Andy Cohen, the well-known Real Housewives reunion host, agrees that the hiring process for the franchise could use some work. The Watch What Happens Live host has been a part of the popular franchise since The Real Housewives of Orange County season 2. Andy did his first official reunion special as a part of his late-night show WWHL. Since then, the reunion has become the most-anticipated part of any Housewives season.
The father of one has even been a part of some of the most iconic moments from the Real Housewives reunions. Andy was infamously thrown down during The Real Housewives of New Jersey season 2 reunion by Teresa Giudice while she was fighting with Danielle Staub. Not only does Andy do the reunions for the Housewives, but he even does them for Vanderpump Rules, Southern Charm, Below Deck, and Summer House. Andy truly is the king of Bravo.
While at the Music Man Broadway opening on Thursday, Andy, who got a speech from John Mayer, revealed the vetting process for the Real Housewives needs some work. “Everything is a work in progress,” he said to reporters (via Page Six). For the past few years, Andy has sadly had to have some tough conversations with his Bravolebrities, who have done or said inappropriate things on and off-screen. Most recently, Bravo had to fire Jennie Nguyen from The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City for her past racially insensitive comments. Jennie shared and liked memes and photos on Facebook, mocking the Black Lives Matter movement, with some including phrases like “BLM Thugs” and “Violent Gangs.”
After many fans called for the network to fire Jennie from RHOSLC, they made the announcement a week after the comments leaked online. “Bravo has ceased filming with Jennie Nguyen and she will no longer be a cast member on ‘The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City,’” Bravo confirmed in an Instagram post. In the statement, they promised their fans they would “work to improve” their vetting process and will make more “informed” and “thoughtful” casting decisions in the future. Unfortunately, Jennie isn’t the only one who has a controversial past. Thomas Ravenel from Southern Charm was fired in 2018 after he was arrested on assault and battery charges against his former nanny. Stassi Schroeder and Kristen Doute from Vanderpump Rules were also fired in 2020 for making racially charged comments on a podcast aimed at their costar Faith Stowers.
Andy is aware the Real Housewives vetting process needs some work. He and Bravo are doing their best to find amazing women who will not only make a great show but also don’t have a controversial background. Hopefully, Andy and the network do not have any more issues with vetting in the future.
Sources: Page Six, Bravo
