Reality Star of the Week: Monica Garcia embraces villain status after shocking 'RHOSLC' Season 4 finale revelation
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH: Few rookie housewives have caused as much upheaval in their franchises as Monica Garcia, a newcomer to 'The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City', who in her first season as a cast member became an iconic character and the show's main antagonist after it was revealed in the season 4 finale that she had allegedly spread rumors about her fellow cast members on an Instagram gossip account.
The shocking revelation was made in the January 2 finale episode, when Heather Gay, an OG Salt Lake City housewife, put together Monica's involvement with the Instagram account "Reality Von Tease."
After speaking with Tenesha, a longtime friend of Monica's, who "had a moment of morality and came clean" to Heather, the episode disclosed that Heather had come to the conclusion that Monica was involved with the account through a series of screenshots, audio recordings, text messages, videos, and DMs.
Three years ago, Heather started the "Reality Von Tease" Instagram account, which included content "dedicated to annihilating and exposing" Jen Shah, a former housewife from Salt Lake City. Subsequently, the user started making fun of and trolling other cast members, such as Whitney Rose, Lisa Barlow, Heather, and Meredith Marks.
In the episode, Heather claimed, "These were character assassinations. But we never knew who it was."
Although Monica first denied being Reality Von Tease, she then acknowledged that she had added videos of Jen to the account and claimed that Tenesha was one of the account's owners. Monica left the cast trip to Bermuda early in the finale, after Heather's advice.
Next week, the fourth-season reunion of Salt Lake City will premiere. According to the seating plan that was made public ahead of time, Monica will be seated in the top location, directly to the right of Bravo boss Andy Cohen.
This placement makes sense given the mayhem that she brought to the season. Even if the season 4 finale revealed something exciting, there are still a lot of unanswered questions.
Was 'RHOSLC' produdcers aware of Reality Von Tease before casting Monica Garcia?
Garcia was chosen for the show because of her relationship with Jen.
Monica claimed to have worked for Jen before her arrest for wire fraud, and it was during this period that Jen allegedly revealed her telemarketing plan to Monica. Later on in Jen's trial, Monica was called as a federal government witness.
Before adding rookie Monica to the show, the producers of 'RHOSLC' had "no idea" that she was associated with the troll Instagram account Reality Von Tease, Page Six verified.
Page Six was informed on January 4 by a production source that "had they known prior to [the ladies’ vacation in] Bermuda, they would have never withheld that information from the core four."
"It was a shock to everyone, even Monica," they said.
A second insider told Page Six, "Monica figured the information would come out eventually but she was hopeful that she could’ve gotten through her first season without anyone blowing her cover."
What did 'RHOSLC' newbie Monica Garcia actually do with Reality Von Tease?
In the climax, Heather questions Monica about her connection with the "Reality Von Tease" Instagram account, even going so far as to wonder who "the real Monica is."
'The mystery for me with Monica is, 'Who is the real Monica?' When I met you, we kind of bonded over being single moms, moms of daughters, and we really had a great time—lots of fun, charming, funny, witty," said Heather.
"But, I don't feel like that's who the real Monica is. The real Monica is someone who really doesn't want to be our friend, but wants to profit from our lives and our pain. I know who you really are, and who you really are is the cyberbully, internet troll Reality Von Tease."
When Heather made her accusation, Monica in the episode first said that it was "not true, entirely," then she admitted that "Von Tease was never just one person."
Monica not only acknowledged that numerous individuals were using the account, but she also acknowledged that she had posted recordings of Jen that she had taken while working for her. She also justified her conduct in a confessional, stating that she didn't think having the account was a "bad thing."
"I think that's just telling the truth," she said.
Monica Garcia relishes newfound reputation as villain following 'RHOSLC' Season 4 finale
After the shocking climax, 'RHOSLC' star Monica embraces her villainous persona in a picture shoot with Reality Von Tease. In a recent photo shoot, the 'RHOSLC' star, who was exposed as the owner of a well-known troll account on Tuesday's Season 4 finale, shamelessly catered to her Reality Von Tease image.
“You know you love me!” she posted a series of pictures of herself clutching fake newspaper top pages on Instagram with the remark, "Xoxo, RVT😘," drawing comparisons to 'Gossip Girl'.
One of the clippings that Monica annotated said, "Warming my hands on the bridges I've burned," and it ignited as she held it.
The Bravolebrity donned white socks, biking shorts, and a black pullover with the title of her program printed on it.
Soon after viewers saw her co-star Heather reveal her Instagram persona when the cast was in Bermuda, Monica posted the same photos.
