Vicki Gunvalson Demoted On ‘RHOC’ As Bravo Ready To ‘Skew Younger’

Fresh faces!

Vicki Gunvalson’s shocking demotion on the Real Housewives of Orange County was made official on Tuesday but an insider snitched exclusively to RadarOnline.com about one of the reasons she lost her fulltime housewife position.

“The network wants to skew younger,” the source said about the move to make Vicki, 57, just a friend of the show she's been a main cast member in since its series premiere in 2006.

Vicki was left out of the ‘RHOC’ Season 14 cast photo, which included Tamra Judge, 51, Shannon Beador, 55 and Kelly Dodd, 43.

Gina Kirschenheitr, 35 and Emily Simpson, 43, were returning for another season and were joined by the newest addition to the cast - Braunwyn Windham-Burke, 41.

According to the insider, Vicki’s negotiations for the season were met with resistance from the network.

“She was never offered a full-time housewife position,” the source told RadarOnline.com.

“They told her she could prove herself, but just an engagement won’t save you. Although that’s what she pitched to them.”

Vicki didn’t address her demotion after the network issued a press release noting that ‘The OG from the OC’ was not a Housewife this season.

“For the past 14 years I’ve opened up my life, my loves, my ups and downs on The Real Housewives of Orange County and I am proud to be the “OG of the OC”. I am back again this season right in the middle of the action, and I hope you have as much fun watching the show as I did living it in front of the cameras. Stay tuned to Bravo August 6th,” Vicki wrote on her Instagram page.

The insider told RadarOnline.com that her fate was sealed.

“She will continue to appear on the show as a friend for seasons to come because she’s a household name. No one sees the network making her a main cast member again. Unless the season completely tanks.”