Real Housewives of Rhode Island star Alicia Carmody addressed former costar Liz McGraw‘s exit following the Bravo series inaugural season.
“I fully support her in her decision,” Alicia, 41, exclusively tells Us while promoting her partnership with Ziploc. “I think that she had to do what was best for her.”
Alicia adds she is hopeful that Liz, 56, will “come back one day if she wants to.”
“The door is always open. Andy [Cohen] said,” she says.
Alicia also shares it is difficult to see Liz go especially since she was part of RHORI season 1. (In addition to Alicia and Liz, RHORI stars Rosie DiMare, Bachelor Nation’s Ashley Iaconetti, Rulla Nehme Pontarelli, Kelsey Swanson and Jo-Ellen Tiberi.
“It’s hard,” she reflects. “We were the OGs together. We started it together.”
Alicia admits that while she and Liz are not the closest, she still considers her a friend.
“I don’t think she’s like a friend that I talk to every day. But like, I’m a friend from a distance,” she tells Us. “I’ll always like to be excited to see her, you know, stuff like that. But we don’t talk every day on the phone.”
Alicia adds that she felt like Liz was keeping her guard up at the reunion because of her upcoming exit.
“She was just very distant, probably because she knew she wasn’t gonna come back,” she says. “And so maybe I feel like I’m just giving her space.”
Alicia shares that she and Liz haven’t spoken much since the reunion but all is “good” between them.
Last month, Liz confirmed that she would not be returning to RHORI’s second season.
“I’m full of gratitude for the amazing opportunity to appear on this show,” Liz wrote via Instagram in July. “As filming for Season 2 begins, I have made the decision to take a step back and focus on my family, my work and my passions. The RHORI cast is an amazing group of women who have created something special.”
While Liz won’t be on our TV screens next season, she admitted she will still be watching and “rooting for the continued success” of her friends.
“For now, I look forward to enjoying this little corner of the world from the other side of the camera,” she concluded.
Andy, for his part, replied to the post extending her an invitation to return.
“The door is always open,” he penned. “Just sayin’!”
While fans anxiously await for RHORI season 2, Alicia is teaming up with Ziploc for its “You’ve Got Lunch in the Bag” campaign. The reality star and brand are encouraging parents to their Lunch Confessions via Reddit in a judgement free zone.
“Sometimes I do get a you know pre lunch for my daughter, like sometimes like a peanut butter and jelly. They sell them nicely cut, you know, already packaged, and I feel like it makes it easier,” Alicia tells Us. “I’ll keep some yogurts in my refrigerator if I don’t have time.”
Alicia adds that the conscience Ziploc offers makes her “life so easy” when preparing her lunch for her daughter.
“I can pack the night before, like the snacks, whether it’s a goldfish, the crackers, or the sandwich, and have it all organized,” she says. “And the one I just throw it in the bag, her real lunch bag. I just feel like it keeps it all organized.”
