Rumors have been circulating for a while about Real Housewives of Orange County’s “OG” Vicki Gunvalson, and the role that she would (or wouldn’t) play on Season 14. We have seen Vicki go through a divorce, find love with the cancer-faking Brooks Ayers, dump him, and build up her successful insurance business. There were rumors that Bravo wasn’t happy with Vicki’s snoozy storyline last season, and that Vicki needed to deliver an on-camera proposal from boyfriend Steve Lodge to secure her orange as a Housewife. No pressure, right?
Vicki certainly delivered with the engagement when Steve popped the question in April. It remains to be seen if the moment was memorialized by RHOC cameras. Or if there was an engagement party at Andale’s in Puerto Vallarta. Apparently, it wasn’t enough to nab a full-time position on the show that Vicki has been a Housewife on since the very first episode. It’s true–Vicki is returning as a Friend of the Housewives. Ouch!
A source told Page Six, “Bravo always shakes up the cast from season to season. Vicki’s very much a part of the drama and a part of this group.” Kelly Dodd, Emily Simpson, Shannon Beador, Gina Kirschenheiter, and Tamra Judge are all returning full-time, with newbie Braunwyn Windham-Burke joining the show.
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Vicki took to Instagram to share her thoughts about her new position. “For the past 14 years I’ve opened up my life, my loves, my ups and downs on The Real Housewives of Orange County and I am proud to be the “OG of the OC”,” Vicki wrote. “I am back again this season right in the middle of the action in a different role. I hope you have as much fun watching the show as I did living it in front of the cameras. Stay tuned to Bravo August 6th for more of the Tres Amigas.”
Vicki put a positive spin on the news, but I am certain that she isn’t whooping it up behind the scenes.
RELATED: Real Housewives Of Orange County Premiere Date Revealed & Vicki Gunvalson Gets Demoted; Check Out The New Cast Photos
The trailer for the new season appears promising, and it makes one thing perfectly clear–Vicki is still feuding with Kelly. I am sure that Vicki is dialing up the drama as much as possible in the hopes of grabbing an orange next season.
Still, it feels like the end of an era now that the only original RHOC star is being dragged kicking and shrieking stepping into a lesser role.
TELL US- ARE YOU SURPRISED THAT VICKI HAS BEEN DEMOTED? WILL THE SHOW BE THE SAME WITHOUT VICKI AS A FULL-TIME HOUSEWIFE? WHY DO YOU THINK SHE WAS DEMOTED?
[Photo Credit: Tommy Garcia/Bravo]
