Joel Kim Booster Puts Tail Between Legs, Kisses Shannon Beador’s Ring

So, I’ve been writing a lot about Shannon Beador of The Real Housewives of Orange County lately, especially the big old mess that is her love life. Shannon is one of those pathetic cases you can’t help but root for, and she has a loyal following of people who just want her life to be normal for once. That following does not include Joel Kim Booster, apparently.

As Lainey covered for Pajiba Love over the weekend, late last week, Booster went off on Beador. The former is the host of a forthcoming dating show on Peacock, on which the latter appears, and evidently, something happened on set that left a bad taste in his mouth. He expressed his feelings in since-deleted social media posts after the show’s wrap party: “Just because you’re a pathetic drunk on a reality television show best known for a string of failed relationships and a DUI does not make you a star and does not give you license to treat the people you work with like they are subhuman. Period.”

After backlash and confusion from Beador on WWHL and elsewhere, Booster apologized so profusely that I think it deserves a full write-up:

“I’ve had a lot of time to think and process about this and I wish I could say I was not the guy who posted those statements on Instagram, but the fact is I am. I let an onset conflict cloud my judgment and accessed the darkest, ugliest part of myself and said things I don’t stand by or even believe, and I am deeply sorry that I allowed my worst self to cloud my judgment…I know Shannon has had an extraordinarily hard year as she has bravely shared and as someone who has struggles of their own that have spilled over into work, I should have had more grace for her in that moment. I am deeply sorry for the way in which I’ve made Shannon’s road toward stability more difficult, and hope that she makes it out the other side of this stronger, healthier and with the love that she deserves in her life.”

I mean, Jesus. In the record of Instagram apologies, this one is up there. Obviously, he wants to keep a job. This speaks to the power of Bravo in the television landscape for talents like Booster, for whom hosting is a great gig. Moreover, though, it speaks to the power of Shannon Beador herself, the main character of the original show in the Real Housewives franchise, Bravo’s claim to fame. Dare I say…I told you so?

P.S. I have no doubt that Shannon acted like an absolute nut on set and Booster’s feelings were justified. But it’s Shannon’s network and we’re just watching it, babes. And yes, it’s a Peacock show, not a Bravo one, but let’s all be honest with ourselves about the biggest draw on Peacock.