Reality television changed forever when Bravo released The Real Housewives of Orange County back in 2006. Bravo viewers went wild for the lavish lifestyles these women and their families were living and couldn't get enough of the wealth, the drama, and the storylines. Two years later, Bravo released The Real Housewives of New York City, The Real Housewives of Atlanta, and the rest was history. The franchise now has 10 cities to its name (although Miami and D.C. are no longer running) and has become a national success.
Throughout seasons and seasons of different cities, affairs, drunken arguments, and friendships, we're taking a look at 10 shocking moments that went down in front of the Bravo cameras. Keep scrolling to see if your favorite Real Housewives moment made the list!
RHONY: Aviva's Leg Throw Was Iconic
In the fifth season of The Real Housewives of New York City, Aviva Drescher was given an apple and welcomed by the cast. What made Aviva different from the other women was that she was an amputee and sported a fake leg. She never let her fake leg stop her from doing the things she wants and went on to get a law degree before becoming a full-time mother.
In the sixth season, however, Aviva's emotions got the best of her in a public setting and she took off her prosthetic leg and said "The only thing that's artificial or fake about me is this!" and slammed her leg on the table. Seeing a limb on a classy dinner table was one of the most shocking (and hilarious) moments of reality television.
RHONY: Bethenny's Cabaret Breakdown
In the 11th season of The Real Housewives of New York City, long-time housewife Bethenny Frankel had a hard year. Her on-again/off-again boyfriend and fiance Dennis Shields had died in 2018, leading to Bethenny having a full-on meltdown. Shockingly, she was composed on that season's RHONY but when Luann pushed her too far with her selfish attitude, Bethenny had enough.
After a couple of drinks, the women go out to dinner where Bethenny unleashes furry on Luann for how she treats everyone in her circle. Her speech was iconic and the words "Life is not a cabaret, Luann" are still mimicked today.
RHOBH: Camille's Psychic Ruined The RHOBH Dinner
Camille Grammer (ex-wife of actor Kelsey Grammer) was part of the original cast of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Fans sadly watched her marriage to Kelsey fall apart on camera before getting divorced. In later seasons, Camille pops up from time to time as a friend or a guest.
One of her most memorable moments was her "dinner party from Hell." She invited a so-called friend named Allison DuBois over for a dinner party because of her psychic abilities but the dinner ended in a brawl of words. With her e-cigarette, DuBois tells Kyle that she is "unfulfilled" in her marriage and essentially lives a loveless life. All the ladies (except Camille) had Kyle's back and that dinner quickly ended.
RHONJ: Teresa's Table Flip Was Classic New Jersey
Teresa Guidice has been a member of The Real Housewives of New Jersey since its inception. Watching her on camera spends hundreds of thousands of dollars on clothes and furniture was an unfathomable moment for many viewers. But the once adored Teresa lost her wings with a majority of the cast and her storyline became clouded.
Before her fall from grace, she had one of the most shocking Real Housewives moments in history in 2009 when she flipped a table during an argument with antagonist Danielle Staub. Curse words were dropped, food and drinks were spilled... Teresa had to be physically carried away by her husband so she didn't attack Danielle in public.
RHOD: LeeAnne Dressed As A Two-Faced Stephanie (In Her Own Home)
Stephanie Holloman has been on The Real Housewives of Dallas since it aired in 2016. With four seasons to its name, it's relatively one of the newer cities in the franchise.
One of the biggest controversial parties in the cast is LeeAnne Locken; a woman who doesn't seem to get along with anyone. In the second season, Holloman throws a Halloween party at her home and invites LeeAnne out of kindness. But what does LeeAnne do? She dresses up as a "two-faced Stephanie"... to her own party! Stephanie and her husband are disgusted that someone would disrespect them like that in their own home but it made for fantastic television.
RHOA: Mama Joyce Ruined Kandi's Dress Moment
In 2013, Real Housewives of Atlanta's Kandi Burruss was planning her wedding to producer Todd Tucker. Now, every Real Housewives of Atlanta fan knows the tense relationship between Kandi and her mother Momma Joyce but things got physical when they were wedding dress shopping.
While Kandi and Todd were planning their fairytale wedding, rumors began swirling about Kandi's best friend Carmon and Todd. Kandi and Carmon have been friends since they were children, so it was particularly disturbing that Kandi's mom believed rumors. Everything came to an ugly head when Momma Joyce tried to attack Carmon in the middle of the boutique!
RHONY: Dorinda's Berkshire Home Weekend
Dorinda Medley was a welcomed addition to the Real Housewives of New York City. She's the hostess with the mostest and loves her home away from home in the Berkshires. Her little getaway trip to the Berkshires blew up in her face when the girls couldn't get along.
Bethenny and Luanne were at each other's necks, which really upset Dorinda as the host because it was also her birthday. When Luanne and Bethenny talk about leaving, Dorinda loses it in the kitchen and says "I cooked all day, I decorated, I did it nice!" before kicking everyone out.
RHOM: Adriana De Moura Slaps Joanna Krupa In Front Of A Party
The Real Housewives of Miami only lasted three seasons but iconic moments were still made.
While the women were at a benefit for breast cancer research, rumors began swirling about Joanna Krupa and her sister Marta. Their so-called friend Joe Francis claimed he slept with both women and castmate Adriana De Moura fed into the rumors and said some pretty unsavory things. When Joanna approached Adriana about it, she turned around and slapped Joanna across the face in front of other party guests!
RHOC: Brooks's Cancer Scheme
Vicki Gunvulson is known as the OG of the OC because she was with The Real Housewives of Orange County since its inception before leaving for new things in 2019. Fans have seen Vicki through multiple relationships and ups and downs over the years but none were more dramatic than her time with former beau Brooks.
Both Vicki and Brooks claimed he was battling cancer, which gained the couple much-deserved sympathy. But after a while, things weren't adding up. Brooks didn't seem ill, tests didn't make sense, and the couple was acting shady. Vicki defended Brooks's cancer until the end of their relationship when it came out that he did, in fact, fake cancer!
RHONJ: Teresa Goes To Jail
Another infamous Teresa Guidice moment that was incredibly shocking is when she was sentenced jail time for "mail, wire, and bankruptcy fraud," according to Women's Health Mag. Both Teresa and Joe were sentenced jail time but since they have four children, the judge allowed each parent to be sentenced one at a time.
Teresa went first and finished her jail sentence with flying colors. She came out like a new woman, in great shape, and wrote a book. Joe had a longer sentence and when he completed his time, he was deported to his native Italy.