Candiace Dillard under fire for saying she was scared of having 'light-skinned children' just one week before shock exit from RHOP - following YEARS of clashes with co-stars over colorism

Candiace Dillard sparked a shocking racial firestorm online less than a week after she parted ways with The Real Housewives of Potomac.

The 37-year-old, who announced her exit from the Bravo series on Monday, received backlash last week when comments she made about not wanting to have ‘light-skinned children’ resurfaced online.

Candiace, whose husband Chris Bassett is Caucasian, made the controversial remarks on the Don’t Call Me White Girl podcast in late January.

‘I do have a fear of having light-skinned children,’ she admitted.

Candiace Dillard came under fire for admitting that she DOESN’T want ‘light-skinned children’ just days before departing The Real Housewives of Potomac. (Pictured with husband Chris Bassett)

'I do have a fear of having light-skinned children,' she admitted in a podcast interview — ‘I do have a fear of having light-skinned children,’ she admitted in a podcast interview

The reality star said she wants 'brown' children instead of 'light-skinned' kids — The reality star said she wants ‘brown’ children instead of ‘light-skinned’ kids

‘I want my kids to be brown! But they’re probably not gonna be brown, and I’m like, becoming okay with it,’ she continued.

‘I will be very happy, but I want my kids to be brown – but if they’re not, it’s fine.’

The interview gained traction last week and was posted by popular blogs like Hollywood Unlocked and The Neighborhood Talk – where it drew widespread criticism.

‘If you wanted brown kids, you should have been with a brown man,’ one person wrote.

‘Now let a light skin person say they have a fear of having dark skin children… we really gotta let this skin tone thing go,’ wrote another.

‘I want my kids to be brown too, that’s why I date black men,’ added another.

Many users also accused Candiace of being ‘colorist’ – which is an accusation she’s lobbed at others in the past.

The reality star has also claimed that her lighter-skinned casemates have an advantage over her due to their fairer complexions.

Candiace's husband Chris is Caucasian and her comments about her future children's skin color sparked widespread backlash online — Candiace’s husband Chris is Caucasian and her comments about her future children’s skin color sparked widespread backlash online

'If you wanted brown kids, you should have been with a brown man,' one person wrote — ‘If you wanted brown kids, you should have been with a brown man,’ one person wrote

‘She the one who’s always bringing up color not Gizelle [Bryant]. She the colorist one,’ one person commented.

‘And y’all call Gizelle and Robyn the colorist? Never heard them say anything like this,’ wrote another.

‘So she’s been projecting her colorism issues onto her cast mates this whole time. Chile… if gaslighting was a person,’ added another.

Despite the backlash, Candiace’s husband Chris defended her a few days later on the Way Up With Angela Yee.

‘Candiace and I have had this conversation since probably the day that we met,’ he stressed.

‘We joke about it now since we’ve been married and together – she knows she’s not getting dark-skinned babies.’

He added, ‘People can have preferences. I don’t understand why people get so upset.’

Dailymail.com has contacted NBC and Candiace for comment.

Despite the backlash, Candiace's husband Chris defended her a few days later and said that it's fine that 'people have preferences' — Despite the backlash, Candiace’s husband Chris defended her a few days later and said that it’s fine that ‘people have preferences’

Candiace has a history of bringing up colorism on the Real Housewives of Potomac and has often claimed that she's held to a different standard than her fairer-skinned castmates — Candiace has a history of bringing up colorism on the Real Housewives of Potomac and has often claimed that she’s held to a different standard than her fairer-skinned castmates

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Candiace has often made skin color a topic of conversation during her time on RHOP, especially in recent years.

She previously brought up co-star Gizelle Bryant’s skin color at the season seven reunion after Gizelle claimed that Chris had made her feel ‘uncomfortable’ during a harmless interaction.

‘You sit up here with your privileged white-looking a** and you think you can say whatever the f**k you want to say and no one is going to bat an eyelash,’ she raged.

‘Your proximity to whiteness helps you to want to sit up here and tell these lies.’

She also opened up about the subject in a lengthy interview with the Daily Beast in 2022.

‘I will be clear in saying that I believe that most of the colorism that we experience comes from an audience space,’ she told the publication.

‘I don’t believe that my cast is purposely or willingly wielding any power against us. I do believe that, as a person who benefits from colorism, it is that person’s job to call it out and to make it plain and to not allow it to consume or take over a sacred space.’

She added, ‘Using buzzwords, like “you’re being aggressive,” is clearly a dog whistle.’

She previously brought up co-star Gizelle Bryant's skin color at the season seven reunion, saying that she had a 'privileged white-looking a**'. (Gizelle is pictured) — She previously brought up co-star Gizelle Bryant’s skin color at the season seven reunion, saying that she had a ‘privileged white-looking a**’. (Gizelle is pictured)

Robyn Dixon and Gizelle (left and center) have both been accused by Candiace and some viewers of the show of benefitting from colorism

It comes as Candiace officially announced her exit from Real Housewives of Potomac after six seasons.

In an official statement to People magazine on Monday, the 37-year-old indicated that she was leaving the series to focus on other career endeavors.

‘As I embark on a new chapter after six remarkable years with The Real Housewives of Potomac, I am filled with gratitude for the enriching friendships, personal growth and moments of introspection that have defined this journey,’ she said.

‘With a whirlwind of new opportunities and responsibilities on my plate, I have decided to take a break from RHOP,’ she added.

The Drive Back singer also teased that she may just be on a temporary pause from the franchise, saying, ‘This is not a farewell, but a “see you later.”‘

She added: ‘Your unwavering support has been my guiding light, and I look forward to the exciting adventures that lie ahead — and more importantly, sharing them all with you!’