RHOA Opinion: Is Drew Really the "Lapdog"… or Are Fans Rewriting History?

If you've spent any time on social media during this season of The Real Housewives of Atlanta (RHOA), you've probably seen one of the biggest talking points: "Drew is Porsha's lapdog." It has become one of the most repeated opinions among fans. But the more I think about it, the harder it is for me to fully agree with that narrative.

Why?

Because if we're going to call Drew a lapdog today, then we also have to be honest about what happened last season.

Last year, many viewers watched Kelli and Shamea consistently back Porsha during her conflicts with Drew. Whether it was group events, arguments, or confessionals, they rarely challenged Porsha. Instead, they often defended her position while questioning Drew's motives.

Fast forward to this season, and suddenly everything has flipped.

Now Kelli and Shamea have issues with Porsha, Drew appears to be closer to Porsha, and fans are acting like history never happened.

That doesn't sit right with me.

Reality TV Has Short Memories

One thing about reality television is that fans often judge what's happening right now instead of looking at the bigger picture.

When alliances change, opinions change overnight.

Suddenly yesterday's villain becomes today's favorite.

Yesterday's best friend becomes today's enemy.

And somehow everyone forgets how the relationships got to this point.

That's exactly what feels like it's happening on RHOA.

Didn't Kelli and Shamea Start Their Issues With Drew?

Let's be honest.

The tension between Drew and Kelli didn't just magically appear this season.

Neither did the issues between Drew and Shamea.

Those disagreements were already brewing while Porsha and Drew were going through their own problems.

At the time, many fans felt Kelli and Shamea were standing firmly behind Porsha. Whether that was because of loyalty, friendship, or simply believing Porsha's side, that's up for debate.

But the perception was clear.

Now that those same women are no longer getting along with Porsha, some viewers suddenly expect Drew to immediately switch sides.

Why?

Friendships don't work like that.

Is Drew Actually Being Loyal?

There's another way to look at this situation.

Instead of calling Drew a lapdog, maybe she's simply being loyal to the person she's currently closest to.

Reality TV often punishes loyalty depending on who it's directed toward.

If fans like the friendship, it's called loyalty.

If they don't like it, suddenly it's called being a follower.

The behavior doesn't always change.

Only the public opinion does.

The Double Standard

This is where things get interesting.

When Kelli and Shamea defended Porsha, many people called it friendship.

Now Drew defends Porsha, and suddenly she's a lapdog?

That feels like a double standard.

If we're going to criticize one person for standing beside a friend, shouldn't we apply that same criticism to everyone else?

Consistency matters.

Otherwise, it starts looking less like accountability and more like picking favorites.

Fans Love Picking Teams

Every season of RHOA, viewers naturally split into teams.

Team Porsha.

Team Drew.

Team Shamea.

Team Kelli.

Once fans choose a side, almost every conversation gets filtered through that perspective.

If your favorite housewife says something shady, it's funny.

If someone you dislike says the exact same thing, suddenly it's mean-spirited.

That's why discussions online can become so divided.

Everyone remembers the moments that support their opinion while conveniently forgetting the scenes that don't.

Nobody Is Completely Innocent

The truth is, almost everyone on this cast has played both sides at one point or another.

Friendships shift.

Alliances change.

Arguments evolve.

That's part of what keeps RHOA entertaining.

No one stays loyal forever.

No one stays enemies forever.

That's why calling one person a lapdog without acknowledging everyone else's history feels incomplete.

Drew Deserves Fair Criticism

Now, this doesn't mean Drew should never be criticized.

If fans think she's making poor decisions or blindly defending someone, they're entitled to that opinion.

But criticism should be based on what she's actually doing—not selective memory.

Let's not pretend other cast members haven't done the exact same thing in previous seasons.

Accountability should apply across the board.

Why This Storyline Is Working

Whether you love Drew, Porsha, Shamea, or Kelli, one thing is undeniable:

People are talking.

Fans are debating every episode.

Social media is full of opinions.

That's exactly what Bravo wants.

The shifting friendships, messy confrontations, and changing alliances are giving viewers something to argue about every single week.

In many ways, that's the heart of The Real Housewives of Atlanta.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, I can't fully jump on the "Drew is a lapdog" train because the same people making that argument often overlook what happened last season.

Kelli and Shamea were widely seen as standing firmly with Porsha during her issues with Drew. Now that their friendships have shifted, many fans expect everyone else to forget that history.

That's not how I see it.

You don't have to agree with every move Drew makes, but if we're going to judge loyalty, let's judge everyone by the same standard.

Reality TV is messy.

Friendships change.

Alliances fall apart.

But viewers shouldn't rewrite history just because the cast dynamics have changed.

The best conversations happen when we remember the full story—not just the latest episode.

What do you think? Is Drew being loyal, or has she crossed the line into being Porsha's lapdog? And do you think fans are holding everyone to the same standard? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and let's discuss!