RHOA: Why Marlo Hampton’s rags to riches story is her path to redemption

While Marlo Hampton clearly took home the Season 14 Real Housewives of Atlanta drama queen award, viewers got to know a little bit more about the self-proclaimed fashionista both during the season and in the first two parts of the reunion show.

After a season full of bickering and back-and-forth with castmates Kandi Burruss and Kenya Moore, the backstory for Hampton this season was her as a foster mother of her two nephews.  After both Burruss and Moore called her out on kicking them out saying she needed a break, RHOA viewers got to see a more vulnerable Marlo.

That vulnerability was further explored during Part 1 of the Real Housewives of Atlanta reunion in which Hampton opened about her childhood.  Much of her tears came when she opened up about her relationship with her mom and the difficulty of their connection, which struck an emotional chord amongst host Andy Cohen, her castmates and viewers.

Real Housewives of Atlanta new peach Marlo Hampton isn’t using her past as an excuse

While Hampton herself said her past and journey and life doesn’t excuse her drama on the show, it does add some clarity as to why she is the way she is.  Taking to Instagram, Marlo Hampton thanked fans for reaching out to support her after she revealed something so personal on the RHOA reunion.

In her Instagram post, she writes:

"“I am not making excuses, however in sharing who I am, where I come from, and what I have been through, hopefully you understand me more AND I help others who are battling issues from their childhood in the process.  We are all a work in progress.”"

While there is only one “Marlo Patrice Hampton” as she went on to state in another Instagram post, there are many who have walked in the same shoes as Hampton.  There are many women and men who have grown up in a roster care system feeling unwanted, unloved, and searching for their place in the world.  As Marlo opened up further in Part 2 of the Real Housewives of Atlanta reunion, her battle with finding her place in the world led to a lot of her anger but also contributed to her motivation in finding success.

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But, in revealing her traumatic childhood, did Marlo Hampton find some common ground with Kenya Moore, who went through a similar path with her mother?

The answer is no as Moore was the one person on the stage who wasn’t impacted by Hampton’s story.  In fact, Moore referenced Marlo as a sociopath who is now trying to play the victim.

Of course, there is no love loss between these two women who have called each other every name in the book, but come on Kenya is there any compassion for someone you once called your friend?

The answer to that also seems to be no as Moore brought up Hampton being fake and not even using her real name.  She also brought up Marlo’s incarceration in which the Real Housewives of Atlanta star went on to explain.  So, while viewers or at least some viewers can and will relate to Marlo’s journey and understand her actions, Moore is one who won’t buy it and she has every right not to.

However, if Hampton is truthful about her childhood and her tears are telling her story, then her peach does have relevance on the show, especially if her role as a foster parent continues into another season.  In all, redemption may be a little much, but understanding of who Marlo Hampton is has stolen the spotlight through her vulnerability.

But, as long as Moore is part of the Real Housewives of Atlanta cast, there will be shade between these two women even through Hampton appears ready to give the friendship another chance.