"That’s a wrap!
I want to thank Andy Cohen and Bravo for the opportunity they gave me on The Real Housewives of New Jersey. Andy Cohen is a mentor, a friend and the sweetest man in the universe, not to mention GOOD LOOOKING! Bravo has amazing people who made a tremendous impact on my career and my life. I don’t regret one second of the good and sometimes the not so good.
What did I learn?
I learned that when dealing with a reality show, never ever ever leave your edit in the hands of someone else. Let me tell you why. Imagine the most well-behaved lion — a lion who was raised and surrounded by love — never experiencing cruelty. Now imagine that same lion is caged, poked, prodded and beaten for weeks. Finally, that lion strikes back at its tormentors. The tormentors capture video only of the lion attacking, show that video and label the lion vicious, unpredictable and unhinged. Welcome to the last year of my life.
I learned that education is the very foundation by which a great society is built. There is no room for intolerance or marginalization based on faith, and I am grateful that I have been recruited to educate on the subject. This is where civil society must draw a line. Hitler is not an analogy, it is an abomination. No one should trivialize his evil. The Holocaust is not a social reference point. Those who I filmed with who didn’t know what the Holocaust was … now do.
I am sure that people will think twice before bringing up Hitler’s name in casual conversation far removed from the atrocities of the Holocaust or World War II. I am grateful that what started as such a painful exchange has launched me into such a meaningful direction.
After all, we teach our kids not to lie, cheat or steal. So why would anyone remain in an environment that rewards just that? Leave the toxicity behind and immerse yourselves in what you are passionate about and that is exactly what I am going to do.
I learned that my husband, my kids, my family and my friends — especially Dolores Catania — will guide me through the darkest of times with unprecedented strength and unwavering support. Looking back at how they rallied around me, it is truly humbling.
I learned that viewers have touched my life as I had intended to touch theirs. Many have become friends. Those friendships are flourishing.
Finally, I learned we can’t plan our future. I could never have predicted that my time on The Real Housewives of New Jersey would take me to where I need to be today.
So as I continue to write my fairytale, I pray that each of you will continue to write yours."
As previously reported, Siggy Flicker announced that she was quitting the Bravo hit reality series after two seasons.
“Looking back at the show I truly wanted to make a difference for Jersey and in Jersey and I realized that I had too many obstacles working against me and I couldn’t do it,” Flicker told Us Weekly about why she decided to leave the Bravo show. “I feel like I lost the battle but I won the war because at the end of the day, everyone’s goal should be … to be happy. And there is nothing more that I love than myself, my husband and my family too much for them to be unhappy and for me to be unhappy.”
A production source told the publication that Siggy feels she got a rough edit this season and feels “betrayed” by production. “There’s not a chance she’ll go back. She feels liberated,” the insider added.
Another insider claimed that Siggy was “very difficult” to work with this season. “She was not going to be asked back. Fan reaction about her has been very negative, especially with what she has posted on social media,” the source told Us Weekly.
"After much reflection and Bravo’s support, I have decided that this will be my last season on The Real Housewives of New Jersey," she said in a statement to Bravo's The Daily Dish. "I am grateful to the network for allowing me to be part of this successful franchise and wish only the best for Teresa, Melissa, Dolores, Danielle and Margaret. At this time, I want to focus on my beautiful family, my growing business and some exciting new projects."
Meanwhile, Flicker revealed that she had no regrets about her decision of leaving The Real Housewives of New Jersey. “I’ve never been so happy with my decision,” Flicker told Radar Online.
“Everybody was stacked up against me. I love Bravo and I love Andy Cohen but at the end of the day all the odds were stacked up against me and I chose my family.”
Flicker told the media outlet that she was not sorry about the end of her stint on RHONJ.
“I made the right decision and I would do it all over again,” but she slammed the poor editing she said she received by the production company. “I’m over the top, I’m loud, I’m full of life. I‘m TV gold and I did not deserve to be treated the way I was treated.”
She revealed that her fellow co-stars, minus Josephs and Danielle Staub, were still standing by her side after revealing her decision to quit the show.
“I love Teresa, I love Melissa and I love Dolores and they’re going to rock next season. And they all reached out. Because we are real friends.”
Siggy joined RHONJ in Season 7. Over the past two seasons, RHONJ fans have watched Siggy take her career as a relationship expert to the next level, show her love and support to her husband, children, and parents, and pal around with her BFF Dolores.
Photo Credit: Millennium Magazine
