Bravo Stars That Got Fired For Problematic Behavior
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There have been thousands of people who have appeared on Bravo over the years, either as full-time cast members or as guests. While many of these individuals have made for wonderful television, not all of them have been upstanding citizens in their actual lives. Even then, Bravo has continued to employ a number of problematic stars, such as "The Real Housewives of New York" cast member Ramona Singer, who has made many offensive racist and classist comments over the years. Per Page Six, her most recent comment was in relation to the past season, which saw the first-ever Black cast member on "RHONY." "This is why we shouldn't have Black people on the show," she allegedly said.
So, yes, there are problematic people on Bravo, and there have been for as long as we can remember. In recent years, Bravo has taken some action and gotten rid of people for their bad behavior, but this has been rather inconsistent, and, at times, it has taken public outcry before anything has happened. And though there are still many people who probably should not have a television show — like "The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City" cast member Jen Shah, who is facing federal fraud charges, or Kathryn Dennis of "Southern Charm," who has a history of racism (per Page Six) — there are some bad apples that have been thrown away. Here are 14 Bravo stars who got fired for their problematic behavior.
Stassi Schroeder
The most dramatic firing Bravo has ever done came in June 2020, when the network fired four cast members from "Vanderpump Rules" for various racist comments and behaviors (per Deadline). Stassi Schroeder, who had arguably been the star of the show since it first started in 2013, was amongst the fallen. In 2018 — two years before she was fired — Schroeder and castmate Kristen Doute called the police on Faith Stowers, a Black woman also on "Vanderpump Rules." They accused Stowers of a crime, based upon an article they read in the Daily Mail. "Racially insensitive comments from my past have resurfaced," Schroeder wrote on Instagram after Stowers discussed the story publicly. "It is important that I continue to take accountability for what I have said and done, while pushing myself to do better. I have grown significantly from the person I was then, and I am still filled with remorse and regret for the hurt I caused."
Stower reviving the story at a time of racial upheaval led to Schroeder coming under further scrutiny. Schroeder's critics were quick to note that, despite advocating for "Black Lives Matter" on social media, she had made numerous insensitive comments and jokes regarding race on previous episodes of her podcast (per the Daily Mail). Referring to the #OscarsSoWhite hashtag, she said: "I'm like, really sick of everyone making everything about race — I'm kind of over it." Schroeder recently wrote a book to potentially capitalize on her cancellation called "Off with My Head."
Kristen Doute
Like Stassi Schroeder, Kristen Doute was one of the original "Vanderpump Rules" cast members, though her fanbase has never been as devoted or vocal as Schroeder's. Given that both women called the police on Faith Stowers, they faced the consequences together. Doute was fired alongside Schroeder, and her fame has quieted in the years since. Doute also apologized on Instagram in the aftermath of the scandal, but before her firing. "Although, my actions were not racially driven, I am now completely aware of how my privilege blinded me from the reality of law enforcement's treatment of the black community, and how dangerous my actions could have been to her," she wrote in the now-deleted post (per People).
When asked if she had heard from Doute or Schroeder personally, Stowers said she had not (per Page Six). Doute's camp has maintained a different story, as insiders told Hollywood Life that she did make a personal apology through Instagram DM. "Kristen reached out to Faith directly with a genuine apology and she feels upset to hear Faith saying otherwise. She didn't advertise it because she wanted the apology to be taken seriously," the source said. "Kristen feels sad to watch Faith do this. She feels she continues to come after her. Kristen has already lost everything she worked for." This is quite the change of pace from 2018, when Doute tweeted about the Stowers incident and shared a link to the originating news story in her now-deleted post.
Max Boyens
In addition to Stassi Schroeder and Kristin Doute, two "Vanderpump Rules" newbies were sacked in Bravo's roundup of problematic personalities. One of these was Max Boyens, who was at the time the general manager of TomTom, the bar co-owned by Tom Schwartz, Tom Sandoval, Lisa Vanderpump, and Vanderpump's husband, Ken Todd. The reason for Boyens' firing was a host of offensive tweets that were uncovered after he was already on the show — the kind of thing that one would think Bravo would look for before hiring someone. Amongst his many tweets was one that said, "Something about Asians that just makes me want to punch them in the suck hole" (per Us Weekly). Many of the others targeted Black Americans and a good deal of them used the n-word. He also used the word "queer" as an insult.
