Kelly Dodd, Elizabeth Vargas and Braunwyn Windham-Burke React to ‘RHOC’ Exits — and Heather Dubrow Returns

Credit: Tommy Garcia/Bravo; Yavir Ramawtar/Bravo; Tommy Garcia/Bravo

Kelly Dodd, Elizabeth Vargas and Braunwyn Windham-Burke React to ‘RHOC’ Exits — and Heather Dubrow Returns

Housewife shakeup! Kelly Dodd, Elizabeth Lyn Vargas and Braunwyn Windham-Burke have exited Bravo's The Real Housewives of Orange County while Heather Dubrow has confirmed her return. Vargas, who joined RHOC full time just last year for season 15, confirmed the news via a lengthy Instagram post, in which she thanked the crew and viewers. "COVID 2020 was a very unfortunate and tough year for all of us during filming but we made it happen and I’m very proud of what we accomplished as a team," the Missouri native shared on Tuesday, June 15. "Despite filming during COVID and not really getting to know all the ladies fully, this past year has been the most extraordinary, amazing and beautiful experience of my life. I am so proud of the work we have done and the friendships we were able to build." She continued, "To the Fans …I can never ever thank you enough for the outpouring of love, support and the kindness you have shown to me." Dodd, 45, joined in season 11, but she said several times that she wouldn't return to film the reality show opposite Windham-Burke, 43. "I know I cannot film with Braunwyn,” she said via Instagram Live in January. "I know for a fact that I cannot film with her. There's just no way and if she comes back then I'm out because I know for a fact that I cannot. She's dangerous and calling people racists and homophobes." Dodd emphasized in the Live that she really couldn’t see herself returning to film with her nemesis, adding, "If I'm coming back next year, I just can't come back next year filming with somebody so reckless. I just can't. If she's on, I'm probably out. So, that's probably the way it goes. And by the way, she says she couldn't film with me, so there you go." [jwplayer 0lug45XQ-l3ahXupL] In her Instagram Stories on Tuesday, she showed Shannon Beador giving her Class Azule tequila. "Thank you Shannon Beador," she said. "Thank you for giving me my parting gift." Beador, 57, shook her head, and Dodd assured her the news was "already out there.” Dubrow, for her part, has been saying for years that she'd be open to rejoining if things changed. "Well, I always say 'never say never,' because, you know, if in two years I was back on the show I don't want to be like, 'Well, they're going in a different direction and I really like the way it's going,'" the “Heather Dubrow’s World” podcast host, 52, told Entertainment Tonight in June 2019. "You never know what life is gonna bring you, but I feel like I'm in a good spot [off the show]." Windham-Burke, who joined the first show of the Housewives franchise in 2019's season 14, has remained quiet on social media following the exit. Dubrow and Beador are joining Gina Kirschenheiter and Emily Simpson for the upcoming season. Scroll through to see more reactions from the Housewives about the news. [podcast_block]

Credit: Tommy Garcia/Bravo; Yavir Ramawtar/Bravo; Tommy Garcia/Bravo

Kelly Dodd, Elizabeth Vargas and Braunwyn Windham-Burke React to ‘RHOC’ Exits — and Heather Dubrow Returns

Housewife shakeup! Kelly Dodd, Elizabeth Lyn Vargas and Braunwyn Windham-Burke have exited Bravo's The Real Housewives of Orange County while Heather Dubrow has confirmed her return. Vargas, who joined RHOC full time just last year for season 15, confirmed the news via a lengthy Instagram post, in which she thanked the crew and viewers. "COVID 2020 was a very unfortunate and tough year for all of us during filming but we made it happen and I’m very proud of what we accomplished as a team," the Missouri native shared on Tuesday, June 15. "Despite filming during COVID and not really getting to know all the ladies fully, this past year has been the most extraordinary, amazing and beautiful experience of my life. I am so proud of the work we have done and the friendships we were able to build." She continued, "To the Fans …I can never ever thank you enough for the outpouring of love, support and the kindness you have shown to me." Dodd, 45, joined in season 11, but she said several times that she wouldn't return to film the reality show opposite Windham-Burke, 43. "I know I cannot film with Braunwyn,” she said via Instagram Live in January. "I know for a fact that I cannot film with her. There's just no way and if she comes back then I'm out because I know for a fact that I cannot. She's dangerous and calling people racists and homophobes." Dodd emphasized in the Live that she really couldn’t see herself returning to film with her nemesis, adding, "If I'm coming back next year, I just can't come back next year filming with somebody so reckless. I just can't. If she's on, I'm probably out. So, that's probably the way it goes. And by the way, she says she couldn't film with me, so there you go." [jwplayer 0lug45XQ-l3ahXupL] In her Instagram Stories on Tuesday, she showed Shannon Beador giving her Class Azule tequila. "Thank you Shannon Beador," she said. "Thank you for giving me my parting gift." Beador, 57, shook her head, and Dodd assured her the news was "already out there.” Dubrow, for her part, has been saying for years that she'd be open to rejoining if things changed. "Well, I always say 'never say never,' because, you know, if in two years I was back on the show I don't want to be like, 'Well, they're going in a different direction and I really like the way it's going,'" the “Heather Dubrow’s World” podcast host, 52, told Entertainment Tonight in June 2019. "You never know what life is gonna bring you, but I feel like I'm in a good spot [off the show]." Windham-Burke, who joined the first show of the Housewives franchise in 2019's season 14, has remained quiet on social media following the exit. Dubrow and Beador are joining Gina Kirschenheiter and Emily Simpson for the upcoming season. Scroll through to see more reactions from the Housewives about the news. [podcast_block]

Credit: Tommy Garcia/Bravo

Kelly Dodd

"I had a great five years on RHOC," Dodd, who married Fox News correspondent Rick Leventhal in October, shared via Twitter on Tuesday night. "I will miss working with the ladies and the crews from Evolution and I want to thank Bravo for all the opportunities they gave me. If it weren’t for the show, I’d never have found my husband Rick, the greatest love of my life and for that I’m eternally grateful. I’m also so thankful for the many thousands of fans who’ve shown me love and support since the news broke. Now it’s onward and upward! I’m super excited to be a free agent, not tied to a Bravo contract, and can’t wait to work with Rick on new projects. I wish the show nothing but success."

Credit: Yavir Ramawtar/Bravo

Elizabeth Lyn Vargas

The entrepreneur said she was thankful to the cast, crew and fans. She also took the opportunity to promote her latest business venture. 

"Thank you for a memorable season and helping me to launch my new Vargas Vodka in which a percentage of every bottle sold goes to help save the animals!" she concluded her goodbye statement. 

Credit: Tommy Garcia/Bravo

Braunwyn Windham-Burke

The Laguna Beach native joined RHOC in 2019. She was a regular for seasons 14 and 15 before her exit. According to reports, Bravo decided not to renew her, Dodd and Vargas's contracts.

"I'm incredibly sad to not be able to come back to The Real Housewives of Orange County next year," Windham-Burke said in a statement to People. "I loved every moment of being a Housewife, and am so proud of my time on the show - the good, the bad, and the in-between. It feels revolutionary to say, but I was able to get sober and stay sober on reality TV."