On Sunday, March 9, Real Housewives of Orange County star Tamra Judge appeared to suggest she’s done with the show — and she’s not the only cast member who has unexpectedly quit mid-season.
“It was a long run! When life gives you real problems this reality s— doesn’t make sense. Peace out … I’m out,” Judge, 57, shared via an Instagram Story on Sunday. Judge has been part of the RHOC cast since season 3. She left the show for a bit in season 14 but returned full-time for season 17 in 2023.
Though the final RHOC cast has not yet been confirmed by Bravo, Judge had been spotted filming in New Orleans alongside Shannon Beador, Heather Dubrow, Katie Ginella, Gina Kirschenheiter, Jennifer Pedranti and Emily Simpson.
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When it comes to Housewives who have flounced while filming, Judge isn’t alone — keep scrolling for others who have unexpectedly departed the series after a falling out (or two).
From Bethenny to NeNe to Camille! ‘Real Housewives’ Who Left and Returned
Kim Zolciak-Biermann
Kim Zolciak-Biermann exited Real Housewives of Atlanta after four years in November 2012. Zolciak-Biermann was several months pregnant when she abruptly stopped filming the series essentially on-camera. Zolciak-Biermann and the gang were invited to Anguilla for Cynthia Bailey’s wedding, but drama erupted after Zolciak-Biermann said she couldn’t go (most airlines do not allow pregnant women to fly once they’ve passed 36 weeks gestation).
Her departure also happened to line up with the announcement for her new series, Don’t Be Tardy for the Wedding. Though Zolciak-Biermann insisted she left to pursue other opportunities, castmate NeNe Leakes tweeted in 2012 that she was fired. “It’s so funny how this chick wants people 2 think she quit the show! The producers no longer wanted 2 work wit u! Good bye wit the lies,” Leakes wrote.
Zolciak-Biermann denied she was fired, and later reappeared on the series until April 2018 when left for a second time and vowed to never return.
Tanya Sam
Tanya Sam was never a full-time cast member of Real Housewives of Atlanta, but she was regularly featured and her sudden exit was packed with drama. Sam was on hand to help celebrate Bailey’s bachelorette, where apparently… stripper-related shenanigans went down.
TMZ reported at the time, “[Tanya] who’s not an official Housewife but a “friend” of the show – has officially bailed on filming the rest of the current season.” The outlet added that Sam’s departure “revolves around Cynthia Bailey’s bachelorette party and what Tanya and Porsha Williams did with a male stripper while cameras were rolling … and what they may or may not have done when cameras shut down.”
Girl, Bye! ‘Real Housewives’ Who Only Appeared on One Season
Adrienne Maloof
Adrienne Maloof was an original cast member of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills but abruptly left the show in season 3 after a secret was shared about her family. Cast member Brandi Glanville, who had repeatedly sparred with Maloof throughout the third season, told the rest of the show’s cast that Maloof hired a surrogate to carry her twins — something Maloof had not yet told her then 6-year-old sons.
Maloof was so upset she made sure Bravo couldn’t air what Glanville shared and also filed a cease-and-desist against her former friend. Maloof later shared the details of the surrogacy with Life & Style, and Bravo ultimately fired her (though Maloof maintained she left on her own accord).
In 2019 Maloof said she was open to being featured in “cameos” on the series.
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