Over on the Real Housewives franchise, the fights and lies amongst the starring ladies are rampant. As for leaning into their villain eras, many of these cast members have excelled. We can understand why. If they don’t bring the drama, they risk loosing their jobs.
These Bravo stars have therefore been known to cross the line here and there. With prison stays and allegations that could have caused serious ramifications, various years were almost too difficult, or even too frustrating, to watch. Here’s a look back at the Real Housewives seasons that made us recoil, as the scandals were just that shocking.
Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Seasons 2 – 3
Jen Shah‘s job was never really clear on Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. Following her arrest in Season 2, it became apparent that her company was trash. When she was accused of creating a fraudulent telemarketing scheme, Jen spent the rest of this season claiming her innocence. Wildly, Jen returned to film Season 3.
In RHOSLC Season 3, Jen’s lies unraveled. She changed her plea to guilty and is now serving a 6.5-year stay in federal prison. That said, Jen’s release date keeps getting moved up due to her good behavior behind bars. Perhaps she has learned how to behave, or more likely, her scandalous ways are just unable to continue behind bars.
Real Housewives of New Jersey Season 6
Teresa Giudice and her husband, Joe Giudice, faced a 39-count indictment during Real Housewives of New Jersey Season 6. Their charges involved conspiracy to commit mail, bank, and wire fraud. Furthermore, Teresa and Joe made false statements on loan applications. The duo received 56 months in federal prison.
Teresa began her service first, causing filming on RHONJ to halt completely. Moving forward, a year after the airing of Season 6, Teresa exited prison, and RHONJ: Teresa Checks In aired. This three-part special chronicled the aftermath of Teresa’s scandalous stay “away.”
Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 9
On Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 9, Phaedra Parks created a scandal so great, she lost her job. Off-camera, Phaedra told Porsha Williams that Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker were conspiring to drug and rape her. Understandably, Porsha (and the viewers) spent the majority of this season trying to address and understand this serious claim.
Unwilling to give Phaedra up, Porsha continuously blamed an unknown source for this horrific tip. Finally, the reunion unearthed the truth. Phaedra was finally revealed as the source, and all hell broke loose. This scandalous lie could have brought great harm to Kandi and Todd, making RHOA Season 9 hard to stomach.
Real Housewives of Orange County Season 10
Vicki Gunvalson introduced her new man, Brooks Ayers, on Real Housewives of Orange County Season 7. Brooks sucked right from the jump, causing even Vicki’s kids to grow weary. As for Vicky, she clung tight to her man nonetheless. Brooks’ lies came crashing down in Season 10, as he claimed to have cancer, yet his care plan was riddled with holes.
Brooks finally admitted that he had forged his health documents, leaving no one surprised. Shockingly, Vicky claimed to have been duped, and viewers were divided over whether or not they believed her innocence in his scandalous, fake storyline.
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 9
Lisa Vanderpump and the Lucy Lucy Apple Juicy storyline consumed Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 9, and we hated every second. Long-running drama made short, Dorit Kemsley adopted a dog named Lucy from Lisa’s organization, Vanderpump Dogs. After Lucy allegedly bit her husband and two children, Dorit surrendered her to a shelter. Doing their job well, this shelter scanned the good girl for a microchip, and Vanderpump Dogs came up.
Dorit made headlines. Fingers began to point in every direction as to who called the gossip rag on their co-star. Most of the fingers pointed in Lisa’s direction, and the scandal saw Lisa leaving this series for good.
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Seasons 11-12
Erika Jayne‘s legal struggles are still ongoing, but they were first introduced during RHOBH Season 11. Erika and her then-attorney spouse Tom Girardi were named in a fraud lawsuit. This suit accused the pair of embezzling settlement funds from the survivors of the Lion Air plane crash. Erika has been cleared of several charges, but as for how this scandalous storyline ends, no one knows.
Real Housewives of Potomac Season 4
Around the start of Real Housewives of Potomac Season 4, a crew member claimed that Ashley Darby‘s then-husband, Michael Darby, grabbed his butt. These charges were dropped, but Season 4 still spent a lot of time diving into this messy allegation. Similar accusations were made against Michael in prior seasons, which helped to substantiate this allegation. Ashley supported Michael, which was a scandal on top of a scandal if you ask us.
Real Housewives of Miami Season 5
Lenny Hochstein‘s hot mic moment on Real Housewives of Miami Season 5 was the definition of ick. Luckily for Lisa Hochstein (because she deserves so much better), Lenny’s forgotten about mic pack exposed his cheating ways. “In a couple of months, I might be single, too,” he said to his buddy, who we wished had kicked him in his teeth. Needless to say, Lenny and Lisa divorced, and Lenny moved on with his affair-partner turned fiancé, Katharina Mazepa.
Lenny and Katharina are now allegedly on the rocks. Justice for Lisa post this scandal filled season of her life.
TELL US – WHICH OF THESE SCANDALS DID YOU FIND TO BE THE MOST SHOCKING?
