Straight outta Brooklyn (as she liked to remind everyone), Tanisha Thomas bulldozed her way through the second season of Oxygen's The Bad Girls Club with a much-used catchphrase, an in-your-face attitude, fierce pride, sincere love of fruit juice and a stint in jail that turned the dynamics of the house upside down. She may have held her anger in check - barely - on the show, but in an interview with us before the May 13 season finale and May 20 cast reunion, Tanisha finally pulled no punches.
TWoP: So let's start with the burning question on every Bad Girls Club fan's mind: What exactly does "pop off" mean? Is popping off something that you do to someone you don't like, or is it something that you want someone you don't like to do?
TT: It's basically an invitation to the other person to hit me. Where I come from, I don't believe in hitting first, so if we're yelling at each other and it's reaching that point... I don't want to punch that person, I want you to hit me first. So I say "pop off." It's an invitation for you to start the fight.
TWoP: Is this a Brooklyn thing or is this a Tanisha thing?
TT: A mixture of both. "Pop off" has been around for a long time; I just brought it back to life. It's always been one of my favorites. Ever since high school, I'd tell people to pop off, so it's something that's been there for years.
TWoP: It's become a real catchphrase now. Are people constantly coming up to you and saying it?
TT: Oh yeah! Everybody. I've been stopped by the police with my dad, who was driving. He ran a couple of red lights. They knew who I was from The Soup. It's crazy. Everybody says "pop off."
TWoP: How sick of it are you at this point?
TT: A little bit, I'm not gonna lie. I am. But it's all love. It makes me really happy to know that I've brought back life to the words "pop off." And I've put Brooklyn on the map further so I'm happy about that.
TWoP: Filming on the second season of Bad Girls Club ended back in November. What's it been like for you to watch the show at the same time as the rest of us? Is it an accurate depiction of what really went on, or did major things get lost in the editing?
TT: A lot of things got lost in the editing -- a lot of funny moments. But what I really wanted them to show was how I forgave Andrea [for blogging about the housemates] and stood up for her in the end. I thought it was ridiculous how they were harping on her. I said, "It's just a frickin' blog. Let it go. It's not the end of the world. Whatever." Andrea was weak and they just kept using her as an easy target. I was like, "Enough punishment already." That was one of the things that I thought got lost in the editing. But they didn't lie. Everything that they said happened did happen. So, hey, what are you gonna do?
TWoP: Did we see the real Tanisha on the show?
TT: Oh yeah. Towards the beginning of the show, I got a call from Darlen saying "Oh my God, that's not what happened! Oh my God, I can't believe they made you look like that!" I never complained 'cause I felt like it was me. I was a bitch in the beginning and then I was a bitch and a sweetheart mixed together. What happened is that I was always a sweetheart but I tried to kill that side of me -- that sensitive side. The psychiatrist on the show basically taught me to be in touch with my sensitive side. And when I really got in touch with it, it was a beautiful thing.
TWoP: Did you feel embarrassed by anything you did on camera? Anything you wish you could take back?
TT: Nothing. I was myself. I forgot the cameras were there, to be honest. 'Cause if I had focused on the cameras, I wouldn't have been me. You wouldn't have been able to see who I was, so I just basically blanked 'em out. I was never embarrassed about anything, even going to jail. I did something wrong, the world got to see it and that's fine.
TWoP: What about that episode in which Jennavicia, Darlen and Cordelia put that all that crap into your food and peed in the sink? What went through your head as you were sitting at home watching that?
TT: What was going through my head was "Oh my god, I really should've beat the crap out of them. All three of them." I had all these plans [for practical jokes] up my sleeve from years ago and I didn't perform any of them. Not one. Because I decided it was childish. And here they are doing stuff to my food. I couldn't believe it. I was watching in disbelief. I think that was one of the shows where my mouth stayed open for the remainder of the show because it was really crazy.
TWoP: Is Jennavecia one of the worst human beings you've ever been around? For real.
TT: I would honestly say yes and no. I would say that it's a cross between Jennavecia and Lyric. Lyric is very vindictive and very jealous and she's the type of person who would make you believe she's your friend, but she's really not. So I'd say a combination of Jennavecia and Lyric. And add to that also possibly Neveen because of the simple fact that she deserves an Oscar for her performance in playing my friend.
TWoP: Tell us more about that. You're obviously angry with her because of her behavior the night you got busted, right?
