The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Ex-Wives Club premiered exclusively on Peacock on June 23, 2022. This season stars several of the most unforgettable ex-Housewives as they come together for a vacation at Dorinda Medley’s Blue Stone Manor. Scroll to find out what the media, and the women themselves, have said about their departures.
Dorinda Medley
After starring in six seasons of The Real Housewives of New York City, Dorinda announced her departure from the show in August 2020. When the news came out, Page Six reported that Dorinda was fired from RHONY for being a “mean” drunk, whereas TMZ reported that her departure was a mutual decision for Bravo was moving to diversify the franchise. However, Dorinda shared her side of the story on her former RHONY co-star’s podcast Just B with Bethenny Frankel in October 2020. She explained that after a “rough” season 12 she was hoping for a redemption year however, “it’s been said that I probably should have taken a year off.”
Jill Zarin
Jill was one of the five original cast members of RHONY which first premiered in 2008. In 2011, just weeks before Season 5 began filming, Jill was abruptly fired. Fans began to turn on Jill following an ongoing feud with co-star Bethenny Frankel in Season 3. The story goes that Jill’s inability to redeem herself by the fourth season left Bravo no choice but to let her go. Jill is not shy about sharing the reasons for Bravo terminating her six-season contract after only four years. She told Oprah: Where Are They Now? in 2014, “This is really the truth: One night… I think I took a sleeping pill and I typed out an email to my [‘Real Housewives’] producer and three out of the five housewives.” The email stated that Jill wanted to leave the show on a high, and wouldn’t be returning. She had regrets the next morning, but the email was allegedly sent to execs at Bravo who phoned soon after to officially give her the chop. It appears that there is no bad blood on either side for Jill has since made a handful of appearances on both Watch What Happens Live and RHONY.
Phaedra Parks
Phaedra starred in seasons 3-9 of The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Although she was not keen on discussing her exit from the show, Phaedra shared in a confessional on RHUGT that her side of the story was not exactly reported in the media. The story that did circulate, however, is that she was fired after spreading rumors about co-star Kandi Burruss accusing her of trying to harm fellow castmate, Porsha Williams. Season 9 of RHOA ended with Phaedra admitting that she was the one who told Porsha about Kandi and her husband Todd Tucker’s alleged plan to drug her. repeating false information that Kandi and her husband planned to drug Porsha. Phaedra apologized and explained, “Something was brought to me. I just repeated it. I repeated what someone told me. I’m not saying I didn’t say it. I’m saying I repeated it.”
Eva Marcille
This former housewife, and America’s Next Top Model winner, joined RHOA in Season 10. After starring in three seasons, Eva announced in June 2019 that she would not return for Season 13. On the June 16 episode of the Rickey Smiley Morning Show Eva shared, “I decided to spend my time and energy focusing on my kids and my community, and not so much reality show business.” She reportedly left on good terms with her former cast members. Eva said in a statement to The Sun, “I appreciate the bond of friendship that I have made with several of my cast mates, and the strong personal relationships I have cultivated with numerous executives and producers from Bravo and Truly Original.”
Vicki Gunvalson
Vicki joined back in Season 1 of The Real Housewives of Orange County, the first-ever Housewives franchise. The show premiered in 2006 and Vicki was a cast member for 13 seasons until being demoted to a “friend” for Season 14. Andy explained the decision to Us Weekly in July 2019. He shared that Bravo is always looking to freshen up each show, and stated “She’s been on the show for 14 years. That is an unprecedented run on a scripted show, on a reality show, anything.” After filming the show in a smaller role, Vicki made it clear that she would not be returning unless regaining full-time status and announced her official exit in January 2020.
Tamra Judge
Tamra joined RHOC for Season 3 in 2007. After 12 years on the show, she was offered a part-time gig for season 15 but turned it down. Tamra announced her departure in January 2020, a day after close friend and former co-star Vicki revealed the news of her exit. Tamra discussed her firing on Instagram Live with former-boss Andy Cohen. She confirmed she was fired over her high salary and told her ex-boss, “I’m not cheap Andy, and that’s why I got fired!” Although Tamra unfollowed most of her former Bravo family, including her ex-boss, her relationship with Andy does not appear to be over based on their banter on Instagram Live.
Brandi Glanville
Brandi started her journey on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills as a “friend” in Season 2. She was promoted to a full-time cast member for Season 4 and Season 5. In 2015, Bravo decided to not have Brandi return as a regular cast member for Season 6 citing frequent feuds between Brandi and other cast members. The news came after Brandi fought with co-stars Kyle Richards, Lisa Vanderpump, Eileen Davidson, and Lisa Rinna throughout season 5. However, that was not the end for Brandi for she appeared in RHOBH in seasons 6 and 9, and rejoined the drama for season 10 while the cast filmed.
Taylor Armstrong
Taylor joined The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills for its first season in 2008. She starred in the show’s first three seasons and continued to appear as a guest until Season 6. Taylor had some of the heaviest storylines in the first three seasons of RHOA. Her marital difficulties, including domestic abuse, were depicted and discussed on screen. At the Season 2 reunion, Taylor revealed the news that her husband Russell Armstrong had taken his own life shortly after filming ended. Though she continued filming for Season 3, the aftermath of her husband’s death was a large part of why she left ahead of 2013’s Season 4. Taylor has had a tremendous evolution since leaving RHOBH and has become a major advocate for survivors of domestic abuse. She’s shed light on some of her darkest years from the show and still shares old photos from the show, and even jokes about the infamous drunken rant meme on Twitter.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.
