Bravo Insider Exclusive!

Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, sweepstakes, and more!

Sign Up for Free to View
The Daily Dish The Real Housewives of Dallas

Did Mama Dee Give D'Andra Simmons the Business Because She Knew It Was in Trouble?

"I'm over here counting my money right now," The Real Housewives of Dallas mom called in to WWHL.

By Laura Rosenfeld
D’Andra Simmons on Inheriting Momma Dee’s Business

D'Andra Simmons' family business was not in a good place when The Real Housewives of Dallas entrepreneur took it over at the end of last season, unbeknownst to her. We learned in the RHOD Season 4 premiere that the company, which includes the nutrition line Ultimate Living and the skincare line Hard Night Good Morning, was three months away from going out of business.

How to Watch

Catch up on The Real Housewives of Dallas on Peacock or the Bravo App.

But did D'Andra really not know that the company was in such a bad place when she took over the reins? "I did not because my mother says that my father said, 'Don't ever show her the books,'" D'Andra explained during her appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on Wednesday night (clip above). "Well, when he passed away, she kept on with that understanding that they had."

D'Andra also told Andy Cohen that she gets a lot of people asking why she didn't do her due diligence before taking the company over. "It was kind of one of those situations where if I was in a place where I had left the company, I would have to start a job. Fine, no problem with that," she explained. "I certainly wouldn't be here. I wouldn't be doing [RHOD] because you can't film and go to a job from 8 to 6 every day, so it was a big decision. Do I make the company go with what I have, the knowledge that I have, or do I leave? I'm my mother's child, Andy, so I'm tenacious if anything."

Of course, D'Andra's mother, Dee Simmons, plays a major role in all of this drama since she was the one who had previously been running the company. We finally got to hear Mama Dee's take on the situation when she called into WWHL Wednesday night. "I'm over here counting my money right now," Mama Dee said oh-so-sassily over the phone before throwing a little shade her daughter's way.

Andy asked Mama Dee what she would say to those who speculate she gave the business to D'Andra because she knew it was on a downward trend. "I'd say I don't really give a rip," she said, before adding, "Mama Dee didn't do that. I would never do that to my daughter."

D'Andra has worked hard to save her company since taking over the business, cutting costs by, unfortunately, having to let people go, taking a major pay cut, and hiring a new branding firm to create a new website, new packaging, and more, she told The Daily Dish during an interview in September. "We have a lot of good things happening with the business right now that I can't talk about. I mean, amazing things," she said. "So it's really turned around in the last seven months."

The RHOD entrepreneur speaks more about her company's financial hardships, below.

D’Andra Simmons Defends Living on a $60K Salary
Want the latest Bravo updates? Text us for breaking news and more!