TT: That episode burned me. That episode burned me so much. I have never been so angry. You know, it's weird because I have trust issues, and I trusted Naveen. And it was like, the moment I turned my back, you chew my name like bubblegum. Why? You're so big, you're so bad, you're so outspoken. You're this Neveen that just doesn't give a crap. Why couldn't you tell me how you really felt? Why was it that you were smiling with me the entire time, and the minute I turn my back, it's like "Forget about Tanisha. Ask Tanisha. I don't care about her. It's not my fault. It's no one's fault." It really burned me, Dan. It really did. I'm really upset about it.
TWoP: The other women nicknamed Neveen and Hanna "the Hyena sisters." Were they right about them in the end?
TT: Oh yes. I felt so bad watching the last episode [the penultimate episode] because I used to attack Hanna periodically -- I don't know why they didn't show it on the show. I used to tell Hanna all the time, "You're fake. I know you're being fake. I know you're being phony. I can see it in your eyes." I always accused her of being fake. When in actuality, Hanna was crying the first night I got taken away. I don't care about what she said after. Your initial response is your real response. Hanna was crying, Darlen was sad, Cordelia was worried and Neveen, who I was supposed to be the closest to in the house? She was sleeping. She was sleeping! She was taking a nap. That was the ultimate, ultimate, ultimate betrayal to me, you know what I'm saying? I don't know what I would do if I saw Neveen today, Dan. I know I've changed since the show, but I feel so betrayed and upset by the whole thing - aw man, I can't even talk about it. My boyfriend just walked out the room shaking his head because he knows it wasn't right.
TWoP: The amazing thing is that the show stopped filming five or six months ago and you're still so fired up about this. Did watching the show bring these feelings back up or have you just been burning mad since November?
TT: Writing my blog about what happened makes me emotional. I went to jail innocently. Imagine going to jail innocently. Who the hell wants to go through that? I really did not do anything but try to break up a fight, and I went to jail innocently. Completely! And it was like the worst thing ever because they treated me like a common criminal. And I didn't do anything. Nobody wanted to hear what I had to say. And I'm not gonna lie, I was very mad. I got a lot of e-mails from people saying that the producers should've stepped in, they should've shown the tape, they should've done something. And I was upset at them, yes, I really was. But at the beginning of the show there were contracts that said they do not interfere with things when it came to the law and the police and stuff. Which is understandable. I know it's in the contract because I read that contract like 20 times, so I understand everything that's in there. So whatever, that's fine. But it was really a hard, painful thing for me to watch and I think I'll be angry about it for a very long time.
TWoP: Speaking of Hanna, she seemed to have no real personality. I'm not even sure why she's a "bad girl." What was the story with her?
TT: You know what, Dan? I wish I could tell you. Hanna and Neveen -- I've gotten e-mails from people saying that they used me as protection. They felt like they couldn't be down with the other girls and they felt like they couldn't fight me so they might as well join me. So that's what it was. She [Hanna] is a little bit on the boring side. To be honest, I don't know how she made it in to the Bad Girls house. But hey, I don't cast so that's not on me. I mean she's an alright girl. She's alright. But "bad girl"? I don't know. I don't know what makes her bad.
TWoP: So you guys aren't hanging out together now, representing Brooklyn?
TT: No! Hanna is in like the posh area of Brooklyn. I'm from the 'hood! I mean, my mom's house has definitely gone up in value because she's fixed it up and whatever; the neighborhood has definitely come up from how it used to be. But I walk through the 'hood with my head held high. I don't care if I'm a millionaire, I'll still walk through my 'hood because I love it and that's where I come from. It's Flatbush, man. It's Brooklyn all day every day till I die. I love it, no matter what. But Hanna ain't real Brooklyn, man. She's rich Brooklyn. That don't count. She's from what we like to call "Little Manhattan." That don't count. It just don't count.
TWoP: At least she has a Brooklyn accent, though.
TT: Yeah, she got the Bensonhurst accent going on. It's cute and everything like that. But at the end of the day, those girls are not made to battle, so it doesn't matter. When you need someone to rep where you come from, they gotta be strong, they gotta be down for where they come from, they gotta be ready to die for where they came from. I'm one of those people who will stand by where I come from. I have so much pride in where I come from and I don't care. I love it.
TWoP: How tense was the taping of the reunion? What went down?
TT: I can't tell you but I will say this: Y'all have seen me get upset. But then? I have never got so upset in my life. Like to the point where I got physically ill.
TWoP: But did you get physical?
TT: [Laughs] You'll have to see on May 20! I can't tell you!
TWoP: I'd love to see you reach over to Jennavecia and just rip off that lip ring of hers, you know what I mean? Because I just did not like that woman, I'm sorry.
TT: Aw, I love you, Dan. Thank you for saying that!
