A cast shakeup is underway for The Real Housewives of New York City's upcoming new season but new sources claim that Ramona Singer is not going anywhere after a recent report claimed otherwise.
“Ramona Singer ain't going anywhere,” the insider told The Daily Mail. “This story is complete rubbish."
“We do not make casting decisions this early in the year, we decide after the reunion episodes have aired,” the source said. “The production company Shed and the network Bravo really take into account what the fans say online and how they respond to the cast.”
“One Housewife in particular has it out for Ramona and she wants her off the show. This Housewife is leaking to news organizations that Ramona is fired in an attempt to push the network to get rid of her,” they continued. “Over the coming weeks until the reunion is filmed there will be "anti-Ramona" stories leaked everywhere as this Housewife attempts to push her off the show.”
“The only problem is, Housewives fans who have stuck with the show this season, know what the problem is, and this year it isn't Ramona Singer.”
Meanwhile, a source told the publication that while some cast members should be prepared to get axed from the show, Ramona is simply not one of them.
“Ramona also isn't the cast member that should be worried,” they said. “There is one cast member who producers have found particularly problematic as what viewers are seeing on television isn't real.”
“Ramona has been the backbone of the show this season and she's been a key part of the series since day one. Love her or hate her, she makes great reality television,” they added.
An insider shared that it's Ramona Singer's openness that leaves her indispensable from the series.
“We've seen her raise her daughter, re-marry Mario, deal with his infidelity, get divorced and then hunt for a new man,” the source told The Daily Mail. “She opens up her home and her life with transparency. That can't be said about other members of the cast.”
The source added, “Just like OC you can expect a cast shake up though. This show can be saved. Look at how great Beverly Hills is now.”
Earlier this week it was reported RHONY producers were considering axing Singer from the series due to her pay salary and behavior.
“The only original New York cast member who has never left from day one is Ramona Singer but now her time is up,” a source told Radar Online.
“Ramona will not be invited back to the next season of the show, which is currently not in production for a couple of reasons. One, she is too expensive. She is the only lady that has been on the show from day one, (Countess LuAnn was demoted to ‘a friend’ before returning as a full-time cast member) and her salary reflects it," the source explained.
The insider continued, “Plus, the basic premise of the show doesn’t work anymore. A bunch of older white women behaving badly was fun a decade ago but not today. The world has changed and if the show wants to survive another decade it must change too and that starts with the cast.”
“Ramona is furious that the show is changing. She doesn’t understand why her behavior isn’t great TV anymore. After over a decade of being rewarded for saying and doing the things she has done, she does not understand what the problem is,” the source added.
Insiders add that officially Bravo will say that no decision has been made yet, but in reality they have all already said ‘goodbye’ to Ramona. The RHONY producers are clearly trying to fix the show's problems given the ratings have drastically dropped this season, reports Radar Online.
The news comes after it was reported last month that a cast shakeup is in the works for RHONY.
“The Real Housewives looks to be shaking things up for next season,” a source told The Sun. “The production company has started putting feelers out to multiple eligible women in NY.”
The source added: “Latina NY Radio host (WKTU Morning Show) Carolina Bermudez is also on the wish list right now.”
Others are also in consideration to join RHONY, as the insider revealed: “It seems they want fresh blood.”
The source added, “They are starting the casting process earlier than ever, so it’s clear they want to shake things up.”
The current lineup consists of Eboni K. Williams, Leah McSweeney, Luann de Lesseps, Ramona Singer, and Sonja Morgan. Williams is the most recent star to join the cast. She made history by becoming the first African-American cast member on the series.
Photo Credit: Bravo Media/NBCUniversal
