Bravo’s “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” will have a short Housewife next season.
Newcomer Monica Garcia will not be reuniting with her “Real Housewives” co-stars for Season 5 after her exciting debut season on the Bravo series, multiple outlets reported. News of Garcia's exit emerged amid this week's explosive Season 4 finale, which revealed that she helped run a shady Instagram gossip page known as Reality Von Tease.
“Women just need a period of reflection and I think it's too soon,” showrunner Lori Gordon told Variety. “They have articulated it. “It's too early for them to be friends again.”
Garcia's Reality Von Tease Instagram page was dedicated to sharing gossip about former “Salt Lake” star Jen Shah, Garcia's former boss, who was sentenced last year to 6 1/2 years in prison for wire fraud. In addition to Shah, other “Salt Lake City” housewives were ridiculed on the Instagram account.
During the Bermuda-set finale, “RHOSLC” star Heather Gay engaged in a heated exchange with Garcia over her Instagram page. “Income. Proof. Timeline. Screenshots,” Gay said, coining the now-viral phrase.
Executive producer Andy Cohen told Variety that Garcia's return would have been possible, had he made peace with his castmates after the big reveal. “But she didn't do that,” he told the outlet.
Cohen doubled down on his sentiments on Wednesday's episode of “Radio Andy,” his SiriusXM show. “We are going to have a period of reflection,” he said, before citing the controversial meeting.
He continued: “We all argued ad nauseum that it would be better to let it breathe for a while.”
Despite Garcia's big reveal, the team behind “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” is still open to future appearances. “Never say never,” Gordon told Variety.
Times staff writer Meredith Blake contributed to this report.
