‘RHONY’ Season 16 keeps three reboot stars but you won’t believe which OG is making a surprising return
After years of side-eyes, sharp tweets, and what felt like a breakup, Carole Radziwill is stepping back into the Bravo spotlight. The former ‘The Real Housewives of New York City’ cast member is returning for Season 16 in the role of “friend.” Filming kicks off in New York City this week, and suddenly the Upper East Side feels a little more interesting. If you watched Seasons 5 through 10, you remember Carole’s vibe: Dry humor and political references mid-brunch. Her confessionals often landed like a perfectly timed mic drop, delivered with a shrug.
Over the past year, fans noticed Radziwill popping up alongside Erin Lichy, one of the newer faces from the show’s reboot era. The two have been spotted together at events and across social media, sparking whispers that something was brewing. Turns out, those whispers had some truth to them. Season 16 won’t look exactly like Season 15. Lichy, Sai De Silva, and Jessel Taank are the only three reboot-era ‘Housewives’ sticking around. Brynn Whitfield and Ubah Hassan, who were key members of Season 15, are out, and Racquel Chevremont is also not coming back. And that’s not all. Jenna Lyons confirmed late last year that she wouldn’t be returning either. Rebecca Minkoff, who floated in as a “friend” last season but never quite clicked with the group, is also gone.
The early casting rumblings came from gossip hub DeuxMoi, which reported that filming was set to begin and hinted at new additions. Among the rumored newcomers are Daisy Toye, Hailey Glassman, and Erika Hammond. DeuxMoi also suggested that Lori Gordon, previously at the helm of ‘The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City,’ would be taking over showrunning duties in New York. Bravo initially declined to comment on the swirling reports. Then, almost casually, the network announced the cast on social media.
Now let’s address the elephant in the penthouse. Carole’s departure after Season 10 was anything but smooth. Her friendship-turned-feud with Bethenny Frankel dominated that season, spilling into tearful confrontations and icy exchanges at the reunion. During one unforgettable moment at the reunion, Radziwill accused executive producer Andy Cohen of being intimidated by Bethenny. She said, “You’re so full of sh*t, Andy. Are you kidding me? You’re afraid of her, too?” Cohen scoffed, “Yeah, I’m afraid of her.” After that, Radziwill’s exit felt final. Then, somehow, things shifted. In fall 2024, Cohen revealed he and Radziwill had reconnected.
Moreover, in August 2025, he surprised guests Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers by bringing Radziwill onto ‘Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.’ By November 2025, Radziwill was strolling through BravoCon in Las Vegas like she’d never left, chatting with fans and posing for photos. It felt less like a cameo and more like a soft launch back into the fold. And now here we are. Her return as a “friend” allows her to dip her toes back into the madness without carrying the full weight of storylines.
