Amanda Batula and West Wilson have publicly confirmed their budding romance in the newly released trailer for the Bravo spin-off series Summer House: In the City. The show is set to premiere on May 19 on Bravo and will be available for streaming on Peacock starting May 20.
A Coy Couple's Confirmation
In the trailer, the 34-year-old reality star affectionately greets Wilson, 31, with "Hey Cutie!" to which the Show Me Something podcaster responds with his nickname for her, "Hey Mandy!" This tender moment comes despite recent speculation about Wilson's alleged involvement with their Summer House castmate Ciara Miller as recently as last month.
Navigating Complicated Dynamics
Batula announced her legal separation from husband Kyle Cooke on January 19, adding another layer of complexity to the situation. The couple addressed the growing online rumours in a joint statement released on March 31, stating: "We've seen the growing online speculation, so while this is still very new, we wanted to provide some clarity."
They elaborated: "It was never our intention to purposely hide anything. Given the complicated relationship dynamics involved and the scrutiny that comes with being on a reality show, we needed a little space to process things privately before speaking on it."
From Friendship to Romance
The statement continued: "We've shown up for each other as friends over the years, through all the highs and lows, and what's developed recently was the last thing either of us expected. Our connection grew out of a genuine, long-standing friendship, which made it especially important for us to approach this with care. As our feelings evolved, we wanted to take time to understand exactly what we were feeling."
Contradictory Claims and Public Scrutiny
This confirmation comes just one week after Wilson claimed on Watch What Happens Live that Batula was merely his "homegirl" and "friend" who is "very important" to him, adding that "they were just hanging out in New York." An audience poll during the show revealed that viewers did not want the pair to hook up.
Furthermore, on the March 9 episode of Jason Tartick's Trading Secrets podcast, Batula herself claimed: "I'm not touching any of my cast members. Love them dearly, but I'm good!"
Ongoing Marital Tensions
Batula remains technically married to Cooke, who issued her a public apology on March 26 regarding his "unacceptable" behaviour last summer, ahead of the upcoming Summer House season 10 reunion. In a preview clip, Batula, the Loverboy Inc. branding expert, warned: "We don't have a prenup. If you come for me, I'll come for you."
After the 43-year-old Loverboy Inc. CEO replied, "That would be a losing battle," Batula shot back, "Are you threatening me?"
In another heated scene, the former L'Occitane en Provence senior designer confronted Cooke: "Who was in our apartment last night while I'm asleep? Do you know how many times you've cheated on me?"
Separate Lives and Public Appearances
Despite the ongoing tensions, Batula and Cooke, who began dating in 2016, were already living separately late last year. However, they were pictured sharing an amicable hug in Manhattan last Friday, suggesting a complex and evolving dynamic between the estranged couple.
In the City Cast Lineup
The inaugural season of In the City will feature a diverse cast including:
- Lindsay Hubbard
- Danielle Olivera
- Eoin Heavey
- Andrea Denver
- Lexi Sundin
- Nick Barber
- Yvonne Najor
- Georgina Ferzil
- Whitney Fransway
- Kenny Martin
- Gavin Moseley
- Katie Arundel
The series promises to deliver the drama, romance, and reality television intrigue that fans have come to expect from the Summer House franchise, with Batula and Wilson's confirmed relationship adding a significant new storyline to the mix.
