Top 10 Real Housewives Scandals & Controversies

One of this show’s saddest moments was Luann’s dramatic arrest for disorderly intoxication and battery in December 2017. But even before this low point, the housewife was attracting attention for her relationship with the controversial New York City CEO. He’d previously been attached to housewives Ramona Singer and Sonja Morgan, the latter of whom felt particularly betrayed by Luann’s newest fling. The most shocking development, however, came when Luann was shown pictures of her fiancé with another woman. She still married him, and their divorce announcement some months later was sadly unsurprising. It was tough to see Tom come between co-stars, and downright painful to witness him cause so much trouble for a housewife who has no shortage of personal difficulties.

Things heated up at the “New Jersey” Season 4 finale when Melissa was confronted with accusations of having danced at a “bikini bar.” Her former employer at the establishment, who had previously alleged as much to Teresa and Kim DePaola, approached Melissa on-camera at the Posche fashion show. He was also recorded claiming that her two castmates had intended to “blow the whistle” on her by arranging the greeting. Kim admitted to being behind the ambush - but was the same true of Melissa’s sister-in-law Teresa? The truth remained unclear at the Reunion. The allegations caused a massive strain in Teresa’s already tenuous relationship with her family members. Although she and Melissa have since mended fences, it’s clear to viewers that tensions between the pair persist.

In Season 3 of “Potomac,” the question of Karen Huger’s wealth was a hot topic. With the housewife and her husband Ray having previously sold their mansion for well under its listed price, her castmates became suspicious. Rumors circulated that Huger’s new home wasn’t where she actually lived, and her fellow housewives memorably performed a fake pizza delivery to investigate. Despite reports that Karen’s husband Ray owed over one million dollars in back-due federal taxes, Karen asserted that her personal finances were completely unaffected. It was a dramatic revelation for a woman who had claimed that her husband was the “Black Bill Gates.” To boot, the financial scandal spawned truly unforgettable moments, like the aforementioned sting operation in drag and Gizelle sporting an insulting hashtag T-shirt.

In only her second year on “Beverly Hills,” Hollywood actress Denise found herself at the center of the season’s most explosive drama. Outspoken former housewife Brandi Glanville claimed that she’d had an intimate encounter with Denise — an allegation that the latter vehemently denied. It wasn’t clear how well Denise knew Brandi and why she was unwilling to confront her about the story. In any case, it was incredibly awkward to watch Denise have to defend herself in front of the cameras — but her castmates continued to grill her about apparent inconsistencies in her story. Not only did the saga seemingly spell the end of her and Lisa Rinna’s long friendship; it also preceded Denise leaving the show entirely.

Porsha and Kenya’s legendary animosity began after a minor slight in “Atlanta”’s fifth season. After Porsha misremembered the former Miss USA’s title while introducing her at a charity event, the pair got into a nasty spat outside. With attempts at reconciliation going nowhere, tensions built and then exploded at the Season 6 reunion. Kenya alleged that Porsha cheated on her ex-husband and memorably used a megaphone to emphasize her point. Porsha attacked her castmate, dragging her to the ground by her hair. The shocking incident led to charges of battery and a warrant for the housewife’s arrest. In a franchise chock-full of dramatic fights, it was nevertheless jaw-dropping to see a physical altercation between the co-stars — and deeply sad to witness the aftermath.

The feud between these housewives is the stuff of legend. After a nearly violent encounter during Season 5’s Amsterdam trip, the pair seemed to be somewhat better off two years later. But despite Lisa’s gesture of goodwill in gifting Kim’s grandson a stuffy, emotions ran high at the Season 7 reunion. Kim produced the still-wrapped present and, declaring that it didn’t harbor good energy, returned it to Lisa for all to see. Although the move was innocuous on paper, in context it seemingly represented the nail in the coffin on the pair’s relationship. With a shell-shocked Lisa quietly tearing up, the encounter is remembered for its sadness and unbearable tension. While Kim’s timing was controversial, it certainly made for a riveting moment.

Cast members stirring up controversy on this series doesn’t always result in punishment. But things were taken a step too far on Season 9 of “Atlanta” with extensive rumors about co-star Kandi’s personal life. Not only did Porsha Williams voice speculation about Kandi’s sexuality; she also alleged that Kandi and her husband had a dungeon and conspired to commit crimes against her. Porsha finally revealed at the reunion that Phaedra was the source of this dubious information, and the latter was caught red-handed. While “Housewives” drama can often remain a he-said-she-said affair, here it became shockingly clear how the situation had unfolded. For the sheer gravity of the baseless accusations, the affair rocked the cast and resulted in Phaedra being fired from the show.

An unforgettable saga began when Dorit Kemsley gave away a pup from Lisa Vanderpump’s rescue center and it inadvertently landed in a kill shelter. Lisa’s employee spread the news to Kyle Richards and Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave, but it turned out that this on-camera encounter had been planned by Teddi and staff. While the ladies believed that Lisa herself had orchestrated the set-up and leaked the story to the press to punish Dorit, she denied her involvement. The dispute led to text messages being aired and even LVP undergoing a polygraph. While Season 9’s most dramatic conflict pushed the star to depart the show, it also resulted in her infamously skipping the reunion. Most upsettingly, though, it spelled the explosive end of some of the show’s strongest friendships.

The sixth season of “New Jersey” depicted one of the most high-profile “Housewives” issues ever. Having filed for bankruptcy in 2009, Teresa and husband Joe Giudice faced legal difficulties that culminated in a guilty plea in 2014 to 41 counts of fraud. In the season finale, Teresa’s co-stars reacted to her sentencing, and the mood was somber at the reunion as the couple discussed their future. While Season 7 of the show depicted Teresa’s release from prison after 11 months, Joe was deported to Italy after completing his sentence. For the couple’s serious misconduct and the severe consequences it carried, this story made headlines. As surprising as the scandal was, it was equally devastating for fans to see its effects on Teresa’s family.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Ashley Darby’s Husband Is Accused of Assault, “The Real Housewives of Potomac” (2016-)
After Allegedly Groping a Cameraman, Michael Darby Was Not Prosecuted Due to Insufficient Evidence

The Book About Danielle Staub, “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” (2009-)
Teresa Giudice Infamously Flipped a Table Over Allegations About Danielle’s Past

The Identity of Kim Zolciak-Bermann’s Boyfriend, “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” (2008-)
With “Big Poppa” Lee Najjar Legally Married During Season 1, NeNe Leakes Famously Chastised Her Co-Star

Brooks Ayers’ Faked Medical Records, “The Real Housewives of Orange County” (2006-)
Vicki Gunvalson’s Boyfriend Spoke of a Dubious Cancer Diagnosis & Later Admitted to Forging Hospital Documents

Tamra Barney’s Revenge Attempt Against Gretchen Rossi, “The Real Housewives of Orange County” (2006-)
Tamra Conspired with Vicki Gunvalson to Embarrass the New Housewife

Throughout Erika’s tenure on “Beverly Hills,” her marriage to famed lawyer Tom usually seemed solid. But her divorce announcement in November 2020 was only the first of many jaw-dropping revelations about the power couple. A month later, both parties were named in a lawsuit that accused them of misappropriating funds meant for plaintiffs. Most notably, family members of those killed in the Lion Air Flight 610 have yet to receive their full settlements. On Season 11 of the show, the housewives hotly debated whether Erika was aware of Tom’s misconduct, with the performer herself denying any knowledge. Sometimes, “Housewives” drama can be relatively trivial — but in this case, the downright horrible nature of the allegations made this story both devastating and shocking.