Bravo did not offer The Real Housewives of Orange County OG Vicki Gunvalson a full-time contract for season 18 despite honoring her with their inaugural ‘Wifetime’ Achievement Award at BravoCon on November 3.
The 61-year-old reality TV veteran was in the very first iteration of The Real Housewives franchise back in 2006 alongside Jeana Keough, Jo De La Rosa, Lauri Waring, and Kimberly Bryant.
After 13 seasons, Vicki (born Victoria Steinmetz) was then demoted to ‘friend’ status for the 14th season, in which she appeared in 12 episodes, and she officially quit the next year in 2020.
This year, Gunvalson was downgraded even further to ‘guest star’ for season 17, appearing in just five episodes.
‘All the calls were done last week,’ the Coto Insurance CEO lamented to Page Six on Wednesday.
Bravo did not offer The Real Housewives of Orange County OG Vicki Gunvalson a full-time contract for season 18 despite honoring her with their inaugural ‘Wifetime’ Achievement Award at BravoCon on November 3 (pictured)
‘I went on as good faith thinking I would show the network that I love them, I love filming, my value. But if I go back [as a “friend”], it looks thirsty…I don’t understand what they’re doing.’
But Bravo did not completely shut out Vicki as she’s returning for the Marrakesh-set fifth season of Peacock spin-off, The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Ex-Wives Club, premiering next year.
Gunvalson – who appeared in season two last year – will be joined in Morocco will be Brandi Glanville, Eva Marcille, Phaedra Parks, Camille Grammer, Caroline Manzo, Alex McCord, and Gretchen Rossi.
On Wednesday night, the Chicago-born blonde glammed up and reunited with RHOC’s Shannon Beador and Kelly Dodd at the Sunset Tower Hotel in West Hollywood for the Hollywood Houselift with Jeff Lewis premiere party.
Shannon – who was arrested for DUI and hit-and-run in September – is part of the Tres Amigas with Vicki and Tamra Judge, and they’ve hosted several events at comedy clubs like Stand Up Live in Phoenix on November 15-16.
On November 30, Radar Online reported that Alexis Bellino – who’s now dating Beador’s ex John Janssen – has been ‘in talks’ to rejoin the RHOC cast after leaving in season eight.
Meanwhile, Taylor Armstrong announced on November 29 that she would also not be returning as a ‘friend’ after just one RHOC season.
‘Loved spending time with the ladies of #RHOC and thankful I got to give the viewers an update on my life,’ the 52-year-old RHOBH alum wrote on Instagram.
‘I’ve made some real friendships that I cherish. Wishing the ladies all the best for season 18.’
Thus far, no other cast announcements have been made about RHOC season 18.
The 61-year-old reality TV veteran was in the very first iteration of The Real Housewives franchise back in 2006 alongside (from L-R) Jeana Keough, Jo De La Rosa, Lauri Waring, and Kimberly Bryant
After 13 seasons, Vicki was then demoted to ‘friend’ status for the 14th season (pictured in 2019), in which she appeared in 12 episodes, and she officially quit the next year in 2020
This year, Gunvalson was downgraded even further to ‘guest star’ for season 17 (pictured), appearing in just five episodes
The Coto Insurance CEO (pictured November 22) lamented to Page Six on Wednesday: ‘All the calls were done last week’
![Vicki continued: 'I went on as good faith thinking I would show the network that I love them, I love filming, my value. But if I go back [as a "friend"], it looks thirsty...I don't understand what they're doing'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/07/20/78708751-12839171-image-m-109_1701980862337.jpg)
Vicki continued: ‘I went on as good faith thinking I would show the network that I love them, I love filming, my value. But if I go back [as a “friend”], it looks thirsty…I don’t understand what they’re doing’
But Bravo did not completely shut out Gunvalson (2-R, pictured in 2022) as she’s returning for the Marrakesh-set fifth season of Peacock spin-off, The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Ex-Wives Club, premiering next year
On Wednesday night, the Chicago-born blonde glammed up and reunited with RHOC’s Shannon Beador (L) and Kelly Dodd (M) at the Sunset Tower Hotel in West Hollywood for the Hollywood Houselift with Jeff Lewis premiere party
Shannon – who was arrested for DUI and hit-and-run in September – is part of the Tres Amigas with Vicki and Tamra Judge, and they’ve hosted several events at comedy clubs like Stand Up Live in Phoenix on November 15-16
On November 30, Radar Online reported that Alexis Bellino (pictured November 28) – who’s now dating Beador’s ex John Janssen – has been ‘in talks’ to rejoin the RHOC cast after leaving in season eight
Taylor Armstrong announced on November 29 that she would also not be returning as a ‘friend’ after just one RHOC season
