by Gina Scarpa

 

Last night on The Real World: DC, Preston got all dressed up to head out to the gay clubs... all dressed up as a chick, that is. And you know what? He looked pretty good! Knight makes a bunch of rude, out of line comments that really offends Preston and he calls him out on it.

 

The next day, the roomies head out for a tour of the devastation left by Hurricane Katrina. It's amazing that five years later, the houses are still completely destroyed and the rebuilding process is very, very far from being complete. McKenzie was especially inspired to help build a house for a 21 year old mother and asked everyone for help but Ryan was not interested at all.

 

Knight's joking continues to offend people in the house. Without even a thought, he calls Jemmye a bitch, a ho, tells her to shut up, and demands sex from her. Ashlee is disgusted by his behavior but Jemmye is unable to stand up for herself.

 

Everyone (except Ryan) gets up nice and early to work with Habitat for Humanity and build a home for Vanette, a young mother with twin 1 year old boys. It's nice to see them get out of the house and do something good for someone else, something productive, something positive. Preston was upset that he got in the way more than helped and wasn't very good with power tools. Jemmye tries to reassure him that he's still a man (which he is) but Knight makes fun of him and makes him feel worse.

 

Knight's jerk behavior continues later that night at the bar, when he repeatedly ignores Jemmye in favor of McKenzie and says really hurtful things to her. Sahar decides that she's had enough of his behavior and goes completely off on him, making fun of his appearance and maturity level. He fires back by making fun of her because her boyfriend cheated on her back home - and that, my friends, would be going too far.

 

After hanging out with Preston, and talking some things out, Knight decides to apologize to Sahar but she's not having it with him.  He pleads a little bit more and she decides to let it go and move forward in her friendship with him.

 

Back at Habitat for Humanity, Preston decides to give it another go and try to be a productive member of the group.  He's really one of the most interesting people on the show.  It's clear he's changing and growing as a person and real about who he is.

 

Knight rudely calls for Jemmye at the house and McKenzie tries to convince her to stop the verbal abuse.  Instead of confronting him, she walks away over and over.  The roomies decide that they can't continue to fight her battle for her if she won't stand up for herself.  How do you help someone who doesn't want help?

 

Instead of telling him that she doesn't like his behavior, Jemmye tells Knight that Eric and McKenzie talk to her like she's worthless.  He goes to them, upset that they would say that.  He insists that he respects women.  I think I speak for all of us when I say ......

 

Jemmye deals with things by heading to a domestic violence shelter to volunteer along with Ashlee.  As the volunteer coordinator explains how things work at the shelter, Jemmye gets emotional and the woman offers to help her deal with her issues.  Hopefully, she takes a step in the right direction - away from abusive guys and towards her own healing process.

 

The Real World: DC airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on Fox.

 

(Image courtesy of Fox)

 

Follow Gina at twitter.com/ginascarpa

 

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