Andy Cohen is speaking out about the potential recasting of The Real Housewives of New Jersey.
While also addressing the drama between Vanderpump Rules stars Ariana Madix, 38, and Lala Kent, 33, the Watch What Happens Live host, 56, hinted at “extensive casting,” reacted to the many RHONJ leaks, and admitted to seeing both sides of the Pump Rules feud.
Credit: Charles Sykes/Bravo, Andrew Eccles/Bravo
“There was a lot of play with [the idea of a reboot] and I think the answer is — I was talking to a cast member about this today — we are gonna cross next season as that comes,” Andy revealed on the June 3 episode of SiriusXM Radio’s Reality Checked with Kiki Monique. “Right now, we’re just kind of focusing on, ‘Okay, well if we’re not doing a conventional reunion, what are we doing and what is something different that we could do?'”
Andy then signaled to the “extensive casting” of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, which saw the exits of Kandi Burruss, 48, Sheree Whitfield, 54, Sanya Richards-Ross, 39, and Marlo Hampton, 48, after season 15, saying that he’s “so happy with what’s going on” with RHOA right now.
“Some things take time,” he explained. “We want to take a minute to figure things out. You know, there’s no point in rushing into something just to rush into something.”
As for the RHONJ leaks and drama surrounding certain fan accounts that have allegedly worked with certain cast members — allegedly Teresa Giudice, 52, and Jennifer Aydin, 47 — Andy said he “hates leaks”
“That’s what was so fun about that Reality Von Tease thing. It was like no one knew about it and it was just so fun as a viewer, so I hope that we can get into a vibe of not leaking,” he stated. “I just think that there’s a supreme level of kind of distrust amongst the cast with each other and that’s never healthy in terms of trying to make a great television show.”
“I think that the cast on Jersey is so fed up with each other. There are teams of people against each other,” he continued, giving a nod to Teresa’s feud with Melissa Gorga, 45.
“So that’s our thing to solve for next season of Jersey and we can do it and we will figure it out,” he stated.
As for the backlash Lala received after questioning Ariana’s handling of her drama with Tom Sandoval, 41, particularly her refusal to film with him during the finale, Andy admitted he could see where she was coming from in wanting more from Ariana.
“When they broke the fourth wall, as a reality producer, I really respect what she was saying about ‘We are all on this show and this is doing our jobs,’” Andy told Us Weekly on May 30. “I think it’s one of those great arguments where I could see both sides.”