Boyens was apologetic after his tweets surfaced mid-season, eight years after they had been posted (they are now deleted). "It is not a representation of who I am. I am shocked I ever tweeted that — and I am disgusted and embarrassed. I am truly sorry," he told Us Weekly. While Boyens was fired from "Vanderpump Rules," he was not let go from his position at TomTom, remaining there for another year. On the "Behind the Velvet Rope" podcast, Boyens discussed fearing for his safety in the aftermath of the scandal. He also told host David Yonteff that he had suicidal thoughts at the time, per Reality Blurb.
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Brett Caprioni
Brett Caprioni was the fourth person involved in the "Vanderpump Rules" firing back in June 2020. Caprioni received the least amount of attention, as he was a one-season cast member whose screen time had been relatively limited. Still, Caprioni's racist tweets were problematic, and Bravo was right to fire the SUR waiter (and Vanderpump's personal trainer). "It wasn't okay then, it's not okay now," he said on the first part of the Season 8 "Vanderpump Rules" reunion, before his firing (per People). "It's something I regret deeply, and it was just kind of making jokes with each other, like we'd literally be in the same room and just say stupid sh*t to each other, and it was a dumb f***ing thing to do. I'm doing my best to move forward and be the best person I can be."
Caprioni's offensive tweets were all published between 2011 and 2013, and most of them focused on race (though some also had sexist undertones). One from November 2012 read (via People), "wassup wit black people wearin so much Aeropostale I don't get it lol" and many others included the n-word and other racial commentary. Mere days after being fired, Caprioni told Us Weekly, "I respect Bravo's decision" and said he had "learned a lot and grown from the experience but understand that it's not enough." He also vowed to continue working for good within his community, though there is no record of this happening since he left the show.
Jax Taylor
The final "Vanderpump Rules" star on our list is Jax Taylor, who helped catapult the show to cultural significance with his outrageous antics. We couldn't possibly cover all of Taylor's offensive moments, but he got away with many things until his co-stars' firings put the show under a microscope. Taylor — who was once arrested for stealing sunglasses in Hawaii — had repeatedly shown he was of dubious character, but many were surprised when Bravo axed him and his wife, Brittany Cartwright, in December 2020 (per Variety). Like Stassi Schroeder, Taylor was seen as a central component of the show's dynamic.
Taylor's firing came on the heels of a number of allegations related to racist and transphobic actions and commentary. Former "Vanderpump Rules" cast member Billie Lee, a transgender woman, had long claimed Taylor refused to film with her because she was trans (reported People). According to Lee, an unnamed co-star (who many assume to be Taylor) tried to get her fired because he was uncomfortable. "His exact words were, 'I'm not gonna lose all I have worked hard for for something stupid I may say or do to offend her,'" Lee wrote. According to The U.S. Sun, Taylor was also called out for racist comments, like one he made about "90 Day Fiancé" star Jay Smith's nose and one about Faith Stowers, where he accused her of being wanted for "grand theft auto" (per Us Weekly). Hiring a homophobic pastor to officiate his wedding probably didn't help, either.
Jennie Nguyen
None of the shows in the "Real Housewives" franchise are especially racially integrated, so many fans have been impressed with the diversity of the cast on "The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City," which has included women from different races, religions, and backgrounds. The show's diversity increased even more when Vietnamese American Jennie Nguyen was added for Season 2, and her scenes included some heartfelt moments that reflected on her culture, like when she discussed her family's immigration experience and made Vietnamese yogurt with her children. Questionable sister wife storyline aside, Nguyen seemed like a promising new addition to the show.
However, in another case of Bravo not doing its due diligence in the casting process, Nguyen was later found to have shared numerous offensive and racist posts. According to Us Weekly, Nguyen claimed in an Instagram Live that others posted for her — though, given that these posts were from before her time on television, that seems unlikely. Regardless of whether she did her own posting, the thoughts shared on her Facebook were problematic and distasteful. They mocked the "Black Lives Matter" movement, compared activists to thugs and gang members, and even made light of running over protestors. Bravo stayed quiet for a week, before issuing a comment and firing Nguyen, which many felt was problematic itself. "We recognize we failed to take appropriate action once her offensive social media posts were brought to our attention," the network posted, while also promising to do better in casting.
Peter Hunziker
Another Bravo show, another star fired for posting racist content on social media. Peter Hunziker was a deck hand on Season 5 of "Below Deck: Mediterranean," before being fired by Bravo and the show's production company, 51 Minds (per Bravo). His offensive post was uncovered as the show was airing, and Hunziker's presence was largely edited out of the latter half of the season. As Vulture reported, this was the first time a "Below Deck" or "Below Deck: Mediterranean" cast member had been fired after the season had already been filmed.
