Beyond the Gates Recap Dec 30: Anita tells Dani and Nicole she has cancer, Ted kisses Shanice

In the Beyond the Gates recap for Tuesday, December 30th, 2025, the New Year rings in as some celebrate, some fall in love, and others are devastated.

Beyond the Gates Recap

At Uptown, Naomi was happily surprised to see Ashley all decked out for New Year’s Eve. She told her that she and Jacob got their wires crossed, and Derek would be there, too, but Ashley was fine with it. 

Jacob got a message from Izaiah that he wasn’t coming, and told Naomi he thought it was because he was seeing Eva, who wouldn’t want to be around Kat. Just then, Kat and Tomas arrived.

Jacob asked how Tomas’ trip to Puerto Rico was for Christmas. Naomi asked if Kat should have been invited on the trip but Kat was fine with it this year. 

Ashley talked to Madison and Chelsea, but when they went to dance, she turned and saw Derek looking at her. They hugged then caught up on how they spent their Christmases. 

Listening to how Ashley worked a double shift since her mom was on a trip for the holidays, Derek said he finally understood her. Derek realized that when Ashley said everything was fine, it wasn’t.

Madison also had an epiphany about Chelsea, realizing that the Duprees rallied when there was an issue. She figured that was why Chelsea pushed her to make things better with her mom.

Madison noted that Chelsea kept checking her phone, then realized she was planning a surprise: a performance by Kenny Lattimore.

After enjoying the song, Jacob wanted to make it a New Year’s resolution for 2026 to have more romance between him and Naomi. Naomi told Jacob, Ashley, and Derek that she didn’t make resolutions as her life was already full of to-do lists, but was happy to make them for everyone else. 

Dani got a call from Vernon asking her and Nicole to come to the house before going to the club, noting that he and Anita were staying in.

At the hospital, Leslie overheard Ted and Shanice talking about it being New Year’s. Neither of them were in the mood for a party. Leslie pulled Ted away, who noted on her humility, naming the clinic after herself.

Leslie told him she needed to form a committee and wanted Ted to be in charge of it because of his connections. While Leslie kept the conversation drawn out, Shanice got into the elevator. Leslie rolled her eyes as she noticed Ted and Shanice exchanging a look.

Ted told Leslie he wasn’t feeling it, but he’d at least think about it. Ted enlightened Leslie that she was wrong about Vernon and Sharon and told her about the singing lessons.

Leslie offered to buy Ted a drink at their hotel’s New Year’s celebration, but he wasn’t into it. She offered to just spend ways to cheer him up but he wasn’t having it and left.

Ted went to Orphey Gene’s and had dinner with Shanice. They talked about how grumpy he wa,s but Shanice managed to get him laughing. Ted said that he was going to get his own place and move out of the hotel.

When the ball dropped, everyone did the countdown, and as it got to one, Ted put his hand on Shanice’s cheek and pulled her in for a kiss.

At the club, Vanessa and Joey got a stiff hello from Nicole, but she was called away by Vernon. She made a quick exit at his request. Carlton showed up and thought Nicole ghosted her out of fear of a real date.

Vanessa told Carlton that she got a call from Verno,n and as no Duprees were at the club, she wondered if there had been an emergency.

Carlton left, and Vanessa apologized to Joey for dinner being a bust. Joey told her he was happy to be wherever she wanted him to be. Joey admitted that he was in love with Vanessa, despite never wanting to let down his walls again.

At the Dupree mansion, Vernon and Anita hated ruining Dani and Nicole’s celebrations, but with Anita’s surgery in the morning, they knew they had to tell them what was going on, as they’d want to be supportive, and Anita would need them as well.

Nicole, Dani, and Andre arrived. Vernon stopped Andre in the foyer and asked them to let the ladies have some time alone. When Andre said that Dani was concerned, Vernon confirmed she should be.

Vernon told Andre what was happening and was grateful that Dani had the partner she deserved. Andre assured him that he would be there to help them all.

In the living room, Anita told her daughters she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. She explained the surgery and what the process was going to be. While she pointed out the positives, Anita told them that she wanted to be upfront about how aggressive this particular type of cancer was. A tearful Dani and Anita were immediately supportive. 

Vernon came in and told Dani that Andre had gone home to give the four of them some time together as a family unit. Anita asked them to tell the rest of the family, noting that she’d been tested and had a gene that could increase the risk for everyone, including Martin.

Dani and Nicole went back to Dani’s and talked to Andre about everything. Nicole realized she’d blown off Carlton and stepped outside to call him. Dani told Andre she needed to tell Bill about the testing everyone had to do before she told the girls. 

Leslie arrived at the club and saw Joey and Vanessa kissing. She got a text from Marcel asking if she wanted to meet up.