Vicki Gunvalson was understandably rocked to her core when her mother died. Real Housewives of Orange County fans no doubt remember the tragic moment when she found out. On Watch What Happens Live, she agreed it was the most “devastating” day of her life.
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Vicki missed her mother so dearly that she even spoke with a medium in the hopes she might communicate with her one last time. No one can blame Vicki for the grief she felt. Unfortunately, as it turns out, according to Vicki, Bravo did not help the devastation she experienced.
Bravo allegedly tried to keep Vicki Gunvalson from speaking with her daughter
On October 28, PEOPLE shared their first look at Vice’s Real Housewives episode of The Dark Side of Reality TV. In the clip, Vicki shared the traumatic experience of learning about her mother’s death. What added to the trauma was Bravo allegedly trying to keep the matter from her while filming.
Vicki recalled “playing Bunko” while filming at Shannon Beador’s house when her family tried to tell her the news. When Shannon didn’t answer the phone, her family called production. Vicki’s daughter “had been calling, calling, calling, and they kept telling her, ‘Well, she’s filming right now, blah, blah, blah,’” Vicki recalled.
Eventually, production relented and set up Shannon’s wrapping paper room “with lights and cameramen” so that Vicki could take the call on camera. “I was really upset that production knew for an hour, and they didn’t tell me,” Vicki said. “They were out of line, and I think they should have taken me aside and said, ‘Your mom has passed. Talk to your daughter off camera.’”
Vicki added, “Let me scream and cry on my own and be mad. It was very, very traumatic. I will never forgive Bravo for that.” Bravo reps did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Real Housewives of Orange County continues Thursdays at 9/8c on Bravo.
