Tamra Judge shared the real reason why Liz McGraw exited “The Real Housewives of Rhode Island” after just one season.
The “Real Housewives of Orange County” star told Page Six’s “Virtual Reali-Tea” she wasn’t happy about McGraw’s surprise departure from the series.
“I don’t like it at all. I think she brought a lot [to the show],” Judge, 58, said. “I had talked to her off-season and she was really struggling with the hate on social media.”
Judge, who has received her fair share of backlash over the years, added, “People need to chill. It’s TV. It’s entertainment. You don’t need to go for their children and their businesses and write bad Yelp reviews and send death threats.”
McGraw, 56, announced earlier this month that she “made the decision to take a step back” from “The Real Housewives of Rhode Island” to focus on her “family,” her “work” and her “passions.”
“The ‘RHORI’ cast is an amazing group of women who have created something special,” she wrote in her Instagram post. “I’ll be watching next season, rooting for the continued success of this franchise.”
Legal issues surrounding McGraw’s close friend Dino Guilmette, who is currently facing eight drug-related offenses as a result of his March 2022 arrest, led to further speculation about her abrupt exit from the series.
However, McGraw shut down rumors claiming her decision to leave the show was a result of her connection to Guilmette.
“It’s fascinating to me how everyone assumes my reason for leaving involves being afraid of ‘skeletons’ …’jail,’ etc.,” she wrote on her Instagram Story hours after announcing her exit.
She continued, “This is not new gossip … it has been the local slander for YEARS. If there were even an ounce of validity to it, I’d not have ever gone on a show! I realize that for some, it feels good to speculate, hate and defame my character, but I have never been investigated, nor involved in ANY criminal case. It’s preposterous and people should know how utterly ridiculous it sounds.”
“The Real Housewives of Rhode Island” was renewed for Season 2 just weeks after the premiere of its debut season. The show, which is slated to film its sophomore season this summer, also stars Jo-Ellen Tiberi, “Bachelor” alum Ashley Iaconetti, Rosie DiMare, Rulla Nehme Pontarelli, Alicia Carmody and Kelsey Swanson.
The first season of “The Real Housewives of Rhode Island” is currently streaming on Peacock.
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