Tamar Braxton has responded after that viral Essence Fest moment where Monica ignored her and Kandi Burruss offered a polite hello then rolled her eyes once Tamar walked off — the clip The Neighborhood Talk reposted with Duff The Brand captioning “it’s Candy rolling her eyes for me.” Kandi doubled down on Instagram in the same outfit: “giving side eye while keeping it classy.” I told y’all in yesterday’s breakdown that Tamar would address it in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 — and she did, before deleting the post. Here’s the clapback, the comment-section chaos, and why I still don’t blame Kandi for keeping that energy.

She Posted the Receipts — Then Deleted Them Like They Never Happened

Take a look at what Tamar dropped before she scrubbed it from her page — shout out to the internet for keeping screenshots. She posted a carousel from the Essence Fest weekend with a caption that opened strong: she has “the number one movie of the summer,” her Dinner with Tamar tour is almost sold out, and she has “amazing iconic friends who love me for real.” The comment section immediately asked what movie — because same — and side-eyed the “friends who love me for real” line when Monica and Kandi were literally in the frame she was subtweeting. Tiny, who used to be close with Tamar, chimed on Kandi’s photo. Toya Johnson chimed too. Just saying. Tamar also wrote she’d “be nice to the devil cuz God is so good to me,” pinned a comment calling Kandi and Monica out for “standing on business,” and leaned into victim energy hard — even though, let’s be honest, she’s the one who reignited this by going on Nene Leaks’ podcast talking about Kandi again. I’m not surprised she deleted it. That’s very on-brand when the ratio isn’t going your way.

“Kandi and Monica stood on business.”

Let’s Rewind — Because Tamar Started This Round on Nene’s Couch

Here’s the thing — I did a whole video yesterday walking through the history, but the freshest fuel is what Tamar said on Nene’s YouTube show while promoting Queen’s Court energy all over again. Nene asked straight up: “You and Kandi. What’s your problem?” Tamar looked into the camera like Kandi was watching and said they don’t have an issue, they’re not jealous, they celebrate her success — but Kandi “got to be a better person” because it’s not fair to fans who cheerlead for her while she’s “doing things behind the scenes.” She claimed she apologized fifteen times in one conversation. Meanwhile Monica never did a back-and-forth online — she blocked Tamar years ago after an unfollow spree Tamar admits was emotional, and she’s kept that same icy in-public energy ever since. Brandy and Monica made millions on the Boy Is Mine tour and will put drama aside for the check. Tamar? She’ll do a podcast tour instead. I don’t blame Kandi for holding a grudge because how many times have we thought they mended on Celebrity Big Brother only for Tamar to pop up somewhere with a new allegation?

The Stepfather Movie Flex Is… a Choice

So the “number one movie of the summer” reveal landed when commenters figured it out — The Stepfather to Be, or whatever title variation she’s promoting. Okay. I thought she said she was going back to her farm and staying there. Apparently not. Tamar pinned Marisha calling the crew “mean girls of Atlanta” and telling Tamar to “tell him to sing a note” — shade at Monica and Kandi’s vocals while positioning herself as the talent. Cyrus Mooney in her comments said you can’t slander someone’s name and expect them to kick it with you at Essence Fest. That’s the read. Freaky Marco said Kandi and Monica stood on business — in Tamar’s own comment section. When your clapback gets clapped back under your post, that’s not a W. Kandi didn’t name Tamar. She posted a photo and a caption. Tamar came with a whole monologue, a pinned fan, and a deleted archive — and still ended up looking like the person who can’t let a viral moment die without making herself the main character.

Of Course She’s Going to Play Victim — Did Anybody Doubt That?

I’m keeping an open mind about what exactly Tamar said in that yellow dress at Essence Fest, but Kandi’s response was classy-petty perfection and Monica’s silence louder than any diss track. Tamar’s pattern: public beef with everybody, tell on yourself mid-denial (“I’m not looking for attention”), then frame the reaction as persecution when the internet keeps receipts. She blocked me on TikTok and X but not Instagram — I’ll be watching if she reposts. Do you think Tamar’s clapback landed, or did she prove exactly why Kandi rolled her eyes? And is Monica wrong for never unblocking her? Empire After Dark returns to The Green Room 42 on September 25. Let’s continue this in the comments. Here we go.

Disclaimer: This post is based on publicly available information and credited sources. All allegations are unproven