Meet the Real Housewives who were fired by Bravo: Phaedra Parks, Jill Zarin, Kelly Dodd and more
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Since its debut in 2006, the 'Real Housewives' franchise has been a major hit for the network thanks to the success of 'The Real Housewives of Orange County'. However, not every housewife has managed to keep her title, as some have been let go.
These women are known for their lavish lifestyles and ability to purchase almost anything they desire. While some of the women remain grounded, others have let their reality TV fame get to their heads.
The original premise of the franchise was to provide viewers with a peek behind the gates of an Orange County gated community, showcasing the lives of these wealthy wives. As the series gained popularity, it expanded to include other cities such as Atlanta, Miami, Salt Lake City, New Jersey, and New York City.
Each group of women brought their own unique qualities to the screen. However, even the most popular housewives were not immune to being fired, as the network made sure that no one became too comfortable with their newfound celebrity status.
NeNe Leakes
After being a mainstay on 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta' for over a decade, Nene Leakes shocked fans when she was let go before Season 13. Known as the show's queen, her departure left many viewers feeling disappointed.
Initially citing contract issues with Bravo as the reason for her exit, Leakes later took legal action by suing True Entertainment, Andy Cohen, Bravo, NBCUniversal, and Truly Televisions.
In addition to her legal battle, Leakes also spoke out about experiencing racism and discrimination on set. Accusing NBC, Bravo, and True Entertainment of fostering a culture that tolerates racially insensitive behavior, Leakes's lawsuit shed light on deeper issues within the reality TV industry.
Despite calls from fans for her return, Bravo has chosen to ignore their pleas, leaving Leakes's future on the show uncertain.
Brandi Glanville
Brandi Glanville has certainly made a name for herself as one of the most controversial figures on 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,' largely due to her blunt and outspoken nature. Her departure from the show after Season 5 was a result of her inability to maintain friendships with her co-stars and her frequent conflicts with them.
People magazine reported that Brandi was dismissed from her role because of her behavior resembling that of a diva, which led to ongoing conflicts with her fellow cast members.
"By the end, she couldn't get along with anyone, and no one wanted to shoot with her," a close source informed the media publication.
Phaedra Parks
Phaedra Parks' actions outside of filming were brought to the attention of Bravo executives, ultimately resulting in her termination from 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta.' This decision was made due to concerns about her behavior and conduct off-screen.
According to multiple reports, Phaedra Parks was accused of spreading a damaging rumor about Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker allegedly plotting to drug Porsha Williams in order to sexually assault her.
The shocking accusation ultimately led to Parks being let go from the show following the season's reunion. TMZ was the first to break the news of her termination due to the false and harmful statement she made.
Jennie Nguyen
After her Facebook controversy resurfaced, Jennie Nguyen faced backlash that ultimately resulted in her dismissal from 'The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City' after just one season.
The controversial social media posts in question showcased the reality star making derogatory comments about the Black Lives Matter movement, sparking outrage and condemnation from viewers and fans alike. The incident not only tarnished Jennie's reputation but also raised questions about the show's commitment to diversity and inclusion.
The network issued an official statement regarding her firing that read, “Bravo has ceased filming with Jennie Nguyen and she will no longer be a cast member on ‘The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.’”
Bravo further added, “We recognize we failed to take appropriate action once her offensive social media posts were brought to our attention. Moving forward, we will work to improve our processes to ensure we make better informed and more thoughtful casting decisions.”
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Teddi Mellencamp
Teddi Mellencamp was a cast member of 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' for three seasons, from Season 8 to Season 10. Unfortunately, she was booted from the show due to reasons including her inability to generate sufficient drama and compelling content for the viewers.
The former housewife shed light on her firing in an Instagram video and said, said, "I recently found out that my contract as a Housewife is not being renewed."
"Of course I could give you the standard response of, 'Oh we both came to the decision that it would be best.' Nah, I'm not going to do that — that's not who I am. Of course when I got the news I was sad. It feels like a breakup, almost," she added.
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Kenya Moore
Kenya Moore, a cast member of the popular reality TV show 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' (RHOA), is facing allegations of sharing inappropriate adult photos of her co-star Brittany Eady with the show's production team.
As a result, Bravo, the network that airs 'RHOA', has taken action by initiating an investigation into the matter. In the meantime, Kenya has been put on an indefinite suspension from the show.
This decision by Bravo has caused quite a stir within the 'RHOA' fanbase and the reality TV community as a whole. The outcome of the investigation will determine Kenya's future on the show and her standing with the network.
It has been reported by Page Six that the explicit photos were "readily accessible" online.
It further alleged that Brittany had issued threats towards Kenya, mentioning the word "gun" in the lead-up to the incident. In contrast, a source from the production team refuted this claim, stating that there was no instance of Kenya being threatened with a weapon, and no weapons were ever present during the production process.
