Top 10 controversial housewives of 'Real Housewives' franchise: Danielle Staub to Kelly Dodd, here's full list
The ladies of the 'Real Housewives' franchise are best known for stirring up drama both on-screen and off-screen. Although these women star in a reality series, even by reality television standards, some of their statements and actions are highly questionable and downright controversial. Here is a list of 10 most controversial housewives to ever grace our screens and draw us in with their messy drama.
1. Danielle Staub
(Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
This former 'Real Housewives of New Jersey' star may have left the series after just appearing on the first two seasons, but the skeletons in her closet continue to haunt her. Danielle made headlines when it was revealed that the former housewife was engaged a whopping 19 times! Back then when her fellow housewife, Teresa Giudice, found out about her multiple engagements, she gave us the iconic "table-flip" scene. Danielle's shady past, which involves alleged drug-dealings and prostitution, has time and again surfaced up and created ample drama.
2. Kelly Dodd
'Real Housewives of Orange County' star Kelly Dodd is yet to learn that some things are best left unsaid. The reality star often finds herself in a sticky situation thanks to her numerous tone-deaf statements. During the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Kelly managed to ruffle quite a few feathers when she not only flouted the social distancing norms but also discounted the tragic loss of lives owing to the deadly virus by declaring that it was "God's way of thinning the herd". Although Kelly later apologized for her controversial statement, fans don't seem to be in a mood to forgive her just yet.
3. LeeAnne Locken
(Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)
'Real Housewives of Dallas' star LeeAnne Locken's wrath knows no bounds. When this housewife is rubbed the wrong way, she doesn't hold back. So during Season 4 of 'RHOD', when new housewife Kary Brittingham and she were having a hard time getting along, the reality star resorted to the usage of racial slurs against her fellow housewife. In a heated moment, LeeAnne was seen addressing Kary as "chirpy Mexican", and constantly referring to the new housewife by her ethnicity rather than her name. LeeAnne initially defended her choice of words by declaring that she had no racist bone in her body, but eventually the housewife was forced to issue an apology after she was criticized by fans. Following her disastrous stint on Season 4, LeeAnne was fired from the series.
4. Vicki Gunvalson
(Valerie Macon/Getty Images)
The OG of the OC has earned a spot on the list thanks to her homophobic remarks. Season 14 of 'Real Housewives of Orange County' saw Vicki being unapologetically homophobic which didn't leave fans pleased. From declaring that she didn't understand drag queens and drag culture to calling new housewife Braunwyn Windham-Burke "trashy" because she kisses women, Vicki did it all.
5. Teresa Giudice
Love her or hate her, there's no denying that Teresa Giudice carried 'Real Housewives of New Jersey' franchise on her back, thanks to her infamous temper and her troubled marriage to husband, Joe Giudice. While Joe was shown constantly treating Tre badly, the housewife never retaliated against him. Many fans felt sorry for Tre and emphatized with her. But things quickly changed, when both Joe and she were charged for money fraud. Teresa served 15 months in prison.
6. Kim Zolciak-Biermann
The 'Don't Be Tardy' star might now currently be happily married to husband, Kroy Biermann, but when she was first introduced on 'Real Housewives of Atlanta', the reality star revealed that she was dating a married man. Kim never disclosed the identity of her boyfriend, but simply referred to him as "big poppa", and seemed to have no inhibitions on being his sugar baby. Kim's affair with a married man didn't sit well with either her co-stars or fans.
7. Aviva Drescher
(Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for iPic)
Aviva Drescher managed to leave a striking impression on 'Real Housewives of New York City' fans despite appearing in just two seasons. The fights and arguments amongst the ladies can get a bit intense and overwhelming. It was no different with Aviva either, rather than resorting to screaming at her opponents (who in this case were all the other housewives), Aviva simply pulled out her prosthetic leg and placed it on the table. Although it yielded the desired result for Aviva, fans and her co-stars have been wary of her ever since.
8. Carlton Gebbia
(Valerie Macon/Getty Images)
Carlton Gebbia's religious and spiritual beliefs left many of her fellow housewives and the audience feeling uncomfortable. Gebbia, who was a firm believer and practitioner of Wicca, took every available opportunity to talk about it to her fellow housewives. The other ladies didn't share her enthusiasm and were even weirded out by it.
9. Michaele Salahi
No matter how controversial the other housewives' behavior was, no one comes close Michaele Salahi. Michaele single-handedly managed to shut down the production of 'Real Housewives of DC' when she along with her husband gatecrashed a state dinner at the White House in 2009.
10. Phaedra Parks
This sassy attorney found herself bang in the center of a controversy that not only lost her several fans but also got her fired from 'Real Housewives of Atlanta'. Phaedra committed the cardinal sin of spreading rather nasty rumors about her fellow housewife, Kandi Burruss, and her husband Todd Tucker. Phaedra accused the couple of drugging another housewife, Porsha Williams, and trying to rape her. Although the clip of her spreading the rumor was never aired on the show, when all the housewives unraveled the truth during the reunion, Phaedra was kicked off the show.