It’s been over 20 years since the first city in The Real Housewives franchise took off and it has only gotten stronger. After the start of The Real Housewives of Orange County, along came cities New Jersey, New York, Atlanta, Beverly Hills, Potomac, Dallas, and the latest installment, Salt Lake City. With eight cities in the Real Housewives universe, there’s almost too much drama to dissect.
Over the years, these cities have had controversies that were almost impossible to come back from. And yet, many of the women and their families are still standing. It’s a testament to the show’s popularity and success that it’s been able to carry on. With so many women, accusations, and altercations, The Real Housewives remains one of the most controversial reality TV shows that fans cannot get enough of.
Teresa's Path To (And From) Prison (RHONJ)
In 2013, Teresa and Joe Giudice got themselves in trouble with the law. The couple continued filming as if nothing was wrong and ignored the severity of the situation. Teresa told the other Housewives time and time again that she wasn’t going to prison, she did nothing wrong, and that she wasn’t scared. But as the time came, her facade crumbled.
Teresa and Joe were found guilty of a variety of financial fraud charges and had to serve time in prison. It was a wildly covered case because of Bravo fans. The series took time off while Teresa was away but when she came back home, cameras started rolling.
Jen’s First Season And Lawsuit (RHOSLC)
Jen Shah made a huge splash on her first season of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. She seemed wealthy, successful, and like a real go-getter. However, fans realized it was all an act a few episodes in when she started having trouble with the other ladies.
Where it got dark was after the first season wrapped, Jen was arrested by the FBI. While filming season two, Jen was arrested for "conspiracy to commit wire fraud." She was allegedly a part of a huge con operation and happened to be caught while Bravo was filming
Erika Jayne’s Divorce And Lawsuit (RHOBH)
Erika Jayne and her former husband, Tom Girardi, were 32 years apart but their love seemed strong and true on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Sadly, Erika announced that she was divorcing her husband of 22 years right before filming season 11. Shortly after, it was announced that Tom and Erika were being sued for "fraud and embezzlement." As it turns out, Erika and Tom were allegedly caught taking money from victims who lost loved ones in an airplane crash instead of giving the earnings to the victims. Erika has denied any wrongdoing and is supposed to talk about the ordeal in the latest season of RHOBH.
#KnifeGate (RHOD)
LeeAnne Locken isn't on The Real Housewives of Dallas anymore but her aggressive past is still talked about today. In a scary moment, Carry's insult towards LeeAnne got dirty when LeeAnne threatened Carry's life. She told her costar, Brandi, that she knew how to handle knives as well as her hands. The ladies went back and forth with each other, which resulted in LeeAnne's past with domestic violence coming up.
Porsha And BOLO (RHOA)
In season 13 of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Kandi put together one of the most beloved and controversial bachelorette parties Bravo fans have ever seen for Miss. Cynthia Bailey. The X-rated party had all the women ready for a good time. This only escalated when the women saw male strippers waiting for them at the house. There was one dancer in particular that stood out to everyone: BOLO.
After a few raunchy dances, it was revealed that Portia and Drew spent the night together with BOLO. Both women (and BOLO) denied hanky panky but Kenya Moore and Bravo cameras say otherwise.
Ashely Darby’s Husband And The Producer's Backside (RHOP)
Ashley Darby and her husband Michael have had their fair share of ups and downs on The Real Housewives of Potomac. After getting into business together, their age difference began to show and their relationship began to suffer. To make things worse, it was said that Michael Darby grabbed a producer's backside while they weren’t filming. Michael whole-heartedly denied the allegation but the grab was later shown on footage. This was a scenario that was talked about in detail on- and off-screen.
Luann's Fall From Class (RHONY)
People were happy for Luann when she finally found a man that she was ready to settle down with. She was ecstatic about the relationship and was acting like a different woman. Her friends, however, were not convinced. Everyone thought that Tom wasn’t the right guy for Luann and that they were moving too fast. And sadly, the ladies of New York were right.
Bethenny found out that Tom cheated on Luann in a very public place in front of people without a care in the world. Luann freaking out on the phone is a memorable moment in the series. Regardless of Tom’s behavior, Lu married him anyway but ended up quickly divorced and arrested for "battery on a law enforcement officer." Those were dark times for Luann.
Brooks Faked Cancer (RHOC)
Brooks and Vicki have been done for years but her former relationship with a man who faked cancer is something that will never be forgotten. Everyone knew that Brooks and Vicki were an odd match but when Brooks began telling people that he was battling cancer, eyebrows were raised.
Meghan King didn’t believe Brooks for a second after hearing his symptoms and course for recovery. What transpired was a deep look into Brooks’ cancer only to find out that he was lying about it the whole time. The question is, was Vicki a part of the lie?
Braunwyn’s Journey (RHOC)
Braunwyn started out as a series favorite when she joined the cast in season 14. She had seven kids, a loving husband, and was interesting to watch on screen. But in season 15, things changed. Braunwyn claimed that she was an alcoholic and was on a path of sobriety. The problem is that most of her friends had no idea she was struggling with alcohol and questioned her truth. To add even more stress to Braunwyn's plate, she told the group that she was in an odd spot with her husband and was actually a lesbian. With so much going on in a short amount of time, fans and castmates found it difficult to keep up.
#PuppyGate (RHOBH)
#PuppyGate was the main storyline of season 9. A simple decision regarding a family pet turned into World War Three among the group.
After Dorit adopted a puppy from Vanderpump Pets, she had to find another home for the dog when it bit her kids. Sadly, the family Dorit gave the puppy to gave it to a shelter when they, too, couldn’t handle it. Word got back to Lisa Vanderpump and it did not go over well. What transpired were hidden interviews with the tabloids, rumors, and the ladies picking sides. The entire ordeal was so traumatic that it ended Kyle and Lisa’s longtime friendship, and Lisa left the show.