Former Real Housewives of New York star Kelly Bensimon is sounding the alarm about the future of the Real Housewives franchise — and she’s not holding back.
Kelly Bensimon, who starred on RHONY from Season 2 through Season 4, recently opened up about the state of the Bravo franchise while attending The Amateur premiere. Speaking exclusively to OK! Magazine, she said, “Real Housewives is in serious crisis. I would love to [return]. We had so much fun.”
And she’s not just talking about RHONY. While that show has been struggling with ratings since its cast overhaul, Bensimon suggested the entire franchise may be in trouble. Her comments come at a time when The Real Housewives of New Jersey has been put on hiatus, and the future of The Real Housewives of Potomac hangs in the balance amid Karen Huger’s legal issues.
Kelly, never shy about her opinions, has actively pitched herself for a return to the NYC-based show — but with a twist. Back in February, she revealed, “Everybody says I should be back on Housewives. And I’m happy to do it with — not to be mean, but, like, not this cast. I sent a whole list to Andy. I was like: Here’s the mothership.”
Still, she’s not suggesting a simple reunion of past cast members either. As she put it, “[They] have these narratives, these divorces… but they’re all very New York.” In her view, what’s really missing isn’t any one Housewife — it’s the city itself.
“My biggest criticism — and it’s been the same thing throughout since I was on — is that the ultimate character on the show is New York and we’re not seeing New York,” Kelly explained. That’s where she sees a sharp contrast with The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, which she praised for showing “all the glamour and the glitz and the gorgeousness.”
So does Kelly have a point? With dwindling ratings, fan frustration, and real-life drama spilling off-screen, the franchise may indeed be entering uncharted territory. Whether Bravo listens to Kelly’s advice — or puts her back in the mix — remains to be seen.
