Monica Garcia is off “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” — for now.
After news broke that the business owner would not be filming for Season 5 following her tumultuous debut on the hit Bravo show, showrunner Lori Gordon told Variety Tuesday that fans should “never say never” about her possible return in the future.
“The women just need a cooling-off period, and I think it’s just too soon,” Gordon said, referring to the drama of the most recent season.
“They’ve articulated it. It’s too soon for them to reenter into a friendship — a trusting friendship. Not enough time has passed.”
Garcia, who was the first Latina to join the cast, exited “RHOSLC” following the explosive season finale revelation that she was behind the Instagram troll account Reality Von Tease.
The account targeted cast members — specifically Jen Shah, who is currently serving time in prison — for years.
Her cover was blown when Heather Gay confronted her at a cast dinner with Lisa Barlow, Meredith Marks and Whitney Rose in Bermuda, after which she demanded Garcia leave the vacation.
Gordon, along with Andy Cohen and Lisa Shannon — Senior VP Programming and Development at Shed Media — claimed to Variety that Bravo had no idea Garcia, 40, was behind the account, which a production source previously told Page Six.
They also asserted that if they did know, she would never have been cast.
While Cohen, 55, also thinks Garcia won’t be off camera forever, he agreed that it’s too soon to bring her back on board.
“I think that if Monica had come out and was able to sway even one of the women back on to her side, then it might be a different conversation right now,” he said. “But she didn’t do that.”
Meanwhile, Gay, 49, was pleased to learn that the unapologetic Season 4 villain would be out of her hair when filming picks back up in February.
“Hearing that production and that Lori Gordon especially wants us to have a cooling-off period, is really wise,” she told Variety.
“Monica has no connection with any of us right now. And that’s all I can say for now.”
She bluntly added, “There’s no chance that Monica will be welcome back in my business, near my family, or near my friends.”
“We all embraced her, brought her to our businesses, brought her into our homes, had her hang out with our children,” Gay continued.
“It just was uncomfortable to know that she had done that, and she never once felt uncomfortable and she never once felt guilty for taking advantage of us in that way.
“I did more for Monica than I do for my friends of 10 years, and I’m filled with deep regret about that.”
“And I wish I’d been able to say to her, ‘You missed out on a village of women here. A village of women that would’ve supported you and got you through all of these trials that you’re having,” she added.
“‘But instead, you s—t on all of us and you s—t on this job and you s—t on the legacy that is “Housewives.’”
Furthermore, Gay said on Tuesday’s “Watch What Happens Live” that she’s “looking forward” to filming with her real friends.
Gay, along with her fellow snowflake holders Angie Katsanevas, Barlow, Marks and Rose, are all expected to return to the show for Season 5.
Regardless of how much Gay may want Garcia out of her life for good, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming Senior VP of Production Noah Samton previously told the Hollywood Reporter that there are key reasons why she is a good fit for Bravo cameras.
“She is a great cast member. She’s open and vulnerable and she represents a different kind of person in Salt Lake than we have on the show,” Samton said.
“She comes from a different background and there’s a lot about her that the audience can relate to in a way that’s different from the other women.”
“But at the same time, there’s the deception, there’s the relationship with the other castmembers,” Samton added.
“It’s a really complicated puzzle. From a rating standpoint, you would want to find a way for her to come back.”
Source: NewsFinale
