Hassan, Dr. Simone Whitmore, Brynn Whitfield, Teddi Mellencamp, Dorit Photo By: Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Images
After seeing the hype and success of BravoCon 2023, it’s clear that fans are willing to spend, spend, spend to be a part of the network and its lineup of hit reality TV shows. As such, connection to Bravo has some marketing value. And one NYC based non-profit organization found a way to use that hype for a good, and adorable, cause.
Waldo’s Rescue Pen prides itself on being a no-kill shelter and saves the majority of its dogs from high-volume shelters where their chance at being adopted are slim. During a recent rescue mission, the shelter took to Instagram to introduce some of their newest editions, some of whom were named after Bravo fan favorites.
“Andy Cohen has the 411 on the newest Real Housewives of NY,” Waldo’s Rescue Pen staff captioned the post. Included were several photos of dogs rescued in this particular mission.
“The RHONY gals arrived with the number one guy in the group and 35 other incredible pups on their freedom ride to NYC today!” the post continued. “They are already winning the hearts of everyone they meet including their Bravolebrity namesakes! They’re all up on our site ready for you to apply to adopt them!”
In another post, the shelter tagged @bravoandy and suggested the animals be featured on Watch What Happens Live. “Call us if you’re looking for some canine bartenders for WWHL!,” the caption read. The photos included several dogs alongside the Bravo stars that they were named after.
Clearly, the marketing is working. The hype is up to check out the pets and get them adopted. In a third post, Waldo’s Rescue introduced the Vanderpuppies that include Ariana Madix, James Kennedy, and Lala Kent.
TELL US – WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE MARKETING IDEA? WOULD YOU ADOPT A DOG NAMED AFTER YOUR FAVORITE BRAVOLEBRITY?
UPDATE: Kyle Viljoen reactivated his Instagram account after 48 hours, saying he needed “a social break.” He added on his Instagram Stories: “Being ‘main character energy’ is exhausting!” Original report follows…
Limiting access. After the most recent episode of Below Deck Mediterranean aired, Kyle Viljoen deactivated his social media account. Fans of the show may or may not be surprised given the state of things on the show. But the outspoken South African native arguably could have let viewers have their say.
The interior crew on Season 8 has been an absolute toxic mess. And it’s been getting hard to pinpoint who the real problem is, though arguably one could choose between Kyle and Natalya Scudder. Chief stew Tumi Mhlongo took some heat at the beginning too, but she is finding her stride.
So what is Kyle’s motivation to deactivate his account except to avoid negative commentary? Do the optics from the episode paint the reality TV star in an unfavorable light?
The dynamics within the interior team changed since the full cast finally assembled on board. Kyle and Tumi were delayed due to visa issues. As such, made friends at the embassy and Kyle seemingly bad-mouthed Natalya to Tumi.
The two ladies fought to establish dominance. After Captain Sandy Yawn intervened in an argument, Natalya and Tumi chose to make peace and keep it professional. So in the absence of an outlet for that drama, it seems another one formed.
To her credit, Tumi observed that Kyle trash talking to Natalya, his supposed friend. She said in a confessional interview that she had to assume that Kyle was talking about her behind her back too. Suspicions were aroused.
But the missing link here is the fourth interior crew member who side-stepped a lot of the prior drama. Jessika Asai was team Natalya in the beginning and hung on her every word. In one instance, she thought Tumi was laughing at the idea of her being in service. Yet a professional conversation with her superior nipped that conflict in the bud.
A similar situation with Kyle had the two mend fences while Natalya was left as the sole stew harboring ill feelings. But not before he confronted her for speaking negatively about him. Kyle raised her voice and Jessika was left visibly emotional. Tumi made sure the stews were not in proximity for the rest of the charter. Notably, Kyle also suffered a suspected panic attack shortly thereafter.
So was it the fight that left Jessika in tears the reason that Kyle deactivated his Instagram? Or was it the ongoing conflict with Natalya? Or another reason entirely? Will he return to social media?
TELL US – WHY DO YOU THINK KYLE DEACTIVATED HIS SOCIAL MEDIA? DO YOU THINK HE WILL RETURN? WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE INTERIOR DRAMA?
