Photo Credit: Tommy Garcia/Bravo
The new cast of Real Housewives of Orange County is starting with a bang. After last season’s low ratings, producers did a major overhaul, letting go of Braunwyn Windham-Burke, Kelly Dodd, and Elizabeth Vargas. Alum Heather Dubrow was brought back after four seasons off the grid.
Some viewers speculated that Tamra Judge would also return to the show after comments she made, which seemed to tease the idea. Instead, Bravo introduced two newcomers, Dr. Jen Armstrong and Nicole James. Radar Online recently reported, however, that Nicole was demoted after a nasty fight with Heather.
A food blogger named Amanda Rae first broke the story of a heated argument at a restaurant. At the time, castmates were filming a dinner in Aspen, Colorado. According to Amanda’s source, the dinner went very wrong. After the nasty fight broke out at the table, glass was shattered.
The source also said the cast moved their argument to an alley behind the restaurant. As of now, the nature of the argument is unknown. The next day, as the women filmed at a different restaurant, producers told the owner that no one would cause a scene because the women had already “got it out of their system.”
Newcomers Noella and Jen will bring several issues to the season. Noella is going through a contentious divorce with her husband James Bergener, a personal injury lawyer. Jen is also experiencing legal issues related to a former patient.
In Dave Quinn’s new tell-all book, Not All Diamonds and Rosé: The Inside Story of The Real Housewives from the People Who Lived It, producers explained the reason for Heather’s departure in 2016. Bravo wanted to push her into a ‘friend’ role, and the actress wasn’t pleased. Instead of accepting the new position, Heather chose to leave the show altogether.
Shannon is the only current castmate who’s remained on the show for eight consecutive seasons. Last year, she saw two of her friends, Vicki Gunvalson and Tamra, lose their spots on the franchise, which shocked many viewers who assumed the ‘Tres Amigas’ would forever hold a place on the screen.
Fans will be interested to discover why the fight broke out and who shattered the glass. Restaurant blow-ups are common with the Bravo housewives, who show little regard for social norms.