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Draya Michele, the American social media personality and actress, joined the cast of VH1's Basketball Wives LA in 2011. She was part of the original cast and remained on the show for its first four seasons until her departure in 2015. Michele has been open about the toll that being on the show took on her mental health, and she has expressed that she does not look back on her time on the show fondly.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the person who left Basketball Wives | Draya Michele |
| Year of departure | 2015 |
| Number of seasons she appeared on the show | 4 |
| Reason for leaving | To focus on more positive things and to keep her private life off TV screens |
| Mental health impact of the show | Negative, required therapy |
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What You'll Learn
Draya Michele's mental health
Draya Michele, the American social media personality and actress, first came into the public eye as the girlfriend of entertainer Chris Brown. She joined the freshman cast of the VH1 series Basketball Wives LA in 2011, making her reality TV debut. She remained a part of the cast until her departure at the end of the show's fourth season in 2015.
Being on the show took a toll on her mental health. In an interview, Michele talked about the impact the series had on her well-being:
> "It’s not even allowed to be played anywhere that I’m at. The sound of it is traumatic for me. I had to go to therapy for that. Really grateful for the experience and I learned a lot and I’m so, so, so eternally thankful for the platform that it’s given me, but just like the way that I felt every day showing up to do that was so dark and so scary for me every day."
She further elaborated on how she was a target for the other girls on the show, who criticised her parenting and the men she was linked to, among other things.
After leaving Basketball Wives, Michele went on to have a successful career in acting and fashion design. She has appeared in various films and TV shows, including a supporting role in the 2016 film The Perfect Match. She also owns multiple fashion lines, including a swimwear line, a lifestyle clothing line, and another clothing line launched in November 2016.
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Her relationship with co-star Brandi Maxiell
Andraya "Draya" Michele Howard, an American social media personality and actress, joined the cast of VH1's Basketball Wives LA in 2011. She left the show at the end of its fourth season in 2015, citing the toll it took on her mental health.
Draya's relationship with her co-star Brandi Maxiell was strained and contentious. In one incident, Draya and Brandi had a falling out that was captured by a producer when the cameras were off. The argument started when Draya asked Brandi, "Who are you?" to which Brandi replied, "I'm a girl that had cancer and that survived it... That I save lives. That I help other people. That's who I am." Draya responded dismissively, calling Brandi's story “boring" and "whack." This incident led to a public feud between the two, with Brandi expressing her anger and disappointment in Draya's lack of empathy and respect for her cancer journey. She felt that Draya was prioritising her own past and promiscuous history over Brandi's survival story.
The feud escalated to the point where Brandi stated she was done with their friendship and wished to cut ties with Draya for good. She expressed her feelings of betrayal and anger, referring to Draya as "dirt" and "trash." This incident not only impacted their on-screen dynamic but also seemed to have permanently damaged their off-screen relationship.
Draya's comment about Brandi's cancer story being "boring" sparked widespread criticism and backlash. It's important to note that Draya's time on Basketball Wives LA was marked by similar controversies, with her being a target for the other girls on the show, who often criticised her parenting and personal life. The cumulative effect of these experiences took a toll on Draya's mental health, leading her to seek therapy after leaving the show.
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Her desire to focus on more positive things
Andraya "Draya" Michele Howard left the cast of "Basketball Wives LA" at the end of the show's fourth season in 2015. She joined the show in 2011 as part of the freshman cast.
Draya's time on the show took a toll on her mental health. She told The Shaderoom's Thembi Mawema:
> It’s not even allowed to be played anywhere that I’m at. The sound of it is traumatic for me. I had to go to therapy for that. Really grateful for the experience and I learned a lot and I’m so, so, so eternally thankful for the platform that it’s given me, but just like the way that I felt every day showing up to do that was so dark and so scary for me every day.
Draya's desire to focus on more positive things was a key factor in her decision to leave "Basketball Wives LA". She told BET:
> Reality TV is really tricky. The first two seasons of ['Basketball Wives'] were the hardest, but that’s when I enjoyed it the most. The last two seasons were the easiest, but I was just mentally over it. I don't need every single thing I do to be on TV and to be judged.
Draya also expressed regret about her time on the show, saying that she felt her participation contributed to the stereotype of "these angry Black women". She also felt that the show created a precedent for the violent reality television spats that have since become commonplace.
Since leaving "Basketball Wives LA", Draya has expanded her business, turning her swimsuit line into a million-dollar empire. She has also been spending time with the Kardashian-Jenners.
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Her regret over participating in the show
Draya Michele joined the original cast of VH1's "Basketball Wives LA" in 2011. She left the show at the end of its fourth season in 2015.
Michele has since expressed regret over her participation in "Basketball Wives". In an interview with Justin Sylvester's "Just the Sip", she admitted that she was grateful for the platform the show gave her to launch her successful swimsuit line, Mint Swim. However, she also recognised the toll it took on her mental health, stating that she found therapy helpful in processing her experience.
Michele elaborated on the stereotype of "angry Black women" perpetuated by the show, and how she felt complicit in contributing to this portrayal. She emphasised that Black women are "queens" and should not be reduced to arguing over trivial matters. Michele also highlighted the impact of violent reality television spats, which have become a familiar trope, and expressed her desire to distance herself from that narrative.
The reality star further explained how she felt targeted by the other girls on the show, who criticised various aspects of her life, including her parenting and the men she was linked to. She also mentioned that she tried to avoid the drama and walk away from escalating conversations initiated by her castmates. Despite her efforts, they continued to pursue a storyline centred on her personal life, which led to her eventual departure from the show.
Michele's experience on "Basketball Wives" served as a learning curve, highlighting the potential drawbacks of reality television and its impact on mental health.
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Her relationship with Dallas Cowboys star, Orlando Scandrick
Draya Michele, the American social media personality and actress, was in an on-again-off-again relationship with Dallas Cowboys star, Orlando Scandrick. The couple first started dating in 2013 or 2014 and got engaged in 2015. Scandrick proposed to Michele with a $400,000, 6-carat diamond ring. However, their relationship was not without its challenges, with reports of infidelity and restraining orders. In December 2019, Michele announced on Instagram that she had been single for the entire month, marking the end of her engagement to Scandrick.
Despite their issues, the couple appeared to have a strong connection and even welcomed a son together in 2016. Michele introduced Scandrick to her fans while she was still a cast member on "Basketball Wives LA", and their relationship was even chronicled on the show during its third season.
The third season of "Basketball Wives LA" captured a feud between cast member Jackie Christi's daughter, Chantel, and Michele, as they both claimed to be dating Scandrick at the same time. Scandrick denied any relationship with Chantel, and Michele stood by him.
Even after their first split in May 2015, the couple reconciled, and their engagement followed. However, their relationship continued to be tumultuous, with reports of nasty fights and restraining orders. Despite the challenges, Michele and Scandrick's relationship seemed to have a significant impact on their lives.
In an interview, Michele revealed that she was hesitant to rush into marriage due to the uncertainty of Scandrick's NFL career compared to her thriving businesses. This hesitation may have played a role in their repeated breakups and reconciliations.
Ultimately, in December 2019, Michele announced their final breakup on Instagram, marking the end of their engagement and their long-standing relationship.
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Frequently asked questions
Draya Michele left Basketball Wives in 2015, at the end of the show's fourth season.
Draya left Basketball Wives because she no longer wanted her private life displayed on TV and judged. She also felt that the show was detrimental to the perception of African-American women on television.
Draya has expressed that she felt she was wronged by the show and her co-stars, specifically Brandi Maxiell, and that she is owed an apology. She also stated that being on the show took a toll on her mental health and that she needed therapy after leaving.
