Amanda Batula said she was ready to return to normalcy. She meant it literally.
Hours after posting her Instagram Story apology on Friday, Batula and West Wilson were photographed together at Blind Tiger Ale House in New York City. Deuxmoi shared the image, though it is unclear whether the two were alone or with a group. The tip accompanying the image read: “west and amanda at blind tiger, she’s trying to hide under a scarf.”
She warned people this was coming. “If you see me out or posting online, please know that this still weighs very heavily on me,” she wrote in the apology. “I’m not ignoring what’s happened or what’s unfolded.” Apparently, normalcy, in this case, means dinner with your controversial boyfriend on the same day you issue a public apology — which, to be fair, she didn’t say it wouldn’t. The scarf, apparently, was the compromise.
The Comments Said Everything
The Deuxmoi post racked up 15.9K likes in 12 hours. The comments were not sympathetic.
@rachealthompson29, with 7,008 likes: “Posted a sorry statement so she could go to the bar 🙏”
@ashley.dianne16, with 3,815 likes: “Even tom sandoval didn’t double down this much lol”
@bravobreakingnews: “Literally just burst out laughing.”
@tthasage: “Musty 1 & Musty 2.”
The top comment is essentially the internet’s unified read on the timeline of today’s events.
The Location Is Not Incidental
Blind Tiger is not a random choice. It is the exact location where the first leaked photo of Amanda and West surfaced by @brav0lady. A February 22 image shows the two being “extremely flirty,” touching each other’s legs at the bar, with a second source confirming West “was straddling her while she stroked his face.” That photo became one of the earliest pieces of evidence fans used to build the relationship’s timeline.
She returned to the scene. With a scarf. Returning to Blind Tiger on the day of the apology is either completely unconscious or extremely unbothered. Neither reading is neutral.
What It Means
Amanda’s apology was carefully worded. She expressed remorse. She confirmed the reunion. She said the fallout “weighs very heavily” on her. Then she went out.
That is, genuinely, what she said she was going to do — return to some version of a normal life while the weight of the situation remains. The internet’s reaction to the sighting suggests not everyone read the apology with that nuance intact.
Both Amanda and West have confirmed they will attend the “Summer House” Season 10 reunion, filming within the next couple of weeks. Ciara Miller will be there too.
“Summer House” Season 10 airs on Tuesdays at 8/7c on Bravo and streams on Peacock.
UPDATE
UPDATE: The evening did not end at Blind Tiger. Deuxmoi posted a second set of sightings Friday night confirming Amanda and West capped off the night with dinner at Emmett’s on Grove followed by drinks at Barrow Street Ale House. The full three-venue itinerary is now documented.
Image credit: Amanda Batula/Instagram
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