Siggy Flicker opened up about the Bravo salaries of first-time housewives while appearing on a podcast on Tuesday.
While explaining how the ladies of the show actually lose money upon joining the popular reality series, the Real Housewives of New Jersey alum accused producers of forcing fake friendships between co-stars and revealed if cast members are “pressured” into throwing over-the-top events.
“No… What happens is that we are asked by production to hang out. We have to hang out because, listen, you’re doing a show about 5, 6, 7 women, and all those women really couldn’t give a sh*t about one another. But you’re doing a show,” Siggy revealed on the August 8 episode of All About the Real Housewives’ podcast
According to Siggy, who joined RHONJ in 2016 for season seven and exited the show in 2018 after season eight, most castmates “never [hang] out in real life,” but “have to hang out once or twice to have dinner.”
Looking back at her time on the series, Siggy said she would get “a phone call from production” asking her if she would like to enjoy a meal with certain co-stars.
“All of a sudden, you make plans, and you have dinner, and you’re photographed, and you know, it’s always to get the fans excited, ‘Look at them hanging out,’ you know?” she alleged, signaling to production that reportedly goes on behind the scenes.
“I don’t watch the show, but I know that all the friendships on the show are not of that,” she added.
As for how much the ladies are paid, Siggy said that because it is so expensive to be seen on camera so frequently, cast members of the Real Housewives franchise often end up spending more than they make.
“First season housewives make $60,000 now after taxes. That’s about $30,000 after hair extensions, makeup, a wardrobe, going to parties, and having to be photographed with people that you have to pretend you’re friends with everybody. You’re drained,” she revealed. “You are probably losing $150,000 the first year.”
As RHONJ fans may have seen, Siggy also targeted the editing team in further statements on the same podcast, accusing them of staging a scene between Teresa Giudice and Margaret Josephs that featured Margaret presenting Teresa with a wreath after her mother’s passing.
“Do you see what an edit can do? Do you think Margaret Josephs went to Florida and said, ‘Hi, okay, I think that we should buy a wreath?’” she asked. “That was all production.”
The Real Housewives of New Jersey season 14 is currently in production and expected to begin airing on Bravo sometime in early 2024.
