No one said Real Housewives would be easy. But for Vicki Gunvalson, one of the stars who paved the way for the hit franchise, she had no idea just how hard it would end up being.
The “OG of The OC” was one of the first housewives to ever appear on screen when Real Housewives of Orange County debuted in 2006.
Since exiting the show in 2018, Vicki has had a lot of time to reflect. And unsurprisingly, it’s not exactly rosy.
Vicki Gunvalson compares reality TV to the devil
On the new Vice series, The Dark Side of Reality TV, Vicki got candid about her time on the show. “I definitely feel like it’s a deal with the devil,” she stated.
The 62-year-old also revealed she made “nothing, zero” for her first season on the show. “Season 2 I believe I got paid $5,000 for the whole season,” Vicki dished. “Not much money, I didn’t even have an attorney look over my contract. I had no idea what I was doing.”
But Real Housewives became a hit series on Bravo and eventually, Vicki got her big payday. “My final full-time season, [the pay] was significant. Seven figures. I never really thought I would make the number I was making,” she said.
Vicki’s regrets
Despite the cash, the insurance entrepreneur admitted that she paid the price mentally.
Her acrimonious divorce from then-husband Donn Gunvalson played out on camera. Which is something Vicki regrets.
“People ask me if I regret doing the show and when I look at my relationships I’d say yes,” she said. “With Donn, 100% the show had an impact on our relationship. Being on TV 100% had a role in our divorce because it puts a lot of pressure on a marriage. I think we would’ve survived if I wasn’t on the show. So that I regret.”
Additionally, one of Vicki’s most painful moments in life was captured when her mother died during Season 10. Vicki was filming a game night with her castmates when she got word that her family was trying to get in touch with her.
“I was really upset that production knew for an hour, and they didn’t tell me,” she explained. “They were out of line, and I think they should have taken me aside and said, ‘Your mom has passed. Talk to your daughter off-camera.’ If I was a producer, that’s what I would’ve done.”
“Let me scream and cry on my own and be mad,” Vicki mused. “It was very, very traumatic. I will never forgive Bravo for that.”
Dark Side of Reality TV continues Tuesdays at 9 ET/PT on VICE TV.
TELL US – DO YOU AGREE WITH VICKI? WOULD YOU BE ON REAL HOUSEWIVES IF GIVEN THE CHANCE?
