It's supposed to be a TV series about Los Angeles' biggest and most beautiful homes - but the people selling them often steal the show. And the latest episodes of Netflix reality series Selling Sunset, now in its ninth season, have started a debate about how to deal with a friend's 'toxic' partner.
Two stars of the programme - real estate agents Chrishell Stause and Emma Hernan - have been feuding on and off-camera over Emma's boyfriend Blake Davis, who Chrishell dislikes.
It boiled over during an end-of-season reunion and led to online debates about how, or even whether, you can stay friends with someone whose partner you dislike.
We've spoken to a woman with first-hand experience of that dilemma and two relationship experts about what to do in this tricky situation.
Friends falling out
In the show, Stause, 44, says she's never approved of Hernan's relationship with property developer Davis. She claims he 'love-bombed' Hernan early in the relationship and that there were 'huge red flags'. Love bombing often involves someone showering a partner with gifts, attention and various promises.
Hernan has told Netflix's online publication she 'doesn't fault' Stause for trying to protect her but that she would like Stause to 'step back and realise' her level of love and support.
Some of us will have experienced similar situations first-hand. Hannah, who didn’t want to give her last name, told BBC News she fell out with her long-time friend, Georgia - not her real name - over a partner.
Hannah says Georgia 'had a history of dating not very nice people' and moved away from London with a new partner who 'proposed to her fairly quickly, I think within about a year'. It felt like Georgia was 'under his spell' - and then on a night out before the wedding, Hannah says, Georgia's fiancé made sexual comments about Hannah. 'He came over to me and started to tell me all the things he wanted to do to me in a very graphic, explicit way.'
What you can do, according to a relationship expert
Relationship expert and counsellor Anna Williamson, who works as a dating expert on Channel 4's Celebs Go Dating, says trying to support a friend if you're concerned about their partner can be difficult. She advises starting a conversation with a friend by telling them something like: 'I care about you so much but I want to check in because I've noticed that you seem really stressed lately.'
Williamson also emphasizes the importance of 'sticking to facts' and only discussing things with them that you have observed, avoiding judgmental statements.
'Try to remain civil'
Ultimately, if you still want that friend to be part of your life, you have to respect their decisions and try to remain civil. Whether you can cope with a friend's partner's conflicting views depends on your personal values. Sometimes, a partner's actions may be too much for you - potentially ending friendships. After reflecting on her experiences, Hannah concluded that she could not see her friend again if she chose to stay with her fiancé.
These sentiments highlight the challenges of maintaining friendships when personal values collide with a friend's choices, making it essential to navigate such emotions delicately.
