should be. No, I'm kidding.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
I'd rather be respected. I don't really care. I don't really care if people like me. I don't think I really want to be feared. Not like scary or bad, but like not so bad if people are a little. Feared, I'm not sure if that's the exact thing I would want. I don't think I'd want that. But respected, yes. Respected, yes.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Well, I spoke, she called. Like yesterday? No, like a couple months ago. And that's the only time I've ever communicated with her.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
It was wild. I answered the phone and it's like, you have a call from a federal penitentiary. I don't know.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Well, yeah, that's the only call I'd be getting from a federal penitentiary, at least that I'm aware of. So, yeah. So, and, you know, it's limited to 10 minutes. And the recorded voice comes on probably every three to remind you that you're on the phone with a federal penitentiary. Are you sure you want to do this? Yeah, yeah. Yeah, exactly.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
So, you know, it was a very, like, simple call, you know, because...
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Pretty much, you know, just kind of, I mean, it was really like, how's your family? What's, you know, going on? She seemed relatively upbeat and, you know, she seemed to be doing well.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
I mean, I do like gifts, but I'm not someone who will give you a huge list or whatever else. I like something that comes from someone's heart. Yeah. It's not about getting what I want. It's more about the person who's giving. Sure.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Yeah, no, I mean, I think, you know, she's serving her time and paying the restitution that she can. And I'm told that coach is assisting and paying restitution as well. So what else can you ask for?
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Yeah, I mean, I'm very hopeful that there's, you know, Ben growth. I don't know because I'm not in consistent communication with her. But from what I'm told that she's is working on herself very hard. It's interesting to me because I think a lot of people didn't understand what happened in season three and how I was able to, you know, be there for Jen and
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
and why I was able to turn my attitude around with her, especially after what we went through with Brooks and how, you know, obviously I'm very protective of Brooks. I don't think anyone would debate that. And the reality is, you know, Jen during that time had, you know, made an attempt on her life. And I went through that with my nephew at that same point in time. And it weighed very heavy on me.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
And I, I made a commitment to myself that, you know, if in fact she was innocent, then I'd stand by and, you know, help her work through that and get the help she needed at that point. And if in fact she was not, I was not, I just, she needed support. And I just, I couldn't watch that with what I had been through. And so I just let it all go.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
And that's what's so funny to me because these women are like, she He holds grudges. I hold grudges the least of anybody. Like I let everything go very, very easily. I'm pretty forgiving. And so that's really what happened. I just I said, you know, I've got you. I you know, I'm whatever happened in the past is in the past. And I wanted to make sure that she made it through the process alive.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
That was really the bottom line to me. So she and I have work to do when she gets out, if there's going to be something to move forward on. We didn't really resolve anything. We tabled it and she can, you know, show that she's grown and wants to do better and we can move on or she can show that she hasn't. I'm hopeful, you know, for the former.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Well, of course. I mean, let me ask you this. We have to believe in second chances in life. Otherwise, what is there left? What am I supposed to say? You did something that's so bad, you should go sit in the corner and just die. No, you can't.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
If she's being accountable, if she's being apologetic, if she's paying her dues, served her time and is paying her restitution and makes right on any wrongs that she had done to the people around her, her friends, What more could you ask someone for? Like, you gotta move on.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
I mean, that's not my choice, so I don't know.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
The buck stops with you. Yeah, I think it would have to be, like, kind of baby steps to see how she handles everything, you know?
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
I don't know. I think, like, you know, I think a lot of times when anyone new comes in, no one really knows what capacity they're coming in as, you know? And so, I mean, I don't think they should, like, make any kind of guarantees, but I think, like, people deserve a second chance, in my view, if they're riding the rungs.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
I think that the issue for me with Monica is that she hasn't taken accountability enough And, you know, I think that that would be a first step to anything. Whereas, I mean, Jen's had the roughest of accountability, like she's in federal prison.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
I mean, that's what I'm saying. That's why what I'm saying, I'm saying everything kind of went on hold and there's stuff to work through still. Okay. So TBD on Jen, but she's been in prison, so who knows? We have to see where that goes. But my point is, like, second chances, you know? Let's see if she can step up. I think she can.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
So what's really interesting to me with Monica is that she has publicly taken accountability for a lot of the issues that I personally had with her. She just never did it with me. But on her own podcast, I have a whole audio clip from her podcast where she was they were explaining Angie's scroll to her and she goes, oh, I did all of those things. Why is she accusing Meredith of this?
