Apparently, Bravo producers have offered the cast of The Real Housewives of Orange County a huge cash bonus to save their catfights for the cameras and to say away from social media.
A source who works on pre-production for the hit reality series, claims that “Bravo has added a $30,000 bonus to each of their contracts. But the only way that they will get the money is if they stay completely silent on social media!”
“They cannot bash each other, or reveal any secrets until the show airs,” the insider told Radar Online. “The producers really seem to want this upcoming season to be a surprise!”
As fans who follow Orange County’s infamous housewives know, last season ended with Vicki Gunvalson and Kelly Dodd engaged in a bitter battle against co-star Tamra Judge, Shannon Beador, and Heather Dubrow.
“Bravo knows that all of the ladies have such big mouths, but they also know that they are all money hungry,” the insider revealed.
“Basically, they are paying all of them to stay silent and not throw shade on social media or anywhere else until they are given permission to do so.”
As previously reported, Bravo was not pleased with the most of the cast as they got into multiple Twitter battles last season, mostly between Dodd and Gunvalson versus Judge and Beador.
Back in September, when Season 11 was still airing, an insider close to production obtained a copy of an alleged letter from production sent to the RHOC casr. It reads, in part, “…the social media viciousness has gone too far and you need to cool it. Specifically we’re asking you to stop attacking each other. The network is upset and so are we in production.”
“The constant, ugly fighting is a bad look for you, and bad for the show,” it reads. “You may not like each other, may not trust each other and often wish you weren’t on the show together – but taking shots at each other on social media isn’t the answer. Save it for the show… for the reunion… and please stop fighting so dirty.”
The letter begged the ladies to stop “negative mentions about the other cast members,” and urged the ladies to focus on their own lives and projects instead.
“We’re asking you to stop any negative mentions about the other cast members on social media. Talk about your lives, your kids, your grandchildren, your jobs, products…. Or whatever…. But please stop aggressively hitting each other below the belt.”
As previously reported, returning to Season 12 are Vicki Gunvalson, Tamra Judge, Shannon Beador and Kelly Dodd. Lydia McLaughlin is returning to the show after a three-year hiatus and Meghan King Edmonds' role is still unknown, despite many sources claim she's out. However, the only confirmed cast member not returning to the show is Heather Dubrow, as she confirmed her departure from the Bravo hit reality show earlier this year.
The Real Housewives of Orange County is set to return later this year on Bravo.
Photo Credit: Bravo