Gretchen Rossi is sharing her thoughts on the news that Braunwyn Windham-Burke, Elizabeth Lyn Vargas, and Kelly Dodd were axed from The Real Housewives of Orange County’s upcoming sixteenth season.
“They have been talking about this big shake-up for a while now… It was interesting to see what they ultimately decided to do… I would say I was surprised, but not surprised,” she told Extra. “I am still friendly with Heather and I think she is something that the show really needed right now, and I think it’s going to be a good season, I think it’s going to be fun change for people, but I think I am still a little surprised on some of the decisions they made.”
When Rossi was asked if she would ever return to the series. She said, “You always have to say, ‘Never say never.’”
“However, I don’t think that’s the toxic environment that I really want to go back into,” Rossi explained. “I’m a mom now, when you become a mom, your perspective just changes on so many things… I feel like it might not be the best venue for me, but at the same time, with the cast changes and the direction of what the show goes in, that may change my mind, too.”
The news comes after it was revealed earlier this month that Dodd along with Braunwyn Windham-Burke, and Elizabeth Lyn Vargas were not asked to return to RHOC for the show's upcoming Season 16. According to reports, Bravo decided not to renew their contracts.
A spokesperson confirmed the news to Variety about Windhand-Burke, Lyn Vargas, and Dodd’s departures.
Shannon Storms Beador, Gina Kirschenheiter, and Emily Simpson, however, are all returning for Season 16. They will be joined by former Housewife Heather Dubrow, who originally left the series in 2017 after five seasons. Variety added that one or two new women will also join the cast.
However, it was reported that Braunwyn’s best friend Noella Bergener is joining the cast for Season 16 after Windham-Burke’s firing.
“Noella is coming on board as a cast member for the new season, though Braunwyn will not be returning,” a source told The Sun. “They tested her out before the firing decisions were made. She has good chemistry with other potential new cast members.”
That’s not all. It’s being reported that Tamra Judge is also returning to RHOC as a “friend.”
Photo Credit: Courtesy via Gretchen Rossi/Instagram; Bravo Media/NBCUniversal (4)
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