(Photo by: Wilford Harewood/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
With the heaviest of sighs, it’s my duty to report recent, but predictable news about Kim Zolciak and Kroy Biermann. Kim and Kroy are suffering from massive self-imposed debt. They have repeatedly traumatized their children by fighting in front of them. And the couple are drowning in lawsuits from creditors.
Kim recently appeared on The Surreal Life and Kroy gets about $2k monthly from NFL pension. Despite this, they are unable to pay even the most basic bills and their McMansion is currently on the market. Amid divorce proceedings for the second time, Kim and Kroy must have realized they truly are soul mates, or they simply cannot afford to pay for attorneys. Yes, friends, true love wins once again. The Messenger has the details.
Welp, despite more calls to the cops than you can count and tons of nasty accusations, according to sources, Kim and Kroy are back together. It was obviously the next move after the “estranged” couple celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary and Kim went back to Biermann on Instagram.
I guess Kroy couldn’t stand the thought of his bride making flirty eyes at Chet Hanks in exotic locations. This man is more disappointing than an unsalted pretzel because he was suckered back in. An insider said, “They are back together for now.” I’m happy for Kim and Kroy. Now no one else will be subjected to their penchant for spending money on Uber Eats and Xbox games instead of keeping the lights on.
Over the summer Kroy said Kim was an unfit parent. He also said she lost the family fortune by paying more attention to the slots than her positive income. Kim remains undefeated in being her own worst enemy by living in denial surrounded by a cloud of dry shampoo and stale wine.
During a flurry of calls to law enforcement, while they weren’t getting along, Kim alleged Kroy was possibly suffering from mental instability due to playing football. She also said he blows his money on weed. That said, Kroy is probably proficient in most episodes of Scooby Doo.
What about Real Housewives?
While Kim’s life is certainly dramatic, we’ll have to see if it’s interesting enough for a Real Housewives of Atlanta return. Recently Andy Cohen revealed the door isn’t closed on Kimbo’s comeback. This reconciliation is likely more about money than love, but it appears Mr. and Mrs. Biermann are back in the saddle.
The judge in charge of Kim and Kroy’s divorce is probably thanking multiple deities for getting her out of this mess. But there’s always next week.
TELL US – ARE YOU SURPRISED KIM AND KROY RECONCILED AGAIN? DO YOU THINK THEY WILL BE ALLOWED TO KEEP THE HOUSE?
UPDATE: Lisa confirmed on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Jack’s visa was delayed. It appears his mission in Colombia is still set to go ahead! Original report follows…
It’s not every day that we’re following rumors about the whereabouts of a teenager, but this gossip is just too good to ignore.
In Season 4 of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, the major storyline for Lisa Barlow is that her son, Jack Barlow, decided to embark on a two-year missionary trip. He said, “Fudge college,” and he found another path to follow after high school graduation.
The Barlows held a huge party to announce where Jack was “called” to serve. It was like he was getting his Hogwarts invitation or something, and they all seemed excited that he was assigned Bogota, Colombia as his mission location. However, Lisa did make a bizarre comment in her confessional interview, where she said that Jack might be robbed at gunpoint every day while living there. Of course, she claimed to know someone who had that experience. Sure, Lisa.
Now, it seems like he might not have actually moved to Colombia after all. A Reddit user claimed to have seen Jack in a TJ Maxx in Tustin, California. Are Mormons supposed to be Maxxinistas during their missions?
Fudge college and fudge Jack Barlow’s Colombia mission
Photo Credit: @lisabarlow14 via Instagram
“I just saw Jack Barlow at TJ Maxx/Home Goods in Tustin, CA. He was wearing his LDS badge and was with another missionary guy,” the Reddit user wrote. “I’m guessing Lisa didn’t let him go to Colombia for his mission. Instead, he went to Irvine/Tustin (literally one of the safest cities in the entire United States).”
There are only a couple of logical explanations for this rumored Jack Barlow sighting. He either has a long-lost twin running around Orange County who really loves discount stores, or he didn’t go to Colombia on his mission. Which is it?
