'Basketball Wives' Season 5 Trailer: Evelyn Confronts Suzie Over Chad Headbutt Joke (VIDEO)
"Basketball Wives" season 5 will premiere on Aug. 19 and the VH1 network released a preview Monday in which fan favorite, Evelyn Lozada, appears to confront one of her co-stars over a joke made about her infamous domestic assault incident.
Newcomer Tasha Marbury, 35, will join veteran "Basketball Wives" Shaunie O'Neal, Suzie Ketcham and season two addition Tami Roman as well as Lozada in the controversial show's upcoming season. In the preview Marbury, who is the wife of ex-NBA star Stephon Marbury, ridicules Lozada during a conversation with Ketchem and Lozada is seen sporting her trademark glare during a confrontation.
"Maybe she could wear a helmet on a date?" Marbury sarcastically says to a giggling Ketcham in reference to Lozada.
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In August 2012, disgraced NFL star Chad Johnson, 35, infamously headbutted Lozada, 38, during a domestic dispute just weeks after their lavish wedding. The reality TV star sustained head injuries, which ultimately led to his arrest.
"You thought that was funny?" an enraged Lozada is seen asking Ketcham – who flippantly shrugs her shoulders in response.
The full confrontation is expected to air following the season five premiere and viewers can expect to see explosive drama as cast members seek to address grievances and adjust to a shift in friendship dynamics, according to reports.
Season four cast members Jennifer Williams, Royce Reed and Kesha Nichols were reportedly all axed after a controversial season and while Kenya Bell reportedly makes an appearance in season five, she, too, was allegedly fired, according to TMZ.com.
In 2012, the show came under fire over claims that it promotes violence and bullying. Despite assurances that violence would not be tolerated going forward, two women reportedly came to blows during a recent taping.
Ketcham, who was previously embroiled in feuds with both Lozada and Roman, reportedly tossed meatballs at Bell inside a Los Angeles restaurant. Bell, who once narrowly escaped injury after Lozada tossed a glass bottle at her, responded by lunging at the single mom and the pair began throwing punches at one another.
While producers wisely broke up the fight, the incident has raised questions about the direction in which the show is headed and whether positive change will actually be implemented as was previously promised to viewers.
After receiving widespread backlash and threats of boycott in 2012, the VH1 network insisted that it supported the idea of a "'no excessive physical confrontations' policy" on the series moving forward [because] "viewers' opinions always matter." However, judging by the meatball throwing incident, it appears that little has changed.
In a recent interview, Lozada, who was previously blasted as a bully by viewers, spoke about her dilemma in wanting to change her violent image but also wanting to please her supporters.
"I had people saying 'stay the same. I need to see all that feistiness.' I'm still going to have my little quotes; this is just who Evelyn is," Lozada told Vibe Vixen.
"If somebody is coming at me, I'm going to protect myself. It's not like I'm going to be super perfect because I was on Iyanla and now I'm Mother Mary," she continued. "It's a daily thing for me because sometimes you're tested."