TWoP: What the hell was up with those two gun tattoos she had on her hips?
TT: Well, they're there for a reason. I would want to shoot my private parts too if I'd been around with Tom, Dick and Harry and whoever.
TWoP: You gotta respect yourself and I don't think she does.
TT: She does not respect herself. And it's sad because her daughter is so cute and I feel so bad for her. And she's going through custody battles and the judge saw Bad Girls Club and was like, "This is not gonna help your custody battle." Neveen brought that up on Tyra. Neveen is very... Neveen doesn't have a soul. I realized that. She does not have a soul. She's a very beautiful girl with no soul. She's very empty and hurt and abused inside. And she refuses -- I'm not gonna go into whatever, but I will say this: I came out with a lot of pain and a lot of anger. I've been through hell in my life, probably more than anybody else in the house. And it was a choice for me -- either stick with the pain and keep it buried and just go around being mad and trying to fight, or confront it and try to make my life better. And it's the same thing for Neveen. We've all been through stuff. All of us. Hanna has issues going on with her dad. Neveen has issues going on with her father, which are really serious. Because he discriminates against different types of people and he'd always been very verbally and physically abusive to her. So it really has scarred her. But Neveen, I don't know what it is. It's like she's scared to let go. She's scared to let her guard down. She's scared to get help. If I've learned one thing from the Bad Girls Club, you cannot do things on your own. It's really OK to ask for help, and it's wonderful when you do. Because I'm telling you, I haven't changed 100 percent, but I am a lot better. I actually walk away from my mom now when she starts. I was never been able to do that.
TWoP: So anger management issues were the main reason you were in the house?
TT: Yeah, I had a lot of anger issues that caused me to fight a lot. And I would argue a lot and I would just be ready. I'm not gonna lie, right now, I am so upset with what Neveen is saying about me going to jail, I would probably get into a fight if somebody really ticked me off right now. But before [that] episode, I was completely fine. But my boyfriend is trying to get me over it. He's trying to let me see that it doesn't make any sense. It's not like you have known these people all your life and they disappointed you. You were put into a house with these girls, you have no control over who got to stay in the house and you have to try and build some type of relationship with them. He's like, "At least for your part, you real and a lot of people know that." So, whatever.
TWoP: Besides yourself, who else in the house do you think changed or grew from the experience the most?
TT: I would say Darlen. You know what's weird, I hated Darlen in the beginning. Darlen called me a fat bitch the first night we got there. And I was like "Aaahhh. She don't even know me." I vowed that I was gonna be done with Darlen. But I'm so happy I gave this girl a chance. Because Darlen is honestly one of the sweetest people in the house -- and she's one of the most gangsta people. She don't care how big you are. You could be seven feet tall, 450 pounds, Darlen will fight you. I could honestly bring Darlen to Brooklyn and she will provide. Even in my part of Brooklyn.
TWoP: But wasn't she one of reasons you went to jail? Wasn't she the one who started that fight in the bar?
TT: You know what? I didn't get a chance to address this in my blog so this is exclusive to you. I would have to say no, Darlen is not the reason I went to jail. You know why? Because that girl threw that drink at her. Now if that girl had thrown that drink at me? As Neveen said in her blog, I would've put her in ICU, I really would have. But the girl threw a drink at Darlen and Darlen flew in the air like a Mexican princess on fire. And Darlen beat her behind. So I don't blame Darlen. And to see Darlen's reaction throughout the episode, I could tell she was sorry and I could tell that if she had an opportunity to switch places with me, she would have. 'Cause she's just that type of person.
TWoP: But how come none of them went up to the cops immediately and say "It wasn't Tanisha, it was me. I'm the one who was fighting"?
TT: They did, they did. But here's the thing: Darlen wasn't even there. We went out of the club separately. It was me, Hanna and Neveen. We were pushed out by some bouncers and our director was like, "Let's go, let's go." And Darlen and Cordelia went off in a whole different direction. So I didn't see them for a while. I think they didn't come up until I was already inside the cop car. And from what I understand, Darlen kept asking could she talk to them, could she tell them she was the one who was fighting and whatever. She said in one of her interviews that all she had to do was show them her boobs and they'd go on a date the day, you know? So it was unfortunate, it was unfortunate. And it wouldn't have been that bad if I hadn't seen what Neveen had said. But seeing what Neveen said really pissed me off. It really did.
TWoP: I'm curious to hear your thoughts now on Cordelia. What was her story? She seemed really, really messed up in a lot of different ways.
TT: Yeah, Cordelia's been through a lot. And I don't understand why. I mean, you're an ex-porn star, you're an ex--
TWoP: Quote, unquote "star." Quote, unquote.
