- - Who Is Candiace Dillard Bassett? All About 'The Traitors' Starlet

Jessica SagerJanuary 17, 2026 at 8:30 AM

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Candiace Dillard Bassett left reality TV when she was expecting her first child, but only temporarily.

Bassett, 39, jumped ship from Real Housewives of Potomac while she was pregnant, but is back to the medium in January 2026 with The TraitorsSeason 4—and she made a splash almost immediately.

Porsha Williamsadmitted she got hoodwinked by her fellow Bravo-lebrity, while Caroline Stanbury gushed of Bassett, "Watching Candiace now, I mean, that woman is bright. Really bright and sharp, sharp as a whippet."

Get to know the singer-turned-reality starlet!

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Are Candiace and Chris still together?Real Housewives of the PotomacPhoto by Bravo on Getty Images" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/RdG3xy__jT_jKRPtPG5bwQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/aol_parade_744/e93092b32aa5c8a0658e3e0ccc2f1da2>Real Housewives of the PotomacPhoto by Bravo on Getty Images" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/RdG3xy__jT_jKRPtPG5bwQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/aol_parade_744/e93092b32aa5c8a0658e3e0ccc2f1da2 class=caas-img>Candiace Dillard Bassett and Chris Bassett in Real Housewives of the PotomacPhoto by Bravo on Getty Images

Yes, they are!

Candiace and Chris Bassett tied the knot on Aug. 11, 2018, and have been pretty blissfully happy ever since.

She celebrated their seventh anniversary with a heartfelt message alongside some throwback wedding photos on Instagram.

Real Housewives of the PotomacPhoto by Bravo on Getty Images" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/4v.kQZ72XsjO69LwOeVhfw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTE1MDM-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/aol_parade_744/a03dfed471f9635acbcf48f990acd68c>Real Housewives of the PotomacPhoto by Bravo on Getty Images" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/4v.kQZ72XsjO69LwOeVhfw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTE1MDM-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/aol_parade_744/a03dfed471f9635acbcf48f990acd68c class=caas-img>Candiace Dillard Bassett and Chris Bassett at their wedding in Real Housewives of the PotomacPhoto by Bravo on Getty Images

"Happy SEVEN YEAR Anniversary, my Swannnnn 🥹🤭," she wrote. "Seven years ago, I thought marriage would be all love and laughter—and I was right. But I never imagined how full, blessed, and downright hilarious life could be with you. Time has flown, but we? We’ve shown up for every occasion, plot twist, and adventure with grace, grit, and just the right amount of wit. We do life together better than anyone I know and I’m grateful for us😘😘😘 Here’s to seven years + forever to go."

The couple welcomed their first child, son Jett Maxwell Lee Bassett, on Oct. 3, 2024.

View this post on Instagram

Related: Everything to Know About The Traitors Season 4

Why is Candace not returning to Potomac?

Bassett simply didn't want to have to juggle too much as a new mom and a reality star.

Bassett explained to Entertainment Tonight, "I was really adamant about creating a space not just for the baby, but for me—for us—for this time in our lives. I wanted the space around us and around our child to feel peaceful and to feel free and to feel positive, without any added pressure, good, bad or indifferent from the show. I was not confident that I could have that in the space that the show exists in, currently. It was kind of a no-brainer."

Related: Carolyn Wiger Reveals the Real Reason Why She Was Banished From ‘The Traitors’ (Exclusive)

Why did Candiace Dillard leave Housewives?

Bassett told Entertainment Tonight that "90%" of her decision to exit Real Housewives of Potomac was new motherhood and wanting to relax while she was pregnant, and she has held firm to that.

"I'm just so happy and content and satisfied with how soft my pregnancy was. It was leisurely and kind and beautiful and fun and just spoiled," she told PEOPLE. "It was everything because I was literally doing whatever I wanted. Working out was so empowering, eating whatever the hell I wanted, demanding whatever food from my husband, and he was running to the store at midnight to get whatever I needed. It was amazing."

She added, "I know that I would not have had that [positive] experience if I had been going through my pregnancy, the meat of my pregnancy, which is the second trimester, which is the time where you're not sick anymore [and] your energy kind of comes back. That's the time that you can really thrive. And I would've not enjoyed it. I would've been robbed of what was the most beautiful experience of my life outside of [Jett] being born."