The Instagram post in question, which has since been deleted, reportedly featured a naked Black woman in shackles, according to Monsters & Critics. "A little over 3 months ago, someone sent me a meme on social media and I thoughtlessly reposted it," Hunziker posted on Instagram in a now-deleted July 2020 post, per Us Weekly. "I now realize how painful the imagery and symbolism is and, upon deeper consideration, I realize that the implicit bias that exists in the brief text written in the meme is offensive." This was a change of tune from Hunziker's initial defense of the meme, which — according to screen captures posted on Imgur — included the line "Relax, I'm VERY sexually active with all races." We can't help but wonder how his problematic posts have affected his romantic entanglements.
Thomas Ravenel
Thomas Ravenel was a central component of "Southern Charm" for its first five seasons and so it is unsurprising — but still disappointing — that Bravo was slow to act when his true nature was exposed to the public. According to People, Ravenel was accused of sexual assault in June 2018, though Bravo did not fire him then, despite the accusations from multiple women. "I was corralled into the master bedroom and he shut the door behind me. I turned around and he had his pants dropped, not wearing underwear," Ravenel's nanny, Dawn Ledwell, told the publication. "He was blocking the door. I was mortified, embarrassed, and scared." A second woman made similar allegations.
In September 2018, Ravenel was charged with assault and battery, per The Hollywood Reporter. WCSC reported that Ravenel received no jail time after pleading guilty to the charges, despite photographic evidence of injuries to Ledwell's neck and chest area. Radar Online also reported that he paid his former nanny's attorney's fees and made an $80,000 donation to a rape-focused charity. Despite knowing of the allegations for months, Bravo did not fire Ravenel until after the official charges were filed, and they have since allowed him to return as a guest. He appeared in a Season 7 episode alongside his ex, Kathryn Dennis, Us Weekly reported.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
Ashley Jacobs
Ashley Jacobs was never an official cast member on "Southern Charm," but she played an important role on the show as Thomas Ravenel's girlfriend. Jacobs claimed that she left the show due to the "unfair" editing, which appears to be a false narrative. "I've been blessed with an amazing career, family, & friends and I don't want to put those things in jeopardy for a reality tv show," Jacobs wrote in part on Instagram in November 2018, as Ravenel awaited trial. "Honestly I considered filming again because I desperately want to tell my side of the story. But after experiencing how unfair the editing process can be, I don't think I'll ever have a fair shot."
However, according to All About the Tea, Jacobs absolutely wanted to continue on with "Southern Charm," even despite her breakup with Ravenel. It was the producers who axed the idea, not Jacobs, reportedly due to her poor behavior on and off the show. "The production fired Ashley last week. They were considering bringing her back for season 6 but her volatile behavior was too risky for the network," reported an anonymous source. As seen on her Instagram, Jacobs is now married to someone else and a mother, so let's hope her explosiveness has died down.
LeeAnne Locken
LeeAnne Locken was so crucial to the success of "The Real Housewives of Dallas" that it basically fell apart in her absence. After a poorly received fifth season, for which Locken was absent, "RHOD" is now on ice, with no immediate plans to bring it back. Unfortunately, Locken left Bravo no choice but to fire her at the end of Season 4, given her persistent attacks on cast member Kary Brittingham, which included offensive race-based commentary. Locken had always been a controversial Housewife — she repeated damaging rumors and threatened others on more than one occasion — but it was her final season that cemented her fate as a fallen star.
Locken immediately butted heads with new cast member Brittingham on Season 4 of "The Real Housewives of Dallas," but things got especially bad during a trip to Bangkok. She made numerous offensive comments — on camera — about Brittingham's Mexican heritage. "Come on, Mexican! I thought you were all Mexican and strong. Powerful!" she yelled while slapping herself in one scene, and in another called Brittingham a "chirpy Mexican." According to Dave Quinn's book, "Not All Diamonds and Rosé," many of the "RHOD" ladies — including Locken — assumed Bravo would not air her terrible comments. Locken was also skewered at the reunion — not only by the cast, but also by Andy Cohen. "LeeAnne had gotten away with so much for so long, people were sick of it. That's why Andy kept calling out her lies," D'Andra Simmons recalled in Quinn's book.
