Vicki Gunvalson, widely recognized as the “OG of the OC,” first appeared on “Real Housewives of Orange County” in 2006. She has recently returned to the franchise for “The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th” to celebrate two decades of the popular Bravo show. While Gunvalson has been a staple of the series, she shared with The Hollywood Reporter that her family has not embraced the reality TV spotlight in the same way.
Gunvalson’s daughter, Briana Culberson, has made it clear she prefers to stay away from the series. Despite appearing in several episodes with her mother, Briana has chosen not to rejoin the cast for season 20. Gunvalson explained that Briana’s military husband Ryan was poorly portrayed during his time on the show, leading Briana to distance herself from it completely.
Briana allegedly told Andy Cohen, the executive behind Bravo, to “please lose my number” when approached about making a special appearance. According to Gunvalson, Briana’s husband, who completed six tours overseas with the Marine Corps, suffers from PTSD, and the reality show did not depict their family in a positive light.
Briana and Ryan Culberson have been married for 15 years and are parents to four children. Gunvalson’s son Michael, who recently appeared on “RHOC,” noted that he hasn’t seen Briana in eight years and hasn’t met two of her children. Gunvalson expressed sorrow over her children’s distant living arrangements, mentioning that while they maintain contact through calls and FaceTime, she misses having them nearby.
Gunvalson also discussed the impact of “RHOC” on her marriage to Donn Gunvalson. She revealed that the show strained their relationship, leading to a divorce she now regrets. At the outset, Donn opposed joining the show, warning that television exposure could lead to divorce. Gunvalson disagreed at the time, but now acknowledges the show’s role in their split.
Reflecting further, she emphasized that her family always held more value than her involvement in the reality series. Fellow housewife Porsha Williams shared insights that while a reality show could strain a marriage, it might also bring to light issues that need addressing.
Gunvalson concluded, “If the marriage is weak, it’s going to fall apart.” The repercussions of reality TV have been significant for Gunvalson, balancing her career on “RHOC” with concerns for family harmony.