That said, she did reveal on her podcast in December 2025 that she'd never say never ... just never anytime soon.

"I do not have any plans to return to Potomac at this time. I say that, you never know, as someone who believes firmly in never saying never," she said. "I'm not saying it will never happen. But what I am saying is, as you all are badgering and beating down my door to come back like, yesterday, I am not having those conversations."

She added, "I am having conversations about other things and other projects and other ideas and other endeavors that I'm really looking forward to."

Related: Alan Cumming Tells All His Secrets From The Traitors

Why did Michael Darby sue Candace?Real Housewives of Potomac reunionPhoto by Bravo on Getty Images" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/pFvFFdOsH8zXpmOR5hXBGA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/aol_parade_744/7f7880fa6953b0ea9a4cbb960f7318d6>Real Housewives of Potomac reunionPhoto by Bravo on Getty Images" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/pFvFFdOsH8zXpmOR5hXBGA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/aol_parade_744/7f7880fa6953b0ea9a4cbb960f7318d6 class=caas-img>Karen Huger, Michael Darby, Ashley Darby, Andy Cohen, Gizelle Bryant and Candiace Dillard Bassett at the Real Housewives of Potomac reunionPhoto by Bravo on Getty Images

Michael Darby, estranged husband of Real Housewives of Potomac star Ashley Darby, sued Bassett over remarks she made about his sex life on the seventh season of the show.

In the lawsuit, obtained by PEOPLE, Darby's attorneys alleged that Bassett "demonstrated knowledge that her statements were salacious, imprudent, and/or would be harmful to Mr. Darby's reputation" and that the statements she made were "intentional and borne out of evident hatred and disdain [Dillard-Bassett] has for Mr. Darby." They claimed she knew that the comments would lead to Michael suffering "public scorn, hatred, humiliation, ridicule, contempt and/or embarrassment."

Bassett, for her part, didn't comment on the lawsuit until after its conclusion (more on that in a minute!).

Related: The Traitors' Porsha Williams Reveals She Knew Candiace Dillard Bassett Was a Traitor (Exclusive)

Is Michael Darby still suing Candiace?

Nope, and he can't (at least not for this).

Michael's lawsuit against Bassett was dismissed with prejudice, meaning he can no longer re-file the same claims against her. The judge in the case cited a release form that Michael signed when he agreed to be on the show as protecting her against legal repercussions.

"I am incredibly grateful to God for protecting me," Bassett said in a statement. "I am also grateful for common sense, the support of my family and my incredible legal team for helping the plaintiff to get exactly what he deserves from me: absolutely nothing."

Related: The Traitors’ Caroline Stanbury Calls Lisa Rinna an ‘Evil Genius’ (Exclusive)

Are Candiace and Monique still friends?Real Housewives of Potomac Season 5Photo by Bravo on Getty Images" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/M5rmq4y_tpbDLgUfi_GvzQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/aol_parade_744/f613e7ef889f75bd0d82d03b39f954f1>Real Housewives of Potomac Season 5Photo by Bravo on Getty Images" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/M5rmq4y_tpbDLgUfi_GvzQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/aol_parade_744/f613e7ef889f75bd0d82d03b39f954f1 class=caas-img>Candiace Dillard Bassett and Monique Samuels on Real Housewives of Potomac Season 5Photo by Bravo on Getty Images

That would be a firm no.

Bassett and Monique Samuels got into a physical fight at a winery in RHOP Season 5, leading them each to press charges against one another, though both their cases were ultimately dismissed, and Samuels left the show at the end of the season. She returned to Real Housewives of Potomac in Season 10, long after Bassett made her own exit.

Samuels and Bassett haven't been friends since their brawl.

“There was no relationship, and sometimes, moving on doesn’t mean that you have to reconcile,” Samuels said on Watch What Happens Live! With Andy Cohen in December 2025. “Sometimes, you just see people for who they are, and you see your place, and you set your boundaries, and it’s OK to not rekindle something that isn’t meant to be rekindled.”

Related: Who Is the ‘Secret Traitor’ on 'The Traitors'? The Shocking New Twist Explained

This story was originally published by Parade on Jan 17, 2026, where it first appeared in the Celebs section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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