Why Traitors US star Lisa Rinna left Real Housewives of Beverly Hills amid claims she was 'sacked'
Lisa was famed for her one-liners in the reality showTraitors US star Lisa Rinna has slipped effortlessly into her role of a Traitor but she is best known for Real Housewives of Beverly Hills – so why did she leave?
Lisa’s arrival in Ardross Castle comes three years after she bowed out of the hugely popular reality franchise.
She was one of the RH’s OGs (sort of), having joined the Beverly Hills cast in season five, which premiered in 2014.
But Lisa’s exit eight years later was marred with controversy. So what happened? Here’s what you need to know.
The Traitors US: Lisa Rinna’s Real Housewives fame
Lisa, 62, is one of five Real Housewives in season 4 of The Traitors US. She found herself on day one in the castle alongside Candiace Dillard Bassett, Dorinda Medley, Caroline Stanbury and Porsha Williams.
Lisa is arguably one of the more iconic Housewives, however.
The Days of Our Lives actress was an instant hit with viewers. She was even credited for “saving” season 5 of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills after ratings shot up.
Lisa was famed for her sassy one-liners and her penchant for embroiling herself in drama.
Although she had been previously known for her soap role, Lisa quickly became more famous than she’d ever been. But her fiery personality also often split viewer opinion.
Lisa was never too far away from a feud with her co-stars Kim Richards, Denise Richards, Kathy Hilton and Lisa Vanderpump.
And it was a bust-up with one of these ladies that was rumoured so spark the end of her run on the show in 2023.
Why did Lisa leave Real Housewives of Beverly Hills?
In an upcoming episode of The Traitors US, Lisa describes her exit from Real Housewives of Beverly Hills as “very difficult”. So what exactly happened?
Lisa announced she was leaving RHBH in January 2023, saying in a statement: “This is the longest job I have held in my 35-year career and I am grateful to everyone at Bravo and all those involved in the series.
“It has been a fun eight-year run and I am excited for what is to come!”
But her exit was marred with rumours that she was ‘dropped’ after a huge bust-up with Kathy Hilton.
The ladies had previously come to blows in season 12 during a cast ski trip to Aspen and Kathy confronted Lisa during the reunion show.
Kathy told her: “You are the biggest bully in Hollywood and everybody knows it.”
Lisa, meanwhile, shot back: “[Kathy] attacked me in the house in Aspen. Well, she abused me. It was abusive. Screaming and yelling at me.”
‘Mutual agreement’
Lisa’s exit from RHBH was actually a “mutual decision” between herself and Bravo, the production company. She was NOT dropped from the show.
Lisa did, however, make up her mind following her very public fallout with Kathy Hilton – Hollywood socialite and mother to Paris Hilton.
She later revealed on a radio show: “I almost quit at the reunion. I was right there gonna do it. Woulda shoulda coulda.
“But I was ready to say it, and then of course, I go home, and I write an email that night, and I text everyone, and I say, ‘I’m done’.”
Lisa also claims Kathy was allowed to bring her publicist to the filming of the reunion show. She added: “That’s when I knew curtains were for me. I knew it.”
Will Lisa Rinna ever return to Real Housewives?
It seems unlikely Lisa will ever return to Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
Real Housewives host and executive producer, Andy Cohen, denied in a radio interview that they had offered Lisa $1million to come back.
Andy added: “I would say she’s probably never coming back. It’s done. Yeah, yeah, yeah.”
However, in April this year, Lisa set the price it would take for her husband, actor Harry Hamlin, to agree to her returning.
“You guys are gonna laugh and think I’m ridiculous, but I was like, ‘I might do it for $5 million’,” Lisa said in a podcast. “He’s like, ‘No, 10. $10 million, you can go back’.”
Pass us the cheque book!
Read more: The Traitors US: Rob Rausch’s secret girlfriend revealed as he admits he’s dropped the L-bomb
