Karen Huger Speaks Out After Prison Release

Karen Huger stepped back into the limelight over the weekend, as she made her first public appearance since her release from prison two months ago.

The Real Housewives of Potomac personality, 62, was at BravoCon in Las Vegas Friday, where she was received a standing ovation from fans during a award-geared segment titled BravoCon Live with Andy Cohen Presents: The Bravos.

The Surry, Virginia-born reality star was a presenter as Real Housewives of Atlanta stalwart Phaedra Parks was honored for bringing ‘The Best Shade’ to the small screen.

‘Thank you @nbcuniversal and @bravotv for the incredibly warm and welcoming energy,’ Huger said in an Instagram post to her 593,000 followers on Sunday. My heart is full.’

Hugert hanked designer Charles Elliott Harbison for his work in putting together the fashion ensembles she wore to the high-profile event.

She said, ‘A heartfelt thank you to my team,and to my new favorite person, @charlienchargie & @harbison.studio who thoughtfully crafted the first of my three looks for this return. 

‘He understood my vision, honored my light, and helped shape a moment that feels both fresh and deeply aligned. I’m truly grateful to have his artistry and his brand part of my new chapter.’

Huger had been slated to serve one year in custody, but was released from the Montgomery County Detention Center after six months this past September in connection with her 2024 drunk driving conviction.

At the convention in Sin City Friday, Huger was seen in a trailer revealing that she and Andy Cohen would be having an interview to talk about the events in her life. 

Cohen told Huger in the clip (which is scheduled to air during the show’s season 10 finale: ‘Here we are – you are a free woman.’ 

Huger, who is nicknamed ‘Grand Dame,’ on December 19, 2024 was convicted in connection with DUI and DWI, speeding, driving with suspended registration, and failure to report an address change, with a reckless driving charge tossed.

After a Maryland jury found her guilty of all charges in connection with the incident (except for reckless driving), Huger went into a recovery program in Florida.

Huger subsequently said that she attended to ‘get to the bottom’ why she was ‘taking antidepressants and drinking.’

The rehab stint led to lead authorities to push back her sentencing, and also kept her from attending the season nine Real Housewives of Potomac reunion.

Huger subsequently spoke to her fans in a video about her issues with alcohol- denying that she was addicted to drinking.

Huger said in the clip, ‘No, I’m not an alcoholic – let’s be clear,’ later adding that her ‘heart dropped’ when the jury found her guilty last December.

In the clips, Huger said that she had accepted ‘full responsibility for everything that went on with [her] car accident,’ adding that the whole process was ‘very frightening’ to her.

Huger said she was devastated about the impact the accident had on her family.

‘I don’t care about me right now,’ Huger said. ‘I care about my children, I care about my family. They are so hurt.’

Officials said Huger was not injured in the wake of the March 2024 single-vehicle collision in her native Maryland, in which she barreled through a median and smashed a series of street signs, People reported. 

After the verdict, authorities released police body cam footage recorded during Huger’s arrest last March. 

In a questioning from police in the wake of the incident, Karen’s spouse Ray Huger was seen coming to her aid.

Karen was asked, ‘Do you remember the accident?’ to which she said, ‘Yes.’

The officer asked her, ‘What happened?’ and she said, ‘Nothing really.’

Ray was heard telling his spouse, ‘Somebody ran you off the road,’ which she confirmed, but said she didn’t remember the other vehicle involved.

Karen appeared to avoid specific inquiries from officers about her alcohol intake on the evening in question, referring them to speak to Ray about it at one point. 

Ray said, ‘I’m just saying, they’re assuming that you had more than you should have and I’m assuming you know, you had a couple of beers or something like that.’

Karen, who damaged the driver’s side of her Maserati in the incident, said, ‘Yes, that’s all I had.’

Andy Cohen last year told the magazine of Huger’s problems: ‘I think it’s all sad. I haven’t really processed it yet, but I think it’s very sad.’  

The Real Housewives of Potomac can be seen at 8/7c Sunday on Bravo, with episodes available to stream on Peacock.