2023 was quite a year for the Real Housewives franchise. RHONY got a reboot, the Real Housewives of New Jersey stars can’t stop fighting, there were too many dramatic divorces to keep track of (and not just from RHOA alum Kim Zolciak), and there may or may not be a “reality reckoning.” As usual, so many Housewives ended the year with fans more inclined to love-to-hate them than genuinely love them. While there’s probably too many to name, we’re taking a look back at the most controversial Real Housewives of 2023.
Mary Cosby
Mary Cosby made her grand return to Real Housewives of Salt Lake City in 2023. But considering all the controversies that lead to her exit, especially the cult allegations, lots of fans didn’t welcome her with open arms.
Even if you put aside her past, Mary’s nasty comments towards her co-stars this season got to be too much. Especially when Mary body-shamed Heather Gay AND said she looked inbred. Bold words from the woman who married her step-grandfather!
Erin Lichy & Sai De Silva
Real Housewives of New York City stars Erin Lichy and Sai De Silva emerged as the reboot’s resident mean girls. Clearly miscalculating how RHONY’s audience would respond, they picked the wrong target by going after Jessel Taank and her marriage to Pavit Randhawa. By the end of the season, Jessel and Pavit became fan favorites. Meanwhile, viewers called for Erin and Sai to be one-and-dones.
Erin just edged out Sai as the most polarizing new RHONY star thanks to her antics on the cast trip. In fact, Sai even turned on Erin at the Season 14 reunion. Additionally, Erin was already controversial for those donations to former President Donald Trump.
Larsa Pippen
Larsa Pippen was already controversial this year for her age-gap relationship with Marcus Jordan, the son of Michael Jordan. Then Real Housewives of Miami returned for Season 6, and Larsa’s shocking response to Guerdy Abraira‘s breast cancer reveal went viral for all the wrong reasons. And after that, she only made things worse by spilling the beans to the other ladies despite Guerdy’s wishes.
RHOBH’s Fox Force Five
Lisa Rinna‘s role as one of the most controversial Real Housewives didn’t end with her exit from RHOBH. The rest of the Fox Force Five, who’ve all faced years of bullying accusations, similarly stay atop of the rankings. Just look at the comments section of any article, video, or social media post with Teddi Mellencamp.
In the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 13 premiere, Erika Jayne asked her therapist how to have empathy. Clearly, the backlash from Tom Girardi‘s fraud case won’t end anytime soon.
Erika and Kyle Richards are also at the center of the 2023’s big controversy over Real Housewives allegedly using Ozempic. And speaking of Kyle, we don’t know what’s going on with her and Morgan Wade, but we do know that fans are over it.
Brandi Glanville
Brandi Glanville has stirred up controversies on Bravo for over a decade. But this time, a Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip season might get pulled because of her alleged actions. Brandi was accused of sexual assault by former RHONJ star/RHUGT co-star Caroline Manzo back in January.
Caroline’s accusations were discussed in the media throughout the year. But Brandi has vehemently defended herself and has some other controversial Bravo stars like Phaedra Parks in her corner. The Morocco-set season was replaced as RHUGT Season 4 by RHONY: Legacy, which now has its own controversies.
Bethenny Frankel
Whether or not a reality TV reckoning is needed, should Bethenny Frankel really be the self-appointed leader? It sure seems that Bethenny doesn’t actually care about her fellow reality stars’ well-being. There’s evidence to suggest her role in the movement is just a way to get back at Andy Cohen. Especially since she was pitching shows to Bravo shortly before. We think Eboni K. Williams had every right to diss Bethenny, and now NeNe Leakes is completely distancing herself from Bethenny as well.
Reality reckoning aside, Bethenny’s been controversial for years thanks to her often problematic behavior. She’s been accused of racism many times over. Her YouTube content is questionable at best. Also, some Bravo fans (this writer included) are still haunted by that incredibly bizarre video of her eating seafood in a hotel room.
Ramona Singer
Ramona Singer definitely had biggest fallout this year after her years of racism were exposed. Her offensive remarks allegedly include calling a Black producer the n-word. And, in a misguided attempt to defend herself, Ramona texted a racial slur to a Page Six reporter. She was swiftly disinvited from BravoCon, and her RHONY: Legacy castmates started distancing themselves.
Considering the years of Ramona’s problematic behavior on and off camera, this particular reckoning was a long time coming. However, we’re sure she’ll have many more controversial moments on RHONY: Legacy.
Robyn Dixon & Gizelle Bryant
The Real Housewives of Potomac‘s green-eyed bandits were accused of colorism during Season 7. Gizelle Bryant and Robyn Dixon were scorned for attacking Candiace Dillard Bassett‘s marriage, including on a recent episode of their Reasonably Shady podcast. And Gizelle got even more backlash after her behavior on RHUGT Season 3.
Robyn earned controversy for holding back about Juan Dixon‘s alleged infidelities. Instead of discussing it on the show, she responded to rumors on the podcast. This launched a debate over how forthcoming Real Housewives need to be on camera.
Robyn still has die-hard fans who insist the controversy is overblown. Especially after she had the dishonor of being booed at BravoCon. So far, Season 8 of RHOP makes us feel sad for Robyn more than anything. We’ll have to wait and see if the new season makes her more or less of a controversial Real Housewives star in 2024.
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