Vicki Gunvalson announced that she is leaving The Real Housewives of Orange County after starring on the hit Bravo show for 14 seasons.
“I will always be the OG of the OC, but it’s time to say goodbye to The Real Housewives of Orange County,” the 57-year-old reality star wrote via Instagram on Friday, January 24. “It’s been an incredible ride for 14 years and I want thank all of you for your support, for your love and for ‘whooping it up’ with me along the way.”
Gunvalson then shared that she already has other work lined up. “I’ve been working on new projects that will be exciting, empowering and inspirational,” she revealed. “My podcast with Westwood One will be launching soon and I will have much more to say about this on ‘Whoop it up with Vicki’ . I hope you will join me with my new journey so please stay tuned.”
“I love all my fans, and I want to thank Bravo and Evolution for this incredible experience which my family and I have will never forget,” the reality star concluded.
Gunvalson told Us Weekly that she and the network are “unequally aligned,” which led to her exit from the show.
A source revealed that she was asked not to return to the show. “She made it very clear that she wouldn’t come back as a friend so they wouldn’t try to offer her that again,” the source said.
Gunvalson joined the reality series as a full-time Housewife in season 1, which debuted in March 2006. In season 14, she was demoted to a “friend” role.
The TV personality found herself in the middle of a controversy after the season 14 reunion in December 2019. Gunvalson called out Braunwyn Windham-Burke kissing Tamra Judge, which drew criticism from fans. “I’ve been seeing some things on social media that people are portraying me as homophobic. I’m gonna hit it right on, head on — I am not homophobic,” the Bravo star said in an Instagram video at the time. “I’ve got family members that are gay and lesbian and I’ve got obviously Bravo fans, personal friends. I’m not [homophobic].”
In November 2019, Gunvalson opened up about whether to return to the series or not. “I felt very disrespected and I don’t deserve that,” she told Us Weekly. “I’m a cast member that created this franchise and I need that [to be] respected. If they don’t want me, I’m fine … but don’t disrespect me.”
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Brittany R
Brittany is a writer who is obsessed with rom-com movies, Gossip Girl, reality television, fashion, and pop-culture. When she isn't reporting on the latest celeb buzz, she is filling up her online shopping cart without checking out.