Andy Cohen, host of Bravo’s ‘Watch What Happens Live,’ defended ‘The Real Housewives’ series against accusations of featuring ‘MAGA women.’ During a brief Q&A session on his Threads account while traveling, Cohen addressed a viewer’s concerns about the perceived political leanings of cast members on ‘The Real Housewives of Orange County.’
Cohen asserted that the show is not political. He highlighted the importance of showcasing varied perspectives to maintain the show’s dynamic nature and emphasized that the focus is on women’s relationships, not their political views.
Cohen stated, “If we didn’t showcase people with different POV’s there would be no show. Also it’s a show about the women and their relationships, not about politics.”
Fox News Digital sought a comment from NBCUniversal, Bravo’s parent company, but received no immediate response.
Over recent years, several former ‘Real Housewives’ participants have reported backlash related to their conservative views. In 2021, ‘Real Housewives of Orange County’ star Kelly Dodd was dismissed from the series following controversial comments on COVID-19 and criticism directed at the Black Lives Matter movement. On Jamie Kennedy’s podcast, Dodd described herself as a victim of cancel culture, feeling ostracized due to differing opinions from others on the show.
In a broader discussion, multiple ex-cast members have claimed political bias challenges, although some did not identify as conservative. Former ‘Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ member Annemarie Wiley expressed that political beliefs impact participation on the show. Wiley revealed she wasn’t invited back after 2024 due to conservative expressions, finding out this was behind the season’s unfavorable edit.
Wiley explained, “I was given a terrible edit by Bravo… because I was a conservative.”
Despite previously identifying as liberal, Wiley’s experience led her to reevaluate party positions. Jill Zarin from ‘Real Housewives of New York,’ known for her connection with the Trump family, criticized Hollywood for insufficient attention to hostages during the Israel-Hamas conflict.
In communications with Fox News, Zarin commented on Hollywood’s lack of solidarity with hostages compared to other global issues, mentioning that symbolic gestures like yellow ribbons weren’t adopted.