‘Real Housewives of New York City’ Season 12: What We Know

Credit: Sophy Holland/Bravo

‘Real Housewives of New York City’ Season 12: What We Know

The cast of The Real Housewives of New York City will look a little different when the Bravo hit returns for season 12. The casting shake-up up began in August when Bethenny Frankel shocked fans by announcing her departure. “I have decided to leave the Housewives franchise to explore my next chapter,” she said in a statement on August 21. “It’s time to move on and focus on my daughter, my philanthropy and my production partnership with Mark Burnett, producing and starring in shows which represent a shift in the conversation for women. With the changes in modern culture, I want to highlight the strength, confidence and unstoppable power that women have.” [jwplayer BDHbsKyy-l3ahXupL] Bethenny concluded: “My experience at Bravo has been an incredibly magical ride. I am so grateful to them for highlighting my entrepreneurialism and allowing me to pave the way for many women to achieve their goals. I am excited for my future. The best is yet to come.” While Tinsley Mortimer, Ramona Singer, Dorinda Medley, Sonja Morgan and Luann de Lesseps are all returning for season 12, Tinsley’s role has made headlines after she skipped the cast trip to Mexico following her engagement to Scott Kluth, who lives in Chicago. “She’s never really been a New Yorker, she’s been living in a hotel, and I’m happy that she’s happy. She’s much happier where she is, let me tell you that,” Sonja told Us in December. “I can see it. … I’m not going to miss filming with her — what I’m going to miss is seeing her often.” In addition to handing out a new apple, the "friends" of Housewives will also look different in 2020. Scroll through for everything we know about RHONY season 12:

Credit: Heidi Gutman/Bravo

Premiere Date

The Real Housewives of New York City returns to Bravo Thursday, April 2, at 9 p.m. ET.

Credit: Rodolfo Martinez/Bravo

Bethenny’s Out

The Skinnygirl founder announced in August that she would not be returning for season 12. Bethenny returned to RHONY for season 7 in 2015 after originally leaving the show in season 3.

“I was planning to just breathe, but it was a chapter ending,” she told Us exclusively in October after her decision. It’s very symbolic and poetic, but it really was a chapter ending, and it does feel like a completely clean slate, a new chapter. And I like the way it feels in many ways: in my family, in my humanitarian work, in my business, in my personal life, in my relationship, with everything, so it really does affect everything.”

Bethenny continued: “I’m really excited because to leave something, you have to jump to fly, so I just made a decision and I made a good decision. I’m just focusing on the future and also spending more downtime for myself, looking at different properties, just breathing. I’m exhaling for the first time in a really long time. I had a really difficult year, and so I’m just exhaling for the first time in a while.”

Credit: Courtesy of Leah McSweeney/Instagram

Leah McSweeney’s In

Us confirmed in August that Tinsley’s pal, who previously appeared on Bravo’s The Millionaire Matchmaker in 2010, was joining the cast.

“Leah and Tinsley are friends and have filmed together,” the source told Us at the time. “Leah is a great addition to the show. She’s glamorous, fun and wild in all the right ways.”

According to Bravo’s press release, Leah’s “not afraid to speak her mind, which at times causes friction, especially with Ramona and Sonja.” 

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Barbara K. Won’t Appear

After appearing in a “friend” role for season 11, Barbara Kavovit didn’t return for season 12. The Heels of Steel author also ended her longtime friendship with Luann.

“The narcissism of this woman, the self-importance and her blatant disregard for people that have helped her has got to stop,” Barbara told Us exclusively in October. “Not only myself, but [our mutual friend] Anne and I’m sure Bethenny and even Mary, who does her makeup, we are disgusted with her. It’s just her total disregard for anyone else. I have no words for her anymore. … There is no good with Luann. I had a 14-year friendship with her that I will walk away from forever. She will never have me as a friend again.”

Credit: Courtesy of Ramona Singer/Instagram

Elyse Slaine Is Filming

Us exclusively revealed that in October that Elyse Slaine will have “a prominent role” on season 12. 

“Elyse isn’t a full-fledged housewife yet; they’re always testing new women,” a source told Us at the time. She was spotted filming the series in Newport, Rhode Island, that month.

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Dorinda vs. Tinsley

Dorinda and Tinsley, who argued over the latter’s on-off relationship with Scott Kluth during season 11, will be at odds again during season 12, per an eyewitness who saw the two women argue at an event in September. 

Tinsley “seemed really upset,” the eyewitness told Us, noting that she appeared to be “wiping tears from her eyes” before she left the event with Leah.

Credit: Courtesy of Sonja Morgan/Instagram

The Trip to Mexico

Ramona, Dorinda, Sonja, Leah and Luann jetted off to Mexico with Bravo cameras in December. Tinsley did not attend the vacation, which came shortly after she got engaged to Scott in November. 

“She didn’t go on the girl’s trip because she just got engaged to Scott and she is in Chicago as they want to be together during this happy time,” a source told Us. “She is not going to girls’ dinners and girls’ trips when this is a time she should be spending with her new fiancé.”

Credit: Heidi Gutman/Bravo

Tinsley’s Role

While there has been a lot of speculation about Tinsley’s role on season 12 of RHONY, the source told Us in December that she is still filming post-engagement to Scott.  

Another insider, however, told Us that the reality star will indeed move to Chicago to be with the Coupon Cabin CEO and likely stop filming RHONY after season 12.

“She is moving for love,” the insider said. “This is a very happy time in her life right now and everyone is rooting for her and Scott. They have addressed all their issues and no longer want to live without each other. She is very, very happy!”

Credit: Sophy Holland/Bravo

Luann’s Drinking Again

Fans see Luann take a sip of vodka in the season 12 trailer.

“Oh, it tastes so good!” she says in the teaser. Luann completed her court-ordered probation and sobriety in August 2019.

Credit: Sophy Holland/Bravo

Dorinda’s On Edge

In addition to reevaluating her relationship with longtime beau John Mahdessian, Dorinda seems on edge in the teaser, fighting with several of the women.

“When Ramona and Sonja try to step in to help her deal with what they perceive to be anger issues, tensions reach an all-time high,” the press release explains.