Honestly, I am just as confused as most other fans of the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City when it comes to Monica Garcia’s alias, Reality Von Tease. Monica was uncovered as Utah’s resident Gossip Girl in the RHOSLC Season 4 finale. However, Monica’s Reality Von Tease reveal feels sketchy and is making fans suspicious. Currently, Monica strikes me as a straight-up grifter who eerily resembles her arch nemesis, Jen Shah. The behavior exhibited is beyond creepy and the realms of Pretty Little Liars.
After the season finale, Monica was painted as a stalker who happily drove by Jen’s home more than once, infiltrated a group in order to gain more information, dug up documents, and, above all, pretended to be their friend. In my opinion, this isn’t just Mean Girl, Regina George type of behavior. Monica’s actions are more on the side of dark and menacing with a hint of crazy clown.
What Did Bravo Know?
Some very wary fans suspect Bravo knew about Monica’s moniker and set up the season to culminate in the reveal. I can’t shake the nagging feeling that we didn’t know everything. The Parks and Recreation song, “Don’t be suspicious, don’t be suspicious,” lingers in my mind.
Bravo has yet to comment on whether or not they knew about Reality Von Tease. However, it is important to note that Monica was cast in the new season because of her friendship with Jen. The mother of four worked as her assistant under the name, Monica Fowler, a blonde back then. She was even caught on video footage at Meredith Marks store with the convict. Monica became a federal witness in the case, so it is clear she had some pipping hot tea.
Monica Had to Much of the Focus
Here is what I believe to be true: Monica was most likely one of a few women who Bravo was considering casting on RHOSLC. But finding out Monica had ties to Jen? Winner winner chicken dinner! Production probably thought they won the jackpot because Monica had so much to work with. She was young, fiery, and had nothing to lose. What kept bothering me the most was how much emphasis was put on Monica’s storyline. I mean, think back, guys, to every Real Housewives franchise, when has the network ever used a rookie as their main focus?
After Monica’s Reality Von Tease account came to light, it wasn’t hard to think about all the breadcrumbs Bravo dropped about their newest star. From openly talking about her past affair to having a cast trip, conveniently made all about her—the math ain’t mathing.
The confusion for me was Monica was neither wealthy nor well-liked, so why keep thrusting her into the spotlight? Though Bravo didn’t realize one of the RHOSLC stars was running a nationwide scheme, they sure as hell knew how to pick a sketchy character out of a lineup if it meant TV ratings gold. If Bravo knew about Reality Von Tease, it makes sense that they’d nake her a central figure this season. The reveal in the finale was more impactful because Monica’s storyline was so well developed this season.
Monica’s Canceled Family Reunion
The trip to Bermuda was based on the idea of Monica meeting her long-lost family, whom she hadn’t seen in over 20 years. The premise was cute and was meant to garner sympathy for the rookie, but her relatives canceled at the last minute. Again, I say the Sprinter Van should be given a supporting actress nod because this is where Monica learned the trip was for naught. But did the family get cold feet, or did Bravo cancel the meet-up?
It can’t be ignored that the family had already signed NDAs and agreed to film. But the cancelation scene fell flat, which left me thinking there wasn’t really any family to see at all. If Monica really wanted to share a loving moment, she could have easily gone off camera to meet them, yet she didn’t. Instead, she lost her shoe and sobbed dramatically (take a shot) in the bathroom. It felt staged and very much like she thought she was smarter than the viewers and production.
Bravo has made some sketchy moves in the past. Heck, even just this season of RHOSLC, there are conspiracy theories galore regarding the role production played. If Bravo might have set up things like Monica’s missing family, it’s not a stretch to consider the network may have been well aware of Monica’s ties to Reality Von Tease. Perhaps we’ll learn more from the RHOSLC Season 4 reunion…or maybe we’ll never know.
TELL US – DO YOU BELIEVE THE REALITY VON TEASE STORY AT FACE VALUE? WHY?
