REAL Housewives Of Orange County’s Kelly Dodd is “furious” as she was fired for controversial comments last year pertaining to Covid and Black Lives Matter, A Journalist can reveal.
Yesterday, fans were shocked as news broke that Kelly, 45, along with co-stars Elizabeth Lyn Vargas and Braunwyn Windham-Burke would not return for the upcoming Bravo season.
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While many RHOC fans are devastated by the cast shakeup, some called for the move as Kelly’s past comments were “to come back from for a majority of Bravo viewers,” a source told A Journalist.
The insider explained: “Kelly’s comments about Covid, Black Lives Matter and other political and social issues was ultimately the reason she was let go.
“She’s very upset, of course. She feels she was treated unfairly but is excited for her next projects, her career is just taking off.”
In addition to the trio of former Housewives being axed, the show added past cast member Heather Dubrow – who famously feuded with Kelly back in 2016.
Heather, 52, previously starred on the Bravo show from Season 7 through 11 – where she left after Kelly’s arrival.
“There’s definitely resentment about Heather coming back in her place, Kelly’s not happy about that.
“But she ultimately wishes the show well and wants to move forward with her life,” the insider insisted.
A source close to Kelly said that she is “surprised to hear viewers didn’t support her” as her “Instagram page is filled with thousands of comments offering love and support.”
There are also messages from some of the star’s 828K followers that proclaim to boycott the franchise now that the brunette beauty is gone.
“Kelly is also incredibly thankful for the past five seasons and wishes nothing but the best for the cast and the show.
“She couldn’t be more excited to get to work on new projects with her husband Rick,” they added of her husband, reporter Rick Leventhal.
Bravo did not respond to A Journalist’s request for comment.
Yesterday, a RHOC spokesperson confirmed the departure of Kelly, Braunwyn and Elizabeth to Variety.
The reality stars’ contracts were not renewed for next season, which is set to start filming next month.
Current cast members Shannon Beador, Gina Kirschenheiter, and Emily Simpson will return for the upcoming season, while the show is expected to add one or two new women to the cast.
The decision to drop Kelly comes after she sparked outrage for a series of comments last year – including when she made a toast to “super spreaders” while partying in a crowded restaurant.
She also made remarks on her Instagram after fans called her out for flying from New York to California despite quarantine guidelines – saying people who died from Covid would have “died anyway” with or without the virus.
“It’s 25 per cent get your facts straight you are only hearing numbers not the reality!! It’s God’s way of thinning the herd!!” She said – outraging many fans.
Her controversial comments continued last October, when she faced backlash for wearing a novelty hat that read “Drunk Wives Matter” – a wordplay on the Black Lives Matter movement – to a bridal shower.
There was further trouble in January, when RHOC fans claim she called Andy Cohen “anti-American” for not supporting Donald Trump.
