Selling Sunset’s Nicole Young sparked outrage after spreading a rumor that Emma Hernan had an affair with a married man – prompting cast members to threaten to quit before season eight even premiered.
Nicole, 38, first made the claims in shocking new scenes, which allegedly left Emma, 32, ‘blindsided’ when she watched it unfold at a screening for the cast just one week before the show’s release.
With the latest season now streaming on Netflix, DailyMail.com can finally delve into the nasty fallout which started to gain traction in episode five.
Nicole first hinted that an affair had taken place during a dinner with Mary Bonnet, Amanza Smith, and newcomer Alanna Gold, however the conversation was swiftly shut down.
After being shocked at hearing that Emma was single, Nicole said that she had heard something from a ‘source’ about the agent that was ‘morally upsetting.’
Selling Sunset ‘s Nicole Young spread a rumor that Emma Hernan had an affair with a married man in season eight of the Netflix show
At the time of writing, Emma, 32, has yet to address the sensational claims
Addressing the table, she said: ‘I heard about it from a source. I wish I didn’t know… It involves Emma and that’s all I want to say.’
‘It’s morally upsetting to all of us,’ Nicole added, as Amanza, 47, pleaded with her to stop.
But Nicole continued: ‘It’s just information that, you know, could really affect families, marriages, and Emma’s reputation.
‘As a married woman that kind of sh*t p****s me off… If I were the wife, I’d f*****g kill someone.’
Mary, 44, and Amanza tried repeatedly to shut the conversation down, with Mary insisting: ‘We do not have to talk about that sh*t.’
‘But my husband would never in a million years,’ Nicole clapped back, prompting Amanza to snap: ‘Don’t talk anymore. Stop.’
During the heated conversation, the name ‘Jen’ and ‘Orange County’ were mentioned.
The rumor then subsided until the season eight finale, where Nicole shared her findings with Bre Tiesi so she could use it as ‘ammo’ amid her fallout with Chelsea Lazkani.
Nicole, 38, initially hinted at the rumor during a dinner in episode five, in which she said: ‘It’s just information that, you know, could really affect families, marriages, and Emma’s reputation’
Nicole repeated the rumor to Bre Tiesi, 33, in the season eight finale so she could use it as ‘ammo’ amid her fallout with Chelsea Lazkani, 31
Before their conversation, Bre, 33, had furiously clashed with Chelsea, 31, after telling her that her husband Jeff Lazkani was reportedly having an affair and had been seen kissing a younger woman in a hotel lobby.
Chelsea accused Bre of bringing the affair storyline to the cameras, which in turn saw Emma team up with Chelsea.
Nicole told Bre: ‘I think it’s real interesting for Emma in particular to comment on other people’s marriages, and get involved in any of that, because I’ve heard some gray things in terms of that.
‘I would be careful in her position because she’s been involved with people she shouldn’t have been.’
‘Married people?’ Bre asked, to which Nicole replied: ‘I wouldn’t trust Emma with my husband.’
Nicole claimed that Emma was ‘confronted’ in-person over the alleged cheating
‘Not a husband snatcher?’ Bre quizzed, with Nicole agreeing with an ‘mhhm.’
‘First I heard it from someone I know very well,’ she continued.
‘And she has proof of this?’ Bre asked.
‘She confronted her,’ Nicole claimed, revealing that a head-to-head had allegedly happened in person.
She then added: ‘People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. Especially that one.’
DailyMail.com has contacted Emma’s rep for comment.
While Emma is yet to directly address Nicole’s rumor, her costars Chelsea and Chrishell Stause have staunchly defended her on social media and have accused Done and Done Productions, the company behind Selling Sunset, of ‘spreading lies for views.’
Chrishell Stause, 43, and Chelsea took to social media to defend Emma after watching the rumor unfold one week before the season premiered on Netflix
They claimed that Emma had been ‘blindsided’ by Nicole’s rumor, with Chrishell adding that it is a ‘disgusting lie that is categorically false’
In a string of explosive social media posts, Chrishell, 43, threatened to quit the hit show before the season eight premiere, vowing to never work with Nicole again, while also slamming the production company for allegedly not giving Emma an opportunity to respond to the rumor.
She wrote: ‘Are we still giving airtime to LIARS who just want air time?’
In another upload she wrote: ‘I will NEVER work on a show with her on it again. I would rather be sued.
‘Disclaimer when you watch just know she spews a disgusting lie about a bestie that is categorically FALSE and SUPER damaging. It is NOT TRUE.’
She then tagged Done and Done Productions and added: ‘You are disgusting for blindsiding her with this to see with the world instead of letting her at LEAST defend herself with the TRUTH.’
Chelsea also publicly slammed ‘diabolical’ Nicole and the production company.
She said: ‘Good morning everyone except for @nicoleyoung. You are the most diabolical piece of [wastebasket emoji] I’ve ever met.
‘You wanna start a rumor about Emma because all the rumors about you are true. Okay let’s see how this works out for you… @done_and_done_productions where is your moral ground and integrity?? Spreading lies for views is so damaging.’
Chrishell also ruled out working with Nicole on a television project going forward
Nicole stood by her claims and said she stands for the ‘sanctity of all marriages’
Nicole, however, doubled down on her stance and defended spreading the rumor ‘for the sanctity of all marriages.’
‘As a married woman, I strongly and confidently stand for the sanctity of all marriages,’ she began in a statement on her Instagram stories.
‘Instead of attacking me and accusing me of lying, I think you ladies need to ask your bestie some tough questions.
‘Did she let you know that she was directly confronted on camera at the season 7 finale by the wife’s best friend?
‘Even still, I stated this info as a rumor. And given both of you have been the victim of extramarital affairs, I would think you too would stand for the sanctity of all marriages.’