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
And so she did take accountability for it, just not to me and not at reunion and not in a way that would help move her forward. I mean, it's kind of odd to me that that's how she chose to do it, but I'm glad she did.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Yeah, that's a really good gift giver. I might not be that good.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Yeah, I mean, I think that's not true. But that's something I just would have never touched upon. You wouldn't have even gone there? Yeah, no. That would have been a hard no for me.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
kind of disappeared you know like she was around at the beginning and then I don't know what happened and why she wasn't really around I'm not sure what happened like she was I mean obviously she wasn't invited to Palm Springs so that like right narrowed it down a little there and then like the next time we see her really wasn't saw her was at camping and then she didn't go on the trip to Puerto Vallarta so I mean I guess it's really it she missed two of the trips so that kind of
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Bronwyn and Brittany, you know, I made a choice going into the season with all the newbies that I've had too many surprises in the past with newbies and that I was kind of reserving all judgment until I actually saw the full season. I had some ups and downs with both, mostly at the end. You'll see.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Well, I think we all saw me screaming like a crazy person on the van. You're recording us. You're vile and disgusting. Yeah, it was not my finest moment. But it was real. I was pretty upset. And there was other stuff that kind of went down in the same time frame that probably incited me a bit more and kind of all combined created the explosion.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
So yes, we definitely had some ups and downs. And Bronwyn was a little more of an easy resolution. I think it was pretty easy to clean up at reunion.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Very helpful. See, this is the thing. I'm always, I send out these family texts like to the whole family, extended, everybody. I'm like, what does everybody want for the holidays? I want everyone to tell me, but then I want them to do all the hard part.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Well, I went last night for the GLAAD party. I couldn't come in. I had other stuff in New York last week. She's busy. I have to pick and choose my weeks in LA.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Yeah, I think so. I think, apologize very easily, yes. Accountability, if she agrees, yes. Yes.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
I think she plays a little bit with semantics, but yes, I agree with what you're saying. I do.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
But it's hard. I mean, it's a really tough situation. First of all, I don't really fully understand the circumstances of her, you know, relationship with the kids and exactly why it is broken or somewhat broken. I think it's somewhat repaired, but I'm not sure.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
It's like, maybe that's not so nice at the end of the day. But I just like, I want to give people what they want.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Exactly. So it's tricky because, you know, you never really understand. I mean, for me, you know, there's nothing that's more important than my children. I don't know that she doesn't feel the same way. I would imagine she does. I think she's had Certain traumas that maybe have made her take actions that she regrets. It's hard to speak for somebody else.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
I mean, I think she genuinely loves her children and wants a positive relationship there. And I think, you know, that she wants to try to repair it. So I hope she does, you know.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Nothing major and nothing recent. But, you know, at the beginning, it was a little trickier. First of all, they were younger. And like, you know, you say something that you don't realize is something you're not supposed to say because they're young and sensitive, you know, and and then you feel horrible and that's a whole issue and whatever else. So. we had that.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
And then, of course, there was a lot of trolling with Brooks when we first started. And that was a little rough, but that's all fine. I think my whole family has grown to have thicker skin and we've just grown a lot closer. It's like you recognize how important family is. You recognize how important these relationships are and that you
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
really are there to support each other really are the ones who understand what's going on you know because there's a lot of elements that people can't possibly even understand how what you deal with you know how have you kind of handled involving your kids i think there's obviously with this season what mary's going through with her son i mean i haven't in the past two episodes of crying just watching the scene
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Look, I think that the message Mary sent to, you know, a lot of kids who could be in very fragile circumstances, you know, go seek help from your mother, your parents. I think it's such an important message that maybe not everyone would do that if they were in the same shoes, but I don't think you can criticize it.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
You know, I think like you're sharing something that could really help a lot of people like could save lives, you know? And so I don't think you can criticize that. You know, I think that's not fair. Like maybe it wouldn't be right for you and your personal circumstances, but we all, I think, share things because, I mean, at least I hope
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
We want to help others, you know, and we want to make things better for other people. I mean, I hope that's what we're all doing to some extent. And that's why, like with the hearing aid thing, I was irritated because I'm like, you know, I share this because there are so many people out there that have such a stigma around it. And I wanted people to feel positive and good about it.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
