Vicki Gunvalson is set to return to The Real Housewives of Orange County for season 20.
The “OG of the OC,” who was a Housewife when the show debuted in 2006, was surprised on stage by Andy Cohen during the taping of The Bravos at BravoCon in Las Vegas on Friday, November 14.
Vicki, 63, became visibly emotional after Cohen, 57, presented her with an orange and asked, ”Vicki, would you join us as a housewife for Season 20?”
Vicki appeared on 14 seasons of the popular reality show and confirmed her departure in January 2020 via a lengthy Instagram post.
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“I will always be the OG of the OC, but it’s time to say goodbye to The Real Housewives of Orange County. It’s been an incredible ride for 14 years and I want thank all of you for your support, for your love and for ‘whooping it up’ with me along the way,” the reality star wrote in the caption.
At the time, she also shared what she planned to do next following her RHOC exit.
“I’ve been working on new projects that will be exciting, empowering and inspirational. My podcast with Westwood One will be launching soon and I will have much more to say about this on ‘Whoop it up with Vicki,’ she added. “I hope you will join me with my new journey so please stay tuned. I love all my fans, and I want to thank Bravo and Evolution for this incredible experience which my family and I have will never forget.”
The news of Vicki’s return to the show comes after Us Weekly confirmed earlier this month that Vicki and former costar Tamra Judge are officially friends again after putting their feud behind them.
“We’ve had a lot of ups and downs in our 20 years. I always say we’re like sisters,” Tamra, 58, told Us on November 5. “It’s that love-hate relationship all the time. I’m talking sisterly love, like, you have little arguments. And then, of course, being on a show together, there’s always ups and downs — especially the type of show that we were on together.”
For her part, Vicki added her take on their relationship dynamic before confirming the pair have now made up.
“I don’t think either one of us apologized. We are who we are,” Vicki said. “I just have a different viewpoint on the show, and it’s a strong viewpoint. I can’t do toxic. I told Tamra yesterday, ‘You guys are going into a deep, dark hole. I hate it.’”
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Meanwhile, Vicki’s daughter, Briana Culberson, 38, appeared on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen in May 2021 and spoke about how her mom seemed lost without her Real Housewives gig.
“I think she’s still adjusting,” Culberson said during the episode. “I don’t think it’s what she really wants for her life. I think she misses it and she misses the whole process and everybody.”
Culberson added, “It’s good to have more time with my mom, but I feel like she’s missing a piece of her.”
The RHOC cast from Season 19 includes Tamra Judge, Shannon Beador, Heather Dubrow, Gina Kirschenheiter, Emily Simpson, Jennifer Pedranti, and Katie Ginella.
