The Real Housewives Of New York City Season 14 - Here's What We Can Tell Fans So Far
"The Real Housewives of New York City" has long been a fan favorite of the hit Bravo franchise. However, "RHONY" Season 13 was considered by most to be a major low point in the show's history. As Bustle reported, problems with the season began early on in production, when filming was put on hold several times due to the coronavirus pandemic. To make matters worse, a number of cast members were met with a wave of backlash on social media as a result of their behavior on the show.
If that wasn't bad enough, the reunion special was canceled, marking a first in "Real Housewives" history. In a statement to Variety, a Bravo spokesperson confirmed that the "RHONY" Season 13 reunion would not be going ahead, citing "scheduling challenges" as the reason. "It's disappointing to not be able to bring the cast back together, but we are happy to have ended on such a high note with the finale and are now shifting our focus to next season," the statement concluded.
However, the show's low ratings were likely a key factor in the network's decision to pull the plug on the reunion, as the "RHONY" Season 13 finale only managed to draw in a total of 841,000 viewers. By comparison, the previous season's finale attracted more than 1.1 million. Despite the poor reception, Bravo confirmed another season is in the pipeline. Here's everything to know about Season 14 of "RHONY."
When will The Real Housewives of New York City season 14 be released?
According to The Cinemaholic, "RHONY" Season 13 premiered back in May 2021 and wrapped up after 17 episodes in August 2021. As noted by Deadline, the hit show was left languishing in limbo for a while because Season 13 was so poorly received. In fact, Bravo initially sought to reboot "RHONY" solely with fan-favorite alumni in a "Legacy" spinoff but this seems to be off the table for now (more on that below).
Bravo confirmed that filming on Season 14 was due to begin in the fall of 2022, so we can reasonably expect new episodes to drop sometime in 2023. Sources told the Daily Mail that, behind the scenes, Bravo and the production were struggling to clean up the mess of Season 13. "All hell is breaking loose behind the scenes at the 'Real Housewives of New York.' While the cameras are down, the drama is continuing," an insider revealed.
Who's in the cast of The Real Housewives of New York City season 14?
The smaller-than-usual cast of Season 13 included Luann de Lesseps, Sonja Morgan, Ramona Singer, Leah McSweeney, and Eboni K. Williams, the latter of whom became the first Black housewife in "RHONY" history. Sources warned Us Weekly that nobody was safe, adding, "Producers don't like the chemistry between the cast — and are wondering if they should go out with the old and in with the new."
Further solidifying rumors of a cast shakeup were tantalizing comments made by the man behind the "Real Housewives" franchise, Andy Cohen, who informed Entertainment Tonight in August 2021 that "the show will continue to evolve." The all-new cast was confirmed at BravoCon, in October 2022, with Cohen surprising attendees by bringing the ladies out onstage with him, as Bravo reported at the time.
Sai De Silva, Ubah Hassan, Erin Dana Lichy, Lizzy Savetsky, Jessel Taank, Jenna Lyons, and Brynn Whitfield were all set to feature in Season 14. However, Savetsky stepped down before the season had even wrapped filming after suffering a barrage of anti-Semitic attacks on social media. She confirmed the news on Instagram, noting that "RHONY" seemed like a great opportunity to share her life as an orthodox Jewish woman with the world but, sadly, the backlash became too much.
What is RHONY Season 14 about?
Bravo is looking to start afresh with "RHONY" Season 14, as evidenced by the cast shake-up and the official synopsis, which teases that the new iteration of the hit show will follow an all-new group of: "Dynamic women who run in the same social circles, thriving in one of the most diverse and electric cities in the world. From fashion and real estate to philanthropy and social influence, these women have made their mark in NYC and will now share their lives as they juggle careers, family life, and jam-packed social calendars in the city that never sleeps," (via People).
During an episode of "Watch What Happens Live," Andy Cohen described the new cast as "super fashionable," noting, "The things that they are arguing about are as ridiculous as early RHONY." However, he also argued that, although comparisons to its predecessor are unavoidable, this show is entirely its own beast. "I hope this is perfect in a totally different way," Cohen stated emphatically.
Where to watch previous seasons of RHONY
Thankfully, you can watch every episode of the "Real Housewives" franchise relatively easily. So, if you're looking to bone up on "RHONY" before Season 14 drops later this year, don't fret. First and foremost, you can catch the hit show directly through BravoTV, which streams episodes of all its hit reality shows. Likewise, "RHONY" is also available to watch on Peacock, Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, Vudu, and IVA, per TV Guide.
Fans who were looking forward to double-dipping with Season 14 and the rumored "Legacy" edition of the show, which was slated to feature all-stars such as Luann de Lesseps and Sonja Morgan, were disappointed when Page Six reported that negotiations had completely broken down. The various cast members who were in talks to appear in the show demanded more money, and clarity over how many episodes they'd get.
Bravo argued that they were overestimating their own worth. According to an insider, "[Jill Zarin] pushing for a big payday was the straw that broke the camel's back." However, Andy Cohen suggested there was still hope, tweeting simply: "Don't believe everything you read #RHONYLegacy." Either way, we can look forward to Season 14 especially considering, if Cohen is to be believed, the new cast gives the originals a run for their money.
What other details are known about Season 14?
Aside from rebooting "RHONY" with some exciting, fresh faces, there were rumors that Julia Fox would be joining Season 14, too. The fashion icon discussed the possibility of becoming a Real Housewife during an appearance on "WWHL," telling host Andy Cohen that it would all hinge on whether she could get along with the women. Fox noted, "If I think we can vibe then yeah, definitely. Why not?" Fans disagreed, though, with 61% responding negatively to a poll about Fox joining the show.
As Cohen previously admitted to Variety, "RHONY" was "at a crossroads" after Season 13. The executive producer shared, "We've spent a lot of time figuring out where to go. And the plan that we've come up with, I think, is a real gift to the fans." He added, "There are thousands of stories to tell here," with Cohen arguing that NYC is "the most multicultural, diverse, and energetic and exciting city in America." He was adamant that Season 14 would accurately reflect this.
Cohen said, "We're looking for a group of women who are real friends, and who are of diverse backgrounds, races, and religions." It seems they found the right people, especially since, according to Us Weekly, the group is also a mix of lifelong New Yorkers and newcomers from all over the world, including Somalian-born Ubah Hassan, British-Iranian Jessel Taank, and midwestern native Brynn Whitfield. Clearly, there's lots to look forward to when "RHONY" returns later this year.