And so I was like, if you're making fun of it, you're taking away from the positive message I'm sending to people. And, you know, so that's why, you know, it wasn't that big of a deal, but that's why it was a big deal to me because I was, I was trying to make things better for other people by sharing my experience. And I felt like it was detracting from, the positive messages I was sending.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
And be like, we're all moms, like, we all, you know? Yeah, I mean, in theory... Yes, I do think that's true. But in reality, I didn't know anything about this until it went on social media in like September, October, whenever whenever we all read about it. So I knew nothing about it. I don't think anybody did except for Angie, as far as I know. But maybe maybe I don't know.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Oh, I reached out to her immediately when I read the news, you know, and she said, no, everything's good. This was, you know, because I didn't know if it was the way the news read. I thought it was in real time. I didn't know that it had already happened. And she said, no, no, no, everything's good. That was, you know, during filming and everything. And whatever.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
And so, you know, of course, I checked in and my nephew also offered, you know, to be of any help he could be because he went through a very similar circumstance. And yeah, but no, Mary and I had a nice little text from when I was in New York. I ran into her stylist at Saks and he actually came up at reunion randomly.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
So I was telling him about it and I texted Mary, you know, and told her that I saw him and that was it.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
I mean, it's not an Airbnb, but it is a winter ski rental. You know, I mean, whatever, Airbnb, whatever you want to call it. But yeah, I do take a winter ski rental in the winter. You know, when Seth and I filed for divorce years ago, we sold our house in Park City. It was a second home. We have not lived in Park City full time for over a decade now. We're part timers.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
And, you know, we just at that point we sold it because we thought we were getting divorced. And I actually really like doing the winter ski rental because I come in, I'm there, I leave, I don't have to think about it or worry about it. We're there five, six months out of the year. It's great.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
You're supposed to own something? I think it's creepy. Isn't it like a lifestyle choice? I think it's really creepy. Why does anyone care? We have multiple homes. We live in multiple cities.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
It's a great lifestyle. I love it. I live in hotels a lot too. It's really pretty fabulous. In fact, I prefer hotel living.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
I don't know. I've been pretty honest about it from day one. I've never said anything to the contrary. I think it's kind of fabulous. A couple months in Europe in the summer and a couple months in New York, a couple months in LA. Not so bad.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
What are your age gaps between your three? They're like two years and two and a half years apart. So they're pretty close.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Well, first of all, we're insane. Okay. Let's start there. Utah is, you know, it's interesting because we lived in Toronto for a little while shortly before we moved to Park City. And when I moved to Park City, I said Utah is culturally more different than the rest of the U.S. than Toronto was. It's very different. It's hard to explain.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
I think part of it is just the influence of the church and having such a heavy religious impact. And I don't know. It's culturally completely different than anywhere else I've ever lived. More so than Canada. I think that's why it's interesting. What's your soda drink? I don't drink soda.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
What do you mean? Whitney. She didn't have proof about it. She had somebody who played 20 questions with her and said that was proof.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
I don't think that anyone was saying Whitney was doing something wrong. So again, like you, you don't see the whole conversation, but the conversation that Lisa had with me was saying, I feel badly that this is blowing up on social media because it was, it was, The presentation was not positive for Whitney, the way it was being presented. And that was really it.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
We weren't actually discussing whether it was right or wrong or in between. We were just saying we felt badly.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
I mean, for me, I would... Look, I've seen, like, both ways, obviously. For me, I wanted everyone close together. First, because I'm two years apart from my sister, and I kind of like that dynamic as a kid. And secondly, just as, like, the parent, I mean, I think it's really hard to, like... Have all your kids out of diapers, very independent, and then go back to it again.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Oh, well, I don't think that was ever the issue because Whitney from day... This is what was weird to me. So from day one, when she first brought it up in this printer van, Whitney's like, I curate and it's on my website. And that's how this came out on social media. They found it on my own website because I said I curated it. So...
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
If she says she curated it, there's absolutely nothing wrong whatsoever with what she's doing. Like it's perfectly upfront and honest. But then why was it this whole issue of Lisa telling the blogs that she did it when she said it was from her own website to begin with? It made no sense. The whole thing made no sense to me. I was very confused.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
No one was criticizing what she was doing because she flat out said it on her own website. So how could you criticize that? Right. You know, where did you buy your bangs from?