Kelly Dodd
"The Real Housewives of Orange County" star Kelly Dodd is about as controversial as they come, and her polarizing personality and problematic actions eventually caught up with her. After five seasons as a main cast member, Dodd was fired following the end of Season 15. While we may never know the exact thing that sent Bravo over the edge, it is clear that Dodd's constant scandals and offensive social media commentary brought the network to a place where they simply could not keep her around, no matter how much drama she stirred up on "RHOC."
In a 2021 interview with Sirius XM's Jeff Lewis, also a Bravo star, Dodd admitted to being "blindsided" by the firing. She went on to blame her firing on cancel culture, before eventually taking responsibility, telling Lewis, "Ultimately, I got fired because of myself. ... I was causing them a lot of grief. I was causing them a lot of trouble." Some of Dodd's problematic social media posts included those mocking Black Lives Matter and COVID-19 (per The U.S. Sun). For instance, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dodd said it was "God's way of thinning the heard" (reported The U.S. Sun). She also threw a big wedding amidst the pandemic shutdowns, and angered Bravo by wearing a "Drunk Wives Matter" hat that poked fun at BLM.
Phaedra Parks
With her dramatic life — a convict husband, an entertainment law career, and a side hustle as a mortician — and amazing zingers, Phaedra Parks was a fan favorite on "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" before Bravo fired her in May 2017, at the end of Season 9. Parks joined the show in Season 3 and would likely still be a cast member if not for a terrible lie she told about fellow castmate Kandi Burruss. Much of the season revolved around a fight between Burruss and Porsha Williams, in which Williams accused Burruss and her husband, Todd Tucker, of plotting to drug and rape her — a lie that viewers found out came from Parks.
Parks' role was exposed on the explosive season-ending reunion, after which she was persona non grata amongst the others on the cast. In Dave Quinn's book "Not All Diamonds and Rosé," the cast discussed how Parks attempted to pin the rumor on producer Carlos King. "None of us believed that was true," Andy Cohen said in the book. "Phaedra had told Porsha she heard it from Kandi directly but was now pinning it on Carlos. It felt fishy." Despite her misdoings, Bravo is slowly easing Parks back into the fold. Though she has not yet been added back into the mix on "The Real Housewives of Atlanta," Parks has been on "Watch What Happens Live" in 2021, and she will also appear on Season 2 of "The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip" (per Bravo).
Lexi Wilson
There have been many terrible employees featured on "Below Deck" and its spin-off "Below Deck Mediterranean." Some of them were fired — who could ever forget Mila Kolomeitseva, the chef who couldn't cook? — and some lasted the season, but few have been as problematic as Lexi Wilson. Wilson was the second stew for the first thirteen episodes of Season 6, but exhibited poor behavior from the start. She refused to join group activities, treated people poorly, and threatened physical violence. It is these very behaviors that led to her dismissal from the boat and, in effect, from the show.
Captain Sandy Yawn fired Wilson because of the drama she was creating onboard the ship, and the offensive things she said to others. This included using an offensive slur in relation to people with disabilities, and telling a co-worker he should have been "aborted" by his parents when he deigned to call her out for using the r-word. "Disturbing," Yawn said when Andy Cohen asked her about Wilson's behavior on the show, much of which she only saw once it aired. "And I wish that the crew would have really painted the picture for me. Just hearing 'it's bad' isn't a description of behavior."
Hannah Ferrier
From a moral standpoint, "Below Deck Mediterranean" alum Hannah Ferrier is the least problematic Bravo star on our list. Ferrier had been a cast member since the first season of the program, but was let go in Season 5 after fellow cast member Malia White reported her for having Valium and a vape pen onboard the ship. "To see Malia on 'Watch What Happens Live,' and using the word 'narcotic.' It's not narcotics. It's anti-anxiety medication," Ferrier told Decider after her firing in August 2020. "I think I've just been really disappointed because I feel I'm being painted as some sort of drug addict or what have you."
The reason the Valium was such a big deal is because it was not reported properly and, thus, broke the laws of the sea by being onboard. Yawn has maintained that she had no other choice but to fire Ferrier, per Maritime Law. "Also, when the trust level is broken for me as a captain, I'm not taking anybody to sea," she told Us Weekly. Yawn does not seem to feel it was personal, but the same cannot be said for Ferrier, who snubbed Yawn when she reached out to send a baby gift after Ferrier's pregnancy became public (reported Us Weekly).