Danielle Cabral
During the filming of the Bravo reality show 'The Real Housewives of New Jersey' (RHONJ) in 2023, Jennifer Aydin and Danielle Cabral were suspended from the show after an altercation between the two women.
The suspension of Aydin and Cabral sparked rumors and speculation about the future of the show and the dynamics among the cast members. The fallout from this altercation had lasting repercussions for both women, as well as the overall production of the show.
It was revealed that a confrontation between the women escalated into a physical altercation at an event organized by Teresa Giudice.
During the heated argument, Jennifer allegedly shoved Danielle, prompting Danielle to respond by angrily crumpling her plastic cup and throwing it at Jennifer, causing a physical altercation that resulted in Jennifer getting injured and bleeding.
On the other hand, a source told Page Six Aydin only suffered a minor scratch when Cabral tossed her drink at her, and she did not require any medical treatment at the scene.
Another source from the production team emphasized that Jennifer only resorted to pushing Danielle because Danielle had aggressively confronted her.
Monica Garcia
During an interview with The Cut, Monica Garcia finally addressed the rumors surrounding her departure from 'The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City' Season 5. She provided insight into the reasons behind her exit and set the record straight on the situation.
"That would be a cast and Bravo decision. It would not have been my decision," she told the media outlet.
Monica's time on 'Real Housewives of Salt Lake City' came to an abrupt end when her fellow cast members unraveled her connection to a 'troll account' that was used to criticize and demean her co-stars. This discovery ultimately led to her being dismissed from the show.
Alexis Bellino
According to Us Weekly, Gretchen Rossi and Alexis Bellino, who made their debut on the Bravo series 'The Real Housewives of Orange County' (RHOC) in Season 4 and Season 5, respectively, reportedly didn't receive invites to return to the show for Season 9.
“Alexis and Gretchen were fired. They just had run their course. Gretchen has been on the show a long time, and it was the same old story," a source told the media outlet.
Jill Zarin
Fans of 'The Real Housewives of New York City' were surprised to learn that Jill Zarin, a beloved cast member, had been let go from the show. She expressed that she wasn't ashamed or guilty about her dismissal in 2012 when speaking to The Hollywood Reporter.
Jill revealed more information about the situation during her interview on OWN's Where Are They Now She recalled sending an email to her costars while intoxicated, in which she stated her decision to not be involved in Season 5 of the series.
Jill Zarin was fired from 'Real Housewives of New York' and has been eager to return ever since. She appeared on 'The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip’ and was called "thirsty," a label she disliked. An email about her reportedly led to her being ousted from the show.
Her tough contract negotiations reportedly caused the cancellation of 'RHONY: Legacy'. She was not included in the cast members who went to St. Barts for 'RHUGT.'
Against all odds, Jill appeared on Bethenny Frankel's ReWives podcast after 13 years of not speaking. During their conversation, Jill expressed her disappointment in Andy Cohen, and they discussed how Jill and her late husband played a role in getting Bethenny cast on ‘The Real Housewives of New York City’.
The speaker found it amusing and slightly upsetting that Andy once mentioned in an interview that Jill Zarin was the Housewife who called him the most.
Jill expressed disbelief at a rumor she heard about her being desperate to return to a reality show she was previously on for four years. She also admitted that she was actually trying to get another cast member, Bethenny, to join the show.
Andy's shade towards Jill was not surprising. On August 1, 2022, he publicly dissed her during his "Mazel of the Day" segment on 'Watch What Happens Live'. He instead praised Taylor Armstrong for being the first Housewife to appear on multiple franchises.
Andy announced that this Housewife is the first to switch cities, meanwhile joking that Jill Zarin is buying homes in multiple locations, which she did not find funny.
Kelly Bensimon
During an interview with HELLO!, Kelly Bensimon shared that a fellow Real Housewives star had allegedly tried to get her removed from the cast of 'Real Housewives of New York City.' However, she chose not to disclose the identity of this mystery woman, leaving fans to speculate on who it could be.
With a multitude of potential candidates harboring potential grudges against her, the possibilities are endless. In the same interview, Kelly also opened up about her close bond with a particular cast member who has always supported her, as well as the reasons behind her delayed return to the show.
“Luann de Lesseps had been trying to bring me back for 11 years, and I was never allowed to come back. There’s a housewife that kind of put a block on me. I was not allowed to film, so Luann was always trying to get me back," she said.
Kelly Dodd
Kelly Dodd, Braunwyn Windham-Burke, and Elizabeth Lyn Vargas were all released from 'The Real Housewives of Orange County' prior to the premiere of Season 16.
During her appearance on SiriusXM's Jeff Lewis Live, Dodd expressed her shock and disappointment at being let go from her show, stating that the news came as a complete surprise to her as she had not been informed beforehand.
She went on to suggest that the decision was influenced by politics, implying that there may have been ulterior motives at play. However, Bravo maintained that the decision was simply a strategic move to take the show in a new direction.