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
I will say I went to the most insane Audrey Hepburn breakfast at Tiffany's holiday party last week. Oh my gosh. Was everyone wearing bangs? No. Actually, people didn't really dress up so much. The hostess did and a couple people did. I didn't because I had another holiday party after and I was like, I don't think I can do this, right? Especially with the way the bangs went last time.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
But it was so cute. It was so fun. It's such a good theme.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
You know, it's funny because that season I actually went to Paris for Fendi's Haute Couture show right after they released that jumpsuit. And there were at least a dozen people in there in that jumpsuit. So I don't think it's that big of a deal. I think to each his own. Wear what makes you happy. Do what you want. I don't worry about what everyone else is wearing. I worry about what I'm wearing.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
See, there you go. Are you going to get mad? No, not at all.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Oh, my God. Well, then if I'm doing it, how can it be real? Because then it's going to be fake for sure.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
You know what I'll give you on closing that you'll like? Can I do Lisa Barlow's outgoing voicemail? Because I'm obsessed.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
And I literally like sometimes my kids are like, be quiet, mom. Because I won't stop doing it. Please.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Okay. Well, thank you. I might stand here for hours now. They're like, no, you have to go. Okay. Hi, you've reached Baby Gorgeous and I'm unavailable right now to take your call because I'm at the drive-thru. John, John, tell them Easy Ice and a lemon. I need my Diet Coke because I love that.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
I just think logistically it's easier to have them a little closer in age. I think it's a nice dynamic for them to be closer in age for that. But then I see the dynamics with kids that are spread further apart, and that's kind of amazing too. I just think from the mothering standpoint, it's so much easier to have them close together. But that's what I know.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
I'm hoping to be back next year. What a humble answer. We are too.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
thank you guys for listening we thank Meredith for coming where can people follow you all that fun stuff bath bombs you want to promote oh yeah meredithmarks.com meredithmarkscaviar.com at meredithmarks on Instagram at meredithmarks0 on Twitter oh and I had like some blue sky impersonator that I can't get down off blue sky I'm the one that has like no followers and the fake one has all the followers I feel like blue sky should allow you to take over those followers
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
I just learned about it. Somebody like tweeted me and they're like, is this really you? I didn't even know anything. And I went on and I was like, oh my gosh. And then I discovered my whole cast was being, not whole, but most my cast was being impersonated. I sent a group text and they were like, what's blue sky? And I was like, you guys gotta get on there. You have people impersonating you.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
You know, I feel pretty good post-reunion. You know, I have no idea what will unfold. And, you know, obviously you're not going to see all, I don't know how many hours we were there. Like, what was it, like 15 hours or whatever? I'm making that up. It was a long time.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
It was really long. So, you know, I don't know what will be shown or not shown, but I feel like I said the things that I really needed to say. And you have to move forward. Like, that's life. Like, no one wants to sit in the same place. Yeah. I said what I needed to say. I don't know if I necessarily received everything I was hoping to receive, but it's fine. C'est la vie. We move on.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
And you take that in stride and say, okay, this is what you're willing to be accountable for or not. And I got you and I'm moving on and we'll move forward. But the capacity in which we move forward is always impacted by your ability or inability to take accountability.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
I think to me, the most important thing for the reunion was to clear something up that I've spent two years listening to the women, mainly at this point, mainly Angie, you know, to some degree still Whitney, but say that I'm responsible for these rumors about Sean and his affairs or his sexuality or whatever it is. And the reality is I never spoke about it.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Angie was told that at Opry Ski, Monica, actually you didn't see it, but Monica, when I first came over and was talking with him, Monica, I looked at Monica, I go, what is this about? I never said this to you. And she goes, you're right. I didn't, you didn't, I told you. And she said this to Angie the day it happened. And for whatever reason, you know, Angie didn't kept coming after me.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
She was told again at Greek Easter. She kept rolling with it. We cleared it up again at reunion last year. Monica has on her own podcast been very clear that it wasn't me. And Angie keeps putting it out there. And so for me, the real big difficulty with that whole thing and Sean, you know, his commentary on the podcast saying that
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
And leverage means to use to maximum advantage for those who need a dictionary. She leveraged her son means she used her son. She leveraged her son. Exact words. The reason it's so offensive to me was because it's impossible. How could I use my son to defend myself against something I never even did to begin with? So the whole thing was just insane. And it just felt like a very...
