Amir Lancaster defends girlfriend Natalie from Candiace Dillard’s shadow on social media

“Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard” star Amir Lancaster is defending his girlfriend, Natalie Cortes, against some serious social media shaming from fellow Bravolebrity Candiace Dillard.

“She’s not sure what to say or how to address her in the right way. So she tries to be as composed and perfect as possible because she doesn’t want people to hate her,” Lancaster, 27, says on Page Six’s “Virtual Reali-Tea” podcast, giving context to Cortes’ polarizing appearance on Episode 28 April.

“I don’t want to be too vulnerable, but I don’t want to be too tense either.”

Meanwhile, “Real Housewives of Potomac” alum and noted “SHMV” fan Dillard, 37, thought there was something “weird” about Cortes’ relationship with Lancaster — and made his presence known in a series of unfiltered posts shared via through X

“The amount of coddling that goes on with the girl tells me we’re missing context in their relationship… maybe it has something to do with the show?” – wrote the “Drive Back” singer. April 29.

“Is she uncomfortable with him being on the show? Something is missing. It’s on eggshells and it’s weird. #SummerHouseMV.”

Addressing this assessment of Dillard specifically, Lancaster assures that Cortes has no objections to his participation in the unscripted series.

“She’s doing everything she can, and I really admire her for that because she supports me here. He’s not here to draw attention to himself, he’s not here to do anything,” he says.

“So he’s going to make sure he gives the right answers that don’t seem too timid or too entitled or anything like that.”

But Dillard also condemned Cortes for eyebrow-raising comments she made during the one-day event about her real estate career compared to Lancaster’s.

Notably, the brunette beauty boasted that he represents properties valued at “over $2 million” while he sells homes for “under $1 million.”

“I do what he does in a year in a month,” Cortes emphasized.

Later, during a late-night hot tub session, Lancaster’s castmates asked the duo what was next in their relationship.

“I think starting our career together is a really big step,” Cortes replied, expressing her desire to join efforts in the real estate market. “He just joined my team and I’m very excited to have him on my side of the fence and to be able to work together.”

Dillard — who is currently pregnant and expecting her first child with husband Chris Bassett — was feeling either way.

“Girl… they ask you what’s next in your relationship and you give corporate America answers. Your team?” She wrote. “Is he your man or your assistant? I what? This is not giviiiinnnngggggguhhh #SummerHouseMV.”

While it may have backfired, Lancaster tells Virtual Reali-Tea that Cortes deliberately gave “the bare minimum” in such moments.

“So when we talk about our business or next steps, she gives you the bare minimum,” he says. “And if I want to come and add some whipped cream to it, she’s excited about it. But she knows it’s not necessary.

Lancaster’s response about his future with Cortes was a bit different: During the episode, he told the group that the “next best step” in his mind was getting engaged – which she clearly didn’t like.

But the proposal is still under consideration, even if it’s not at the top of the Texas couple’s priority list.

“We don’t want to get engaged just because we need a ring to commit and show it off. We actually want it to be a celebration of us taking the next step, and we’ve been talking about it for about the fourth month of our relationship,” he says.

“She’s really someone I care about a lot, and she cares about me a lot.”

“Summer House: Marta’s Vineyard” airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.