Credit: Bravo
The Real Housewives of Orange County‘s landmark 20th season is still airing on Bravo, but that hasn’t stopped casting rumors regarding season 21 from already starting to pop up.
This season finally saw the return of the “OG of the OC” Vicki Gunvalson, 64, in a full-time housewife role, something she hasn’t held since season 13.
Yesterday, a rumor started circulating online from Bravo and Cocktails that was labeled “her decision.”
“Between filming UGT & Season 20 back to back, and being off the show for many years, Vicki has learned her desire to come back wasn’t all she hoped for,” the post read, referring to Vicki’s stint on RHOC and Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th.
It went on to say that “despite being invited back, Vicki is deciding to not return for Season 21. Bravo is leaving it up to her, but mutually they agree she will enjoy being involved with the network more through WWHL, BravoCon, and occasional events rather than as a Housewife.”
Vicki got wind of the post and quickly took to social media to write, “Well, this is news to me 😂🍊But in all seriousness, no decisions have been made yet. So back to your regularly scheduled programming… whether that’s whooping it up or working. Whichever one y’all were doing… for me, it’s back to surgery recovery 🙏🙏.”
Reality Blurb exclusively spoke to insiders in the wake of this rumor and Vicki’s post to find out what was actually going on.
“Vicki is telling the truth,” a source said. “She absolutely did not make any decision not to return for season 21, and the rumblings to the contrary are absolutely not true.”
Another insider noted that Vicki “is hopeful to return to RHOC for another season if asked back” and has “no plans to leave the show.”
Vicki was first asked to return to the show at BravoCon 2025 at The Bravos at BravoCon event in Las Vegas.
Andy Cohen surprised her and asked, “Vicki, would you join us as a housewife for Season 20?”
“Yes!” she happily declared.
New episodes of RHOC air weekly on Bravo at 8 p.m. ET.