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
like vindictive behavior towards me because I didn't understand why they kept coming after me for something that they knew I didn't do from the day that it even came up.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
I think it's pretty unfair. I mean, I think that we all receive information about each other. That's 100% true. I've gotten DMs recently about people, you know, not just even my castmates. Like, I just got one this morning about a person I use for glam. And I was like, what? I mean, it's so weird. We get sent stuff all the time. There are rumors flying about absolutely everybody.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
And they all hear it. I hear it. We do. It's not like I'm doing anything. Quite frankly, I have said the least about anyone else on this cast. I have said very little. I mean, I'll talk about how I feel. I'll talk about how I'm treated by them. But I don't talk about their other stuff. I really don't. I mean, I'll listen. I can't control what's said to me. That I have no control over.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
I'm great. I'm happy to be in LA today and, you know, feeling better. I was really sick a couple days ago on my birthday, which was not a fun day to be sick.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
I don't think there's any. I mean, look, I can't speak for anyone but myself. I don't have any agreements with anyone of what to bring up or not to bring up. I'm not the one who brings stuff up generally. I'm really not. I mean, Lisa brought that to me. You know, I didn't bring it to Lisa.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
When I even mentioned, you know, let's talk about the husbands and whatever with Lisa, it was all a reaction to stuff Angie was saying about my husband that just wasn't shown. You know, she was saying horrible things at that table about my husband. That's the only reason I said, let's talk about the husbands. So, you know, it wasn't in reference. You don't throw the first stone.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
No, but I am human. I'm not saying that was an appropriate reaction. Of course, I shouldn't have said anything. But I'm a human being and I lose my temper, too, just like everybody else.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
And I didn't even say anything about her husband. She had a lot of nasty things to say about mine, though. Everything she has accused me of are things that she has actually done to me. That's the crazy part. Look at her scrawl. Those are all things she's done to me. I've done none of them to her. That's right.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Well, I'm not chasing an apology because I don't really want an apology that he doesn't want to give to me. So it's not about someone admitting that they're wrong or saying that they're sorry. It's about them genuinely feeling it. And if it's fake, it's irrelevant anyway. So it's not about that. I don't really care that much.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
I don't know. It was just like a cough and cold.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
It's more for me, if you notice, almost every single confrontation that has gone on between me and Angie, It's been her approaching me. She always has a problem with me. She's holding a grudge against me. I honestly think she feels like I stole her snowflake and that's really what the problem started from because she seemed to have an issue with me from before we ever even
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
you know, knew each other. You know, I think she feels like, well, you know, Meredith's only in Utah half the time. She's not originally from here and she wanted to be on the show from day one. And I think she felt like I took her spot and was like angry at me. I don't know. That's the only thing I can think of.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
I don't really, because I didn't know her and we had like problems from before we even knew each other. It's odd, but how... it's not about me. If she wants to move forward, we can move forward as long as she stops bringing another problem to me.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Like every time I see her, she has another problem, you know, and she's interrupting the next guy to, you know, you know, so it's up to her at this point, you know, I'm, I'm moving on everything we discussed at reunion, you know, her reactions, her, and what she says about it speaks to who she is. So if she doesn't want to take accountability, that speaks to her. That's fine. I'm still moving on.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
Well, so I spent the whole day in bed resting and then I finally got dressed and went with Seth and two of the kids. Brooks wasn't in town and there's significant others to the nines in New York. So we had a great evening. It was fun. But my day was literally in bed. I was so tired. Any bath bombs on your birthday? No, I didn't have any bath bombs on my birthday. I should have, though.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
I think that she had a problem with me, like I said, before we ever really met. And I say that for a number of reasons.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
I don't think she'd actually admit that. I think, I don't know what she would say. Maybe she would. I have no idea. I really don't know. I don't really know her at the end of the day. You know, so I don't know. Maybe she would. I don't know. I just... The reason I say it is, you know, she flat out told me that she was ripping into me with Jen before, you know, anything started.
The Viall Files
E857 Going Deeper with Meredith Marks
She basically apologized to Brooks about listening to, you know, things about him when she first met him. It was very odd. And, you know... she's had a problem from day one. So I've just sort of gone about living my life and tried to ignore it and keep moving on. And she keeps coming back with more problems. So hopefully she's ready to move on and be an adult here. I don't know.