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Credit: Janet Mayer/Startraksphoto, Abaca Press/INSTARimages

Erika Jayne is explaining why she suggested that Sutton Stracke doesn’t showcase her real life on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

After she accused both Sutton, 53, and Garcelle Beauvais, 58, of failing to open themselves up to the cameras, Erika, 53, revealed if she believes the entire cast is held to the same standard as she also addressed her ongoing legal drama, her friendships with her castmates, and her upcoming return to Broadway‘s Chicago.

“Every woman has to do what’s right for them. I was in a unique position where everything was out there and so I kind of feel like, if I went through it, other people can too,” Erika shared on the January 7 episode of New York Live, reflecting on her claim against Sutton.

That said, she does feel that the ladies are “of course” held to the same standard when it comes to what they reveal on camera.

“[But] each woman’s journey on the show is different so it’s hard. It’s hard to say,” she admitted.

In recent years, Erika has gone through the trenches on RHOBH, mainly due to the legal ramifications she faced amid her split from estranged husband Thomas Girardi, 85, who is believed to have stolen millions from former clients of his now-defunct law firm, Girardi Keese. However, on season 14, she’s been getting a bit of a break.

“It’s nice to be somewhat on the other side of that very heavy thing,” she noted, adding that it has been “lovely” for fans to see her “rebuild.”

“It’s refreshing … It’s been a nice moment. [I’m] starting completely over and it feels good,” she shared.

After nine years on the show, Erika said she’s definitely formed deep relationships with her co-stars.

“It’s a unique experience in that we’re sharing our lives with each other and on television so it’s different friendships and they bind a little bit deeper,” she explained. “You really can’t talk about it unless you’ve been through it together.”

As for her upcoming return to Broadway as Roxie Hart in Chicago, Erika said she begins her new run on January 20 and will continue on with performances through February 9.

“It’s exactly five years to the day that I opened and now I’m back … It’s a completely different Erika because I’ve gone through a lot the last five years and I think that when you deliver some of these lines, the monologue hits a little differently. She’s got a lot of dirt under her nails,” Erika admitted.

Also on the episode, Erika addressed her new podcast with Teddi Mellencamp, 43, Diamonds in the Rough.

“So I stepped in to help recap [The Real Housewives of Orange County] and then Teddi and I had so much fun that we decided we’d keep the conversation going and we had Diamonds in the Rough and we cover things happening in our lives. And it’s a nice conversation between friends.”

Live Viewing Thread – This is also the living viewing thread for tonight’s new episode of the RHOBH season 14. Feel free to chat and comment below as the episode airs on Bravo at 8/7c.