Heather Gay and Monica Garcia.Photo:Bravo Watch What Happens Live/Instagram; Gabe Ginsberg/Getty
Bravo Watch What Happens Live/Instagram; Gabe Ginsberg/Getty
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake CitySeason 4 reunion came to a dramatic conclusion on Tuesday night, with the cast letting newcomer Monica Garcia know exactly where they stood with her.
“Every person on this couch can go through that page and give you 10 personal examples,” she told Garcia, laying out the breadth and severity of the online attacks.
Monica Garcia.Gizelle Hernandez/Bravo via Getty
Gizelle Hernandez/Bravo via Getty
Garcia defended her actions, claiming her primary goal for posting on Reality Von Tease was “to expose Jen’s abusive behavior.” The “Jen” she referred to is Jennifer Shah, an originalRHOSLCcast memberwho is currently serving a 5.5 sentence in prisonfor her role in a long-running telemarketing fraud scheme.
“You are not the hero in this story, Monica,” Gay fired back.
“I’m fine being the villain in this story, Heather, because you’re the clowns in mine,” Garcia replied.
Later in the reunion, Gay explained why she had a hard time overcoming Garcia’s “red flags”: intentionally befriending and working for someone – in this case Shah – surveilling them and exposing all their secrets online.
“She thinks she’s being iconic,“theBad Mormonauthorsaid of her newest castmate. “It’s not iconic to be a bully. This has ruined my experience as a Housewife … every Housewife on every franchise would say that the worst part is the trolls and the bullies.”
As the reunion wound down, hostAndy Cohenasked the other housewives –Lisa Barlow,Angie Katsanevas,Meredith MarksandWhitney Rose– if Garcia’s betrayal was “too insurmountable” for the women to move on from.
Barlow, 49, and Gay agreed that there was “nothing” Garcia could say to make things better.
Rose, 37, aligned herself with her costars and added, “I don’t trust Monica…and I can’t put myself in the situation right now. So I don’t have a strong answer for you other than ‘no.’ "
“I think it’s very problematic to move forward in a situation where trust has been completely decimated,” concluded Marks, 52.
Cohen then allowed Garcia to clarify anything that had come up, to which she replied, “I feel like there’s been a ton that’s been misunderstood.” When prompted to give the final word, Garcia had nothing more to say.
OnWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohenafter the reunion, Gay creditedGarciafor providing the chance for theReal Housewives of Salt Lake Citycastto grow closer to one another.
“What Monica never got was that it was a show about friendship. And she was not interested in being any of our friends.” Gay shared with Cohen. “I’m just looking forward to filming with Whitney and Meredith and Lisa and Angie. They’re my actual friends and we have a great time together.”
Gay reiterated to Cohen, 55, how much she loves her costars. “I love these women. I love them all. Deeply, truly, on a level that — there’s nothing like a common enemy to bring you together.”
“And they had my back on the beach,” recalled Gay of the moment she unmasked Garcia. “They could have blown me off, they could have said a thousand things, but they said, ‘I have your back.’ It was a pivotal moment for all of us as friends.”
Heather Gay on “Watch What Happens Live” on Jan. 23, 2024.Bravo Watch What Happens Live/Instagram
Bravo Watch What Happens Live/Instagram
Before the reunion aired on Tuesday evening,PEOPLE reported exclusively that Garcia would not be returningtoThe Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.
Executive producers confirmed the news Tuesday evening in an interview withVariety, saying the cast needed time to regroup. Cohen later, onWatch What Happens Live,suggested that Garcia’s exit might be “a break.”
Garcia has not commented on the exit and has not responded to PEOPLE’s inquiry.
Monica Garcia, Meredith Marks, Heather Gay, Lisa Barlow, Whitney Rose, Angie Katsanevas.Gizelle Hernandez/Bravo
Gizelle Hernandez/Bravo
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All four seasons ofThe Real Housewives of Salt Lake Cityepisodes are streaming on Peacock.
source: people.com
