RHOBH: Erika Jayne Advises Crystal Kung Minkoff to ‘Take Laxatives’ Amid Bulimia Battle!

Crystal Kung Minkoff opened up about her eating disorder on Wednesday’s episode of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills — and received a surprising bit of advice from co-star, Erika Jayne.

Crystal candidly spoke to the women about her struggle after posting about it on Instagram. She initially opened up to Diana Jenkins and Kyle Richards after a charity luncheon held in Kyle’s home. Kyle, 53, asked her co-star if she felt her issues with food stemmed from a need for control or for appearance. 

“I think definitely it’s control. I don’t think it’s an appearance thing. It’s more of an internal feeling,” Crystal explained. 

The 39-year-old reality star added that the holiday season, the time period the episode was filmed, often presented a unique challenge as gatherings often revolved around food. 

“I don’t binge,” Crystal replied after Kyle asked if she was currently binge eating. 

Kyle asked Crystal if she purged after eating, which Crystal called a “hard question.” Kyle replied that her question stemmed from personal experience, as she confessed to her own struggle with anorexia during a scene filmed in 2018. The reality star shared at the time that her weight dropped to 99 pounds, during the difficult period.

Kyle pointed out that before social media, eating disorders were kept hush-hush.

“So, Crystal posting this on social media, to me, it really seems like a cry for help,” Kyle said, in a confessional spot.

Crystal shared that her particular struggle involved a gut feeling of “over-consuming” and “obsessing” over everything she eats. 

The Bravo star explained in an emotional interview that her problem started when she was 11 years old. Crystal added that her height and feeling different from those around her as a minority led to her issues. She shared that her worst fear was passing on the disorder to her children.

“It’s just an ongoing battle,” Crystal said. 

She later told Kyle and Diana—“Physically being in my body sucks.”

Diana praised her co-star for her transparency, and Kyle agreed.

“Opening up and talking about this on Instagram actually can be a good thing if she seeks help,” Kyle said.

Later in the episode, during a holiday party hosted by Diana Jenkins, Lisa Rinna, Garcelle Beauvais, and Erika Jayne rejoined the group after being sidelined with Covid. Crystal’s personal struggle came up again after she admitted that the holiday season presented a challenge. 

“I’m going out every night and there’s just more food,” she said.

“I’m going to be really ignorant for a second,” Erika asked. “Is it like you eat it and feel guilty, or you deny yourself eating it? I’m just curious.” 

“I eat it and feel bad,” Crystal responded. “I want to get rid of it. Like, I can’t be with it.”

“Well I always think, take laxatives and get rid of it,” Erika said. 

“A laxative?” Garcelle remarked in a confessional. “She has an eating disorder! Erika is not a doctor and you don’t prescribe laxatives to someone with an eating disorder. It’s really the most inappropriate thing at the most inappropriate time.”

Erika went on to ask Crystal about how she feels when she eats, and later when she throws the food up. Crystal explained that she initially enjoys food but later experiences guilt. 

“It’s like a relief because it’s out,” Crystal said. 

Erika called Crystal’s perspective “gross,” noting that she would rather “poop [the food] out.”

Crystal questioned Erika’s input in a confessional spot, wondering if  “a couple too many drinks” were to blame. 

Crystal admitted that she needed to seek treatment, commenting—”I need to. It’s time.”

As the episode concluded, a waiter brought out a tray of chicken tenders. 

Erika remarked—”You can’t have this! It’s a chicken tender!” as Crystal approached the food. 

Crystal took to Instagram Wednesday to further address her eating disorder.  

“Tonight, I begin to open up about my eating disorder. While painful in the experience and likely reliving it, it’s something I am not ashamed of nor believe defines who I am. It’s a part of me; a living challenge I face moment to moment. If you are also struggling, please remember, you do not have to recover alone. Whether you reach out to a family member, friend, teacher, coach, mentor, coworker, professional, hotline, or anyone else you feel comfortable talking with, support is available,” she wrote.

“Sending love to anyone who is suffering from an eating disorder or supporting someone who is struggling. Keep fighting,” Crystal added, in a separate post. 

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills airs on Wednesdays at 8 pm, ET, on Bravo.

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