TT: Yeah [laughing].
TWoP: You know what I mean? Come on.
TT: No! Listen, I've got to tell you, Dan, I don't know if you got a chance to watch that video [from Cordelia's porn past], but somebody made sure they sent me a link and I watched a piece of it and she really looked hot. She was younger, so she really looked hot. And she is a stripper and she actually can strip. She actually proved it to us. And I don't know if you saw the episode where she was beating the guy with the belt, she's a dominatrix, too! She could come to New York City and make a ton of money. I don't know what her problem is. I would think of it this way: If my major doesn't work out, I can always fall back on one of those things. But Cordelia, I think she has a lot of insecurity issues -- that's exactly what it is. She is not confident at all. I'm a bigger girl than Cordelia and I have way more confidence than she does. And when you do not have confidence, people will stomp you down and people will do what they can. They'll try you because you don't have any confidence. If Cordelia would just get confidence within herself, then she'll be fine. You know, she's always been in competition with her sister, and she's very mad that her father didn't stop her from stripping and she has a lot of issues here and there with her family and self-esteem. But if she gets over that, she'll be fine. She came through for me, as you can see from one of the last episodes. I got tons and tons of mail from people saying "I hated Cordelia, but now that she's helped you in the last episode, I love her. She's like my second favorite."
TWoP: You do have a lot of confidence and you're very secure in who you are. Do you see yourself as a role model now for some women out there?
TT: Oh boy. Dan, you'll get me in trouble. [laughs] Yes and no. Because when I do something good it's like, "Yes, follow me!" But I'm human and I'm still a bad girl, so I'm gonna mess up. Believe you me, I got black people saying to me, "You are a very bad example. You represent black women in a bad way." I did a radio interview where a guy came on said that to me and I said to him, "I'm very sorry that you feel that way, but I was not trying to represent the whole entire African-American race." I just represent Tanisha. I was being me and I'm really sorry if you guys have a problem with that. But yes, now as I've changed and come to think before I act, I would definitely say I see myself as a role model. Definitely.
TWoP: You're now a reality TV personality. You can't go back to your regular life, can you? What's for you?
TT: I'm doing real estate in the city. So I want to see where that takes me. That's not really exciting, but what's funny is that some of the clients are actually recognizing me. And I hope to make it to the big screen someday and meet a wonderful agent who will help take my career to that step where I want it to be.
TWoP: It seems now that almost everyone who is on a reality show ends up on another reality show. Is that an avenue that you want to pursue or do you want to do real acting?
TT: I really want to do real acting. It's always been my dream. It really has. So I want to get some things together and see where that goes. It's all about who's gonna say yes to me. I want the world to be ready for somebody who's not your average star. I'm not a size two to eight, I'll never, ever be. I don't have the big fake boobs although I secretly do want to get them done.
TWoP: I don't think it's much of a secret anymore.
TT: [Laughs] But, you know, I really do want to pursue acting. But hey, if another reality show presents itself and I think it's something that will be good for me, I'll definitely go for it.
TWoP: We're not going to see you on Flavor of Love, though, are we?
TT: No! You will never ever see me on anything like that. You never saw me with guys on TV. I refuse to put myself out there like that on television.
TWoP: Because you had a boyfriend while you were on Bad Girls, right?
TT: I had a boyfriend while I was on the show, right. And I'm still with him.
TWoP: And unlike some other women on the show, you're actually loyal to your man.
TT: I'm very loyal to him, yes. [Laughs]
TWoP: And I'm sure he's loyal to you, right, Tanisha? I'm sure he's scared to death of you.
TT: [Laughs] He's not scared of me but he is loyal, yes. Because he knows that I know a lot of people and they will tell me if he does something. He's alright. And if he's doing something with somebody else, I don't care, that's their business. As long as she don't come up to me and at the end of the day, as long as he don't give me anything, I'm completely fine. And as long as I don't know about it, because what I don't know will not hurt me.
TWoP: This season of Bad Girls, with this cast, has been so successful for Oxygen. If they asked you to come back to the show with the same women for a couple more months, would you do it?
TT: Same girls?
TWoP: Same girls.
TT: Oh my God. I would have to say... Wow, the same girls... No, I don't think I'd do it, not with the same girls. Actually, yes. You know, I don't run from anything. Yes. I'm not gonna promise I won't whatever, but I guess, yeah, I'd definitely do it again.
TWoP: Just keep your juice someplace else.
TT: I'll keep my juice someplace else. I'll buy juice every single day and throw it out. [Laughs]