Here's Why Eboni K. Williams Is Taking a Break from Social Media

Eboni K. Williams is taking a break from social media.

The Real Housewives of New York City cast member announced her hiatus in an Instagram Live video on June 1 in advance of Tuesday night's new episode of RHONY. "Love ya’ll but imma see y’all in a minute," Eboni captioned the video, along with "#MentalHealth."

Eboni went more in-depth about her decision to step away from social media in the video. "I'm on live, and I'm just coming to you from a really vulnerable place, so bear with me. I want to let you know that tonight, after tonight's episode, I'm not gonna be saying goodbye, but I'm gonna be saying see you later by way of social media for about two weeks," she explained. "Tonight's episode and next week's episode are really intense and really important. I really want to stress that they're really important episodes, y'all. And I want you to lean into them, I want you to watch them, and I want some of y'all to watch them multiple times. I've seen, I think, tonight will be the fourth time I'm seeing tonight's episode. So yeah, do that. Lean into tonight and next week's episode, in particular." 

She went on to say that she has felt a lot of support in her inaugural season of RHONY, which, given the state of the world at the time in which it was filmed, has been different from every other season before it. "And stay with us throughout the rest of the season because as I've said on Instagram posts recently, this season is different, yeah. For those of you saying it, it's different this season. You're right. We're in a pandemic, we're in the middle of the most dynamic call to action around racial reconciliation, certainly in our generation, and we're in the heartbeat of it all in New York City," she said. "So we're doing a heavy lift here, and I'm not doing it by myself; I'm doing it with my castmates and with the support of our network. And with the support of many of y'all. I mean, I got on here two seconds ago, there's almost 500 people here. So I do feel the love. I want you all to know that. I see you, and I know that you see me."

Eboni said that she hopes viewers will continue the conversation around RHONY during her absence from social media. "But the reason I'm taking this social media break for the next two weeks is I want to leave y'all to yourselves to have discussion and debate and conversation around what you're gonna see tonight, you know, what you're gonna see next week," she shared before citing Naomi Osaka recently opening up about her mental health while announcing her decision to withdraw from the French Open. "And I guess I'm gonna pull a Naomi Osaka and pull back to protect my peace, because I know a lot of that conversation and discussion is gonna be rich and dynamic and important and productive."

However, Eboni said that she also knows not all of the discussion will be as productive and will be more of the trolling variety. "I'm not here for it. And I won't be a part of it. And I won't avail myself to it. So I'm gonna take a little break, a little beat. Work on my prayer, work on my situation spiritually. And I will be back. And when I come back in a couple weeks after next week's episode, I look forward to engaging with y'all as I always have and always welcome, debate and conversation and discussion and connection. It's my life's work. Y'all know that," Eboni said. "It's not about who's right or wrong. This ain't about Team Eboni or Team fill in the blank other Housewife. That's bulls--t. I want y'all to reject the knee-jerk reaction y'all have around that. This is about leaning in, listening, making space for the ability to sit with someone else's pain, even when you don't understand it."

Eboni went on to preview that what's happening in the latest episodes of RHONY will set the stage for the group's dynamic this season. "Watch the episode, sit with it, talk about it amongst your friends, your children, your family, your significant others. Your sisters. This is a show ultimately about f--king sisterhood, y'all," she said. "And I will say, spoiler alert, what happens tonight and what happens on next week's episode is the foundational bedrock to an ability of me and this group of women to develop a true sisterhood. And if you believe in authenticity of relationship and shared humanity of sisterhood, this is what the f--k we're talking about."

Eboni then gave a shout-out to Leah McSweeney and her daughter, Kier, who just celebrated her 14th birthday. She also showed her support for the LGBTQ+ community to mark the beginning of June's Pride month. "So in love with y'all and everything you've fought for and stood for," Eboni said. "And I just look forward to being the best ally and support and co-conspirator of your liberation I can be."

She ended her message by commemorating the 100th anniversary of the race massacre in Tulsa, Oklahoma this week, recalling the story of a lawyer who, after his law firm in the Greenwood neighborhood was burned down in that 1921 tragedy, set up a tent the very next day and continued to practice law. "So there's nothing that I can't do, there's nothing that my people can't do, and there's nothing that each and every one of you can't do when we put our hearts and minds to it," Eboni said. "I love y'all. I'm gonna take a break. I will see you in two weeks."

Married to Medicine's Dr. Simone Whitmore applauded Eboni's video in the comments section of the Instagram post. "Grown folk conversation. Some might get it. Some never will," she wrote. "Keep moving onward [and] upward."

Leah praised Eboni's decision to step back from social media in the comments, as well as in a post on her own Instagram. She also showed her gratitude to Eboni for being there for her in the June 1 episode of RHONY. "Thank you for holding me, standing up for me and being there for me in every way," Leah captioned a photo of herself and Eboni on Instagram on June 1. "You are a gem. ILSYM [I love you so much]. No one could ever!"