The poster on Reddit assumed that Lisa was behind this last-minute switch. Although Lisa is Mormon 2.0, it wouldn’t make sense for her to be able to call up the church and tell them to reassign his mission to somewhere else — unless her reality TV fame has earned her some extra pull around the church.
On Reddit, some users theorized that he may be stateside due to issues with his visa. It could also be as simple as the church reassigning Jack’s mission on their own accord. Either way, Lisa’s comment about the dangers of Colombia makes this all seem a little bit odd. We’re going to need Andy Cohen to clear this up at the RHOSLC reunion.
In the meantime, new episodes of Real Housewives of Salt Lake City air on Bravo, Tuesdays at 8/7c.
TELL US – DO YOU BELIEVE THE RUMOR THAT JACK IS IN CALIFORNIA AND NOT COLOMBIA? DO YOU THINK LISA WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET HIS MISSION CHANGED?
The myth, the legend. The controversial figure of Vanderpump Rules who had her own reputation built up from the gossip of the cast has gone public. Katie Maloney most of all had reason to dislike Jo Wenberg after she suspected the hairstylist of hooking up with her ex-husband Tom Schwartz. But is she being unfair?
In Pump Rules Season 10, Jo’s name started coming up in connection with Schwartz and their roommate status after he moved out of the marital home he shared with Katie. The former couple announced their split in March 2022. Now, the eccentric maven is getting some screen time of her own and is sharing her experiences filming with the cast for Season 11 of Vanderpump Rules.
Filming Vanderpump Rules “was very hard” for Jo Wenberg
Photo Credit: @jomygosh via Instagram
On Monday, November 6, Jo changed her Instagram account to public and shared a message to her followers.
“I’m going public with my Instagram tonight. I hope you guys will all be kind to me. I haven’t gotten the nicest stuff on any type of platform. But I wanted just to make sure that you guys could [see] just me with no makeup or filter. This is who I am,” Jo said in the video.
She went on to speak of her experience filming, and credited the producers for helping her feel comfortable.
“I did film this season of Vanderpump Rules, and it was a very big, eye-opening experience. I am usually behind the camera, and being in front of the camera was very hard for me. But I will say the producers were really awesome,” she continued.
Viewers of the show will remember how her name came up in the wake of Tom Sandoval’s affair with Rachel Leviss. It was suspected that Schwartz sought comfort from his friend.
Indeed, Schwartz admitted to a “situationship or a friends with benefits thing with clearly defined boundaries,” during the May special follow-up to the Vanderpump Rules Season 10 reunion. “We were both coming out of long-term relationships, and for a minute there, we were each other’s happy places.”
It will be interesting to see how Jo and Tom’s friendship plays out. Then there’s the rest of the cast who will be welcoming her into the fold! Or not…
Vanderpump Rules Season 11 premieres in January 2024 on Bravo.
TELL US – WHAT IS YOUR OPINION OF JO AND HER FRIENDSHIP WITH SCHWARTZ? ARE YOU INTERESTED TO SEE HER IN SEASON 11? WHAT DRAMA DO YOU THINK SHE WILL BE INVOLVED IN?
It’s that time of the week again: Welcome to the Below Deck Mediterranean Season 8, Episode 8 recap! In this week’s episode, called “Who Needs Frenemies,” the interior team is set to implode. Kyle’s tension with Jessika came to a close, but he and Natalya now have their sights firmly set on one another after a boozy night out. Thank god for the deck team, who actually seem to know how to work together in harmony! And Chef Jack of course; he’s a good egg. Here’s everything that went down in Below Deck Med Season 8, Episode 8!
Is Kyle “bullying” Jessika?
Photo by: Fred Jagueneau/Bravo
Kyle tells Tumi he doesn’t trust “a single f*cking soul on this boat,” following his confrontation with Jessika. She had told her chief stew that Kyle makes her feel “green,” and he absolutely decimated her in front of Natalya after that got back to him. Jessika thinks Kyle is projecting onto her, and has been “very harsh.” For his part, Kyle thinks Jessika was “malicious as hell,” and tells her as much when she tries to clear the air. This results in Jessika crying, and having to be comforted by Tumi.
