When Tamar Braxton was let go from “The Real” in 2016, rumors swirled that her former co-host Loni Love wrote letters to the network in an attempt to get her fired. Now the 48-year-old comedian is telling her side of the story in her memoir “I Tried to Change So You Don’t Have To.”
Loni released her book on Tuesday, June 23, and has been doing a few promo interviews. She recently stopped by “Entertainment Tonight,” where she opened up about Tamar’s departure, explaining that she was unable to publicly address the rumors when they circulated nearly four years ago.
“I think I got a bad rap, and all the girls got a bad rap. But it was really mostly on me because we weren’t allowed to speak about it and when you’re not allowed to speak about it, that means only one side of the story is out there,” she said. “Then what happens is perception from that one side becomes reality, and that’s what hurts. It’s so unfair, but people in the industry, they probably know, but outside people don’t, and that’s what is totally not fair.”
The “Soul Plane” actress says she is now able to speak about the incident and expressed the idea that Tamar’s exit overshadowed what the women on the show were trying to accomplish. The original hosts of the groundbreaking talk show are Loni Love, Jeannie Mai, Tamera Mowry-Housley, and Adrienne Bailon-Houghton, but comedian Amanda Seales joined the show as a co-host in season 6.
“You look at other talk show hosts. They get canned and contracts end all the time. … This was the first show that was like, all women of color, and it really tarnished the show, I believe. It left this cloud of suspicion on the show, and it took like a couple of seasons for us to get over that,” she explained. “The show wasn’t meant for that. The show was really meant to uplift and show diversity amongst women.”
Despite what some people believe, Loni wanted her fans to know that she was not responsible for Tamar returning to the show. She implied that the decision not to bring back Tamar came from people “all above her pay grade.” Loni hinted that she no longer has a friendship with Tamar, sharing that she has reached out to the R&B singer but has yet to receive a response.
“I just wish her the best. I think she’s a powerhouse. … But I think it’s time to really get together, and she knows that we’re not mad at her. We’re not upset, it’s just that we just want to clear the record,” she said. Loni suggested that she didn’t mind meeting with Tamar without the cameras, stressing that she just wanted to clear the air.
Amanda became Tamar’s full-time replacement in January, but the 38-year old comic announced in an Instagram Live chat that she would not be returning to the daytime talk show for season 7.
