During the “Belle Collective” season premiere, Marie’s attempt to address concerns about Shante quickly unraveled when Tambra refused to continue the conversation. Meanwhile, Kerri’s decision to partner with Latrice for an event sparked questions about loyalty and led to multiple confrontations within the group.
Here are the highlights for “Under the Influencer.”
Shante defends herself as questions about rumors continue.
The season premiere begins with Tambra stepping away from Marie’s gathering; Kerri tried to convince her to stay and address the situation directly. Tambra refused, saying she felt people were being careless with her reputation. She said, “Everything cannot get fixed over wine and food and drinks. No, it’s not an easy fix like that, at least not for me, not when you’re playing with my name.”
Once the conversation resumed, the focus shifted back to allegations that Shante had been speaking negatively about Lateshia. Shante strongly denied the claims and insisted she would never discuss Lateshia with people she believed were against her. She said, “I will never sit at Taste and talk about Lateshia, because let’s be real, ever since she started the collective, she and Latrice have been arguing, making up, breaking up, so why would I be at Taste talking to her enemy about her?”
Lateshia said the accusations did not align with the friendship she had built with Shante. She explained that she welcomed Shante into her circle because she trusted her. Shante then said it was frustrating to watch Lateshia take blame for situations she did not create.
The conversation later turned to whether Shante’s presence had contributed to the group’s ongoing problems. Shante rejected that idea and argued the women already had enough issues among themselves. She said, “Y’all don’t need me to start drama. Y’all got situations where y’all don’t like each other.”
Lateshia agreed that the group’s problems did not start with Shante. She challenged the women to be consistent when deciding who should and should not be accepted into the collective. According to Lateshia, everyone should be held to the same standards if the group hopes to move forward.
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Marie questions Kerri’s loyalty during a discussion about her upcoming event.
Next, Kerri met with Lateshia and Marie to discuss an upcoming event called The Creator Collective. She explained that she partnered with Latrice and a national brand to create an opportunity for local women to compete for a brand ambassador position. Kerri said she was excited to use her platform to help other women.
Marie immediately questioned why Kerri chose to work with Latrice instead of Lateshia. She pointed out that Lateshia brought Kerri into the collective and suggested the partnership sent the wrong message. Marie asked, “You chose Latrice to collaborate with over Lateshia, and she brought you into the sisterhood?”
Kerri disagreed and explained that the collaboration stemmed from previous business conversations. She questioned whether she was expected to limit her professional partnerships to members of the collective. Kerri asked, “Am I always supposed to partner with you guys? Because we partnered on So Warm.”
Lateshia admitted the situation looked messy even if Kerri had good intentions. She said she could understand why some people questioned the optics of the partnership. Kerri maintained that business decisions should not be viewed as personal attacks.
Marie remained unconvinced and argued that Kerri’s actions revealed her loyalties. She said, “Girl, you have picked a side. You picked Latrice; you chose Latrice over Lateshia. It is what it is.” The discussion ended without a resolution, highlighting the growing distrust within the group.
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Tambra receives support from Selena and Latrice after her clash with Shante.
After deciding not to attend the gathering, Tambra meets with Selena and Latrice to discuss what happened. She said she had already made it clear that she would not participate if Shante was involved. Tambra explained that she prayed about the situation and felt staying away was best for her peace of mind.
The women then discussed the confrontation between Tambra and Shante. Tambra questioned why Shante had become involved in matters related to the collective and said her presence often intensified conflict. She said, “She is such a non-factor to me, but she causes the most issue.”
Selena agreed but argued that too much attention was being given to people outside the collective rather than addressing the group’s core issues. She questioned whether some friendships had become dependent on drama rather than accountability. According to Selena, the women need to focus on repairing their own relationships first.
Tambra became emotional while reflecting on the support Latrice provided during a difficult period in her life. She recalled receiving consistent phone calls from Latrice after her pregnancy and while her father was hospitalized. Tambra said, “Latrice was the only Belle that called me every single day, and I appreciate you for that.”
Latrice returned the compliment, describing Tambra as one of her most loyal friends. She said, “Tambra is the definition of a real friend.” The women agreed that genuine friendship has become increasingly important as tensions continue to rise within the collective.
The conversation ended on a hopeful note. Selena encouraged the group to focus on rebuilding trust and strengthening the friendships that brought them together in the first place. She said, “Let’s work on getting our friend group back to what it was, and building it, and making it even stronger than it was before.”
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Kerri and Latrice discuss business as tensions within the collective continue.
Later, Kerri visited Latrice to finalize plans for The Creator Collective. The women reviewed event details and discussed their hopes for creating opportunities for aspiring influencers. Kerri said she wanted the event to help someone take the next step in building a successful brand.
During the conversation, Kerri admitted she was still frustrated by the criticism she received from Lateshia and Marie. She said she did not understand why anyone would question her decision to collaborate with Latrice. Kerri said, “Girl questioning me on why I’m having an event with you, and I’m like, I ain’t gotta answer to nobody.”
Latrice agreed and questioned why supporting one another’s businesses had become controversial. She argued that collaboration should be encouraged rather than criticized. Latrice asked, “Is this not what the collective supposed to be about, supporting each other?”
The discussion later shifted to Marie’s concerns about loyalty. Kerri said she felt unfairly judged and believed people were making assumptions about her motives. She added, “This whole situation of questioning my loyalties, it just feels stale, and this kind of cattiness from Marie is really disappointing.”
Latrice said the ongoing drama often distracts the women from more important goals. Despite the tension surrounding the event, both women remained committed to making it a success. They agreed that business opportunities should not be overshadowed by personal conflicts.
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Kerri defends herself after questions about her loyalty resurface.
Kerri’s Creator Collective event appeared to be a success, but the celebration quickly gave way to another tense discussion. As the women gathered, Latrice raised concerns she had heard about people questioning her partnership with Kerri. She said she did not understand why the collaboration had become such a point of contention.
Lateshia clarified that her concerns were never about the event itself. Instead, she said certain actions can create unnecessary divisions within the group. Lateshia explained, “I don’t care if you host Sweet the Flip Stones. I don’t care. For me, it was like, “it’s collaboration over competition.” Congratulations to what you guys are doing.”
The conversation intensified when Kerri accused some of the women of unfairly labeling her as dishonest and inconsistent. Frustrated by the criticism, she said, “I’ve been nice, composed, professional all night. Now I got these Belles sitting up here trying to label me as a flip-flopper and a liar.”
Lateshia acknowledged that she did not believe Kerri intentionally lied. However, she said changing details and conflicting accounts often create confusion. Kerri maintained that she has always acted with good intentions and wants the group to succeed.
Although the disagreement remained unresolved, the women eventually defused the situation. Kerri made it clear she would not allow the conflict to overshadow the event’s success. The episode ended with several relationships still strained and major questions about trust remaining unanswered.
What are your thoughts about the season premiere?
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