Later on in the episode, after Kyle almost faints due to an anxiety attack, he texts the interior group chat from his bunk. The text ends with him saying he cannot take on other people’s dramas, which Natalya asks Jessika about the next day. She implies it was a dig against her, and Jessika agrees. She calls it “bullying” at this point, and takes it to Tumi. The chief stew does a great job of diffusing the situation, and points out that Kyle had commented about the drama between Natalya and her boyfriend also stressing him out. It wasn’t a targeted attack on Jessika.
Clearing the air
Photo by: Fred Jagueneau/Bravo
After speaking with Tumi, Jessika and Kyle manage to have a one-on-one conversation. They listen to one another and really get where the other was coming from. The pair come to the conclusion that Natalya is the one pulling the strings, with Jessika calling her “the core of the drama.” Kyle apologizes for his approach, and Jessika also says sorry for not thinking before she speaks.
While these two are friendly again, that leaves Natalya pissed off on the crew night out. She sees Kyle, Jessika and Tumi all getting along, and says in confessional they are “the most ingenuine people I’ve met in my life.” It reeks of jealousy – especially when she leaves the first bar early to rush back to the yacht and complain to her gaslighting boyfriend.
Captain Sandy returns to the yacht, and tells Jack to pack his stuff
Photo by: Fred Jagueneau/Bravo
Has Captain Sandy fired chef Jack? Not exactly. While the guests did convince him to take a shot with them on their final night of the charter, his honesty with Captain Sandy means he’s fine to stick around. When he did go to confess all in the bridge, however, she made his heart drop. “Pack your shit,” Sandy says, before Jack asks for confirmation. “No, I’m kidding … just don’t do it again … thank you for telling me.” Sandy’s got a real soft spot for Jack.
Speaking of Captain Sandy, it turns out she did fracture her wrist! Fortunately, she’s able to carry on with the rest of the season, as she’s fine to continue driving the yacht. Maybe this will mean more lessons for Luka and Lara in the bridge!
The deck team are the dream team in Below Deck Mediterranean Season 8, Episode 8
Photo by: Fred Jagueneau/Bravo
Max has really hit his stride. While he makes some mistakes, like leaving his radio behind, Luka knows that the way to teach him is through positive reinforcement. Even Lara and Haleigh seem to like having him around now. He’s like that annoying puppy dog who won’t stop nudging your leg for attention. You kinda want them to go away after 10 minutes, but they’re just so darn cute that you can’t help but give them more snuggles.
Following a particularly tight docking, in which the deck team excel once again, Max gets lucky on a night out. The charter guests are free to mingle with the crew now the charter’s over, so they meet them at a bar. Max plays a few rounds of tonsil tennis with one he’s been getting along with very well. Exactly why Kyle later felt the need to tell him it was never going to work out, because she’s a mature businesswoman, is anybody’s guess.
Straight people are not part of the LGBTQ+ community
Photo by: Fred Jagueneau/Bravo
Now as a gay man, let me make one thing clear. Straight people are not a part of the LGBTQ+ community. However, I’m going to excuse Max for his clumsiness and possible ignorance. We have seen how he struggles sometimes with the English language. What he seemingly was trying to do in this chat with Kyle, was say that he wanted everybody to be all part of the same big, happy family. The primary goal is for everybody to coexist peacefully. He was never trying to claim he was a part of the LGBTQ+ community simply because he was an ally.
So, exactly why Natalya got involved and made the most ignorant comment of the night – that if Max would have a threesome with another man he was bi-curious – was completely beyond me. It led to Kyle telling her she would “never control” him, and her telling Kyle to “take a water.” He spat back that she should focus on her “own f*cked up life,” before topping everything off with the zinger: “Our friendship’s never been real.” That one’s gotta hurt. Natalya and Kyle are as bad as each other. Get them both off the boat and two new stews in, we beg.
It’s no secret that Real Housewives franchises can be overflowing with problematic stars. The personality type is generally good for reality TV. Sometimes, though, things get too problematic. Case in point, Shannon Beador.
The Real Housewives of Orange County star was arrested just two months ago following a DUI and hit-and-run. No one was hurt, save Shannon, but nobody was all too pleased about the incident, including Shannon’s friends Tamra Judge and Vicki Gunvalson. The two expressed their concern for Shannon multiple times.
Honestly, in spite of how problematic the trio can be, their friendship is pretty wholesome. Everyone needs a support system, after all. At BravoCon 2023, Shannon opened up about the ways her friends had supported her following her arrest.
Us Weekly got the chance to speak with the Tres Amigas during BravoCon, asking about how Shannon’s life had been since her arrest. “These two have been an incredible support system to me,” Shannon said of Tamra and Vicki. She revealed that Tamra nearly changed her filming schedule after first learning about the DUI.
Shannon explained that Tamra “was leaving for The Traitors [in Scotland] on the day that my DUI became public, and she didn’t even want to go. She honestly was there [for me].” Tamra added, “I just wanted to lay in bed with her and watch TV. And then order up room service.”
As for her personal growth since the accident, Shannon shared, “I’ve learned a lot about myself and I’ve been focusing on eliminating toxic and unhealthy things for my life.” Shannon was especially happy to cut John Janssen out of her life. Vicki added, “We’ve all had toxic people, and she learned the hard way to get ’em out, and that was a life lesson.”
TELL US – WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE TRES AMIGAS AND THEIR FRIENDSHIP?
It’s been over six months since the news of Scandoval first broke. In retrospect, it’s wild to think we were once so consumed with Tom Sandoval‘s love life.
After the affair was exposed, fans thought Sandoval and Rachel Leviss would start publicly dating but they didn’t. Now that we have some distance from the drama, let’s explore why these two didn’t work out.
The Backlash Killed the Romance
(Photo by: Nicole Weingart/Bravo via Getty Images)
Starting a relationship on the heels of a public scandal has to be tough. We’re guessing the backlash from social media and their co-stars might have killed the spark between the two former lovebirds.
Rachel seemed pretty composed during the reunion but fans saw her break down in a confessional at the end of Part III. The scandal clearly affected her more than she was letting on during filming.
In the confessional, Rachel came clean about the timeline of the affair, contradicting the timeline Sandoval provided to host Andy Cohen. Rachel also, for the first time, expressed genuine remorse for what had transpired in the months prior. “I definitely felt really guilty,” she told a producer. “A huge part of me wanted to tell [Ariana Madix]. It ate me alive not to tell her.”
“It did get really dark. I remember when I got back from tour was specifically a really, really hard day,” he said on the episode. “Your world starts collapsing on itself, and you cannot see outside of your feelings. Your peripheral goes away, your ability to snap out of it goes away.”
We’re guessing the two probably needed space from the scandal because being around each other was a painful reminder of what happened.
Rachel Went to a Mental Health Facility
(Photo by: Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Images)
After the scandal broke, Rachel took some time away from Vanderpump Rules and checked into the Meadows, a mental health facility in Arizona. Sandoval, on the other hand, remained in the public eye, touring with his cover band, Tom Sandoval & The Most Extras.
Rachel left the treatment center in July and gave her first post-treatment interview on Bethenny Frankel‘s podcast, Just B, in August. The Bravo star opened up about her experience at the Meadows, telling Bethenny she explored her interest in unavailable men and love addiction while in treatment.
It seems like Rachel discovered a lot about herself and her dating habits in treatment. By distancing herself from Sandoval, she is able to rejoin the dating scene with her newfound knowledge about herself.
Sandoval and Ariana Still Live Together
(Photo by Araya Doheny/Getty Images)
Many fans were shocked to learn that Sandoval and Ariana continued living together after the breakup. The two own a home together, so it is a bit more complicated than if they shared an apartment but it still confused many viewers.
Ariana explained the situation on an episode of Scheana Shay‘s podcast, Scheananigans, in August. The former bartender explained that they stay in separate areas of the home and have little to no interaction. She also defended her decision to continue living with Sandoval post-breakup, telling listeners, “I have a mortgage. It’s expensive. I am not going to squander my financial future and stability by putting myself in a position to f*ck myself over for the rest of my life because somebody else f*cked up,”
Ariana’s explanation of the situation makes total sense but we’re guessing Sandoval living with his ex-girlfriend wasn’t an ideal situation for Rachel.
On Bethenny’s podcast, Rachel revealed that she gave Sandoval a key to her place while she was in treatment but he chose not to use it. “People are confused as to why they’re still living together,” she said. “I actually gave Tom the key to my apartment while I was away at the Meadows and he had a free place to stay and chose to stay in the house with Ariana.” Hmm. Interesting.
Overall, we think there are a lot of reasons these two chose not to continue a relationship. Between the backlash and their own personal guilt about the situation, it would’ve been hard to create a healthy, successful relationship.
TELL US – DO YOU THINK TOM SANDOVAL AND RACHEL LEVISS WILL GET BACK TOGETHER?
When it comes to the Real Housewives franchise, mean girls are inevitable. Many of the women on the show are often sneaky and dramatic, although most do not have a genuine mean streak. There are several ladies from the franchise, however, who have shown that they have a mean side. These women are the meanest from the entire Real Housewives franchise, and that really says a lot.
Erin Lichy
Bravo/YouTube
Erin Lichy recently joined the cast on the Real Housewives of New York Season 14, where she quickly rose to villain status. While fans were excited to see what Erin was all about, they lost interest when she began acting viciously toward some of her fellow cast members. Erin showed her mean streak when she hid Ubah Hassan‘s phone during a “prank,” which went way too far.
Furthermore, Erin has not been the nicest to Jenna Lyons, who she pretends to be best friends with at times. Erin pretended to be on Jenna’s side when it came to the drama of the Anguilla trip, but later stabbed her in the back. Erin made fun of Jenna to the other women, and started a rumor that Jenna left a day early only to avoid flying coach. After not even one full season, it is already evident that Erin is a mean girl.
Tamra Judge
(Photo by Rich Polk/Bravo via Getty Images)
Tamra Judge is another Real Housewives mean girl who has not made a good impression on the Real Housewives of Orange County. Throughout the years, Tamra has struggled to get along with some of her fellow cast mates and has been downright mean to them at times. It is one thing to have petty fights, but Tamra constantly went out of her way to put other women down and intentionally make them feel bad.
One of the worst things Tamra ever did was arguably when she tried to get her son to hook up with her fellow castmate, Gretchen Rossi. While she was doing this, Tamra knew that Gretchen was already engaged to a man who was battling cancer. This is honestly one of the worst things you could do to someone you consider a friend. It is understandable why Gretchen has since cut all ties with Tamra.
Erika Jayne
(Photo by Nicole Weingart/Bravo via Getty Images)
Erika Jayne had an okay start on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, but she revealed her inner mean girl over time. Erika became increasingly problematic during her later seasons and was often visibly fake and phony with her fellow castmates.
One of Erika’s worst moments was when she unnecessarily lashed out on her fellow cast member Eileen Davidson, in Amsterdam. Eileen made a simple comment that Erika took the wrong way and immediately turned it into something it didn’t need to be. Erika began attacking Eileen’s character and even spoke ill of her children, which the other women agreed was just too much.
Mary Cosby
Bravo/YouTube
Mary Cosby was not a main cast member on the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City for long, but she was around long enough to earn a mean girl title. Mary was over the top and dramatic, but this does not mean she did not have wicked intentions.
One of Mary’s worst doings was at the luncheon she hosted for the other women. For each of the women in attendance, Mary decided to rank their friendship based on how much it meant to her. The women who ranked on the lower side clearly felt bad, which was understandable. This is something a mean girl would do in school, and not something that an adult woman should be partaking in.
Kyle Richards
(Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for SoFi)
The list of the meanest Real Housewives would not be complete without mentioning Kyle Richards, from RHOBH. Kyle was infamous for being nice to the women in front of their faces, but later backstabbing them behind closed doors.
Kyle was particularly mean to her sister Kim Richards, who was arguably the more likable of the two. On one occasion when Kim was sick in the bathroom, Kyle made sure to emphasize that she felt embarrassed by Kim rather than asking if she felt ok. This shows what kind of person Kyle is, as a more caring individual would be more concerned with their sister’s well being.
TELL US – WHO DO YOU THINK IS THE MEANEST REAL HOUSEWIFE?
