Kelly's Revenge! Dodd Masterminds Enemy Vicki's Shocking 'RHOC' Demotion
Feb. 13 2019, Updated 2:45 p.m. ET
The Real Housewives of Orange County cast got a major shakeup this week when RadarOnline.com first reported original cast member Vicki Gunvalson was demoted from full-time housewife to "friend." And now, as Vicki, 56, decides whether or not she will accept the network's "low-ball" offer, RadarOnline.com has exclusively learned that best friend-turned-enemy Kelly Dodd was the mastermind behind the shocking move. Find out all about Kelly's takedown in RadarOnline.com's gallery.
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As fans know, Vicki and Kelly, 43, had been at war for the entire season after after Vicki set up Kelly's ex-husband Michael on a blind date with one of her friends!
When Kelly confronted Vicki about the drama during the RHOC reunion, Vicki snapped back at Kelly by insinuating on-air that she abuses cocaine! Kelly vehemently denied the accusations, and said she would quit the show if Vicki was not fired.
According to a source, "After the whole cocaine scandal, Vicki kind of knew that she may be kicked off as a full-time housewife. She started getting nervous and tried defending her actions. But her defense was too late."
"Kelly was angry, and she had every right to be. She wasn't going to let it go and Kelly is absolutely responsible for Vicki getting canned," the insider claimed to RadarOnline.com.
"Vicki thought since she was the O.G. from the O.C., she was untouchable. But she was clearly wrong, as none of the ladies are untouchable when it comes down to it," the source explained.
As fans know, Vicki was accused of conspiring with ex Brooks Ayers, who costars claimed faked cancer on camera in 2015. Though she vehemently denied any wrongdoing in the scandal, "fans have been over Vicki since the Brooks situation."
"But still, even after all that, Vicki thought that rules don't apply to her because she was allowed to stay on the show," the source added.
"After the cocaine debacle, Kelly basically gave them an ultimatum. She told producers, 'Either Vicki goes, or I go.' When it came down to it, they knew that Kelly was more valuable to the show at this point then Vicki was," the insider dished to RadarOnline.com.
According to the source, "Everyone knows that Kelly brings fresh drama to the show with her explosive personality."
As RHOC fans know, Vicki spent the majority of this past season trying to convince boyfriend Steve Lodge that he should marry her. However, by the end of the season, he had still not proposed.
"Everyone was just tired of Vicki trying to talk marriage with Steve," the source told RadarOnline.com.
In addition, the source said Vicki's reconciliation with former enemies Tamra Judge, 51, and Shannon Beador, 54, also played a part in her demise.
"Now that Vicki is best friends with Tamra again, she became less interesting," the source explained.
"Fans loved it when the two of them would fight on-air," the insider said, "The three of them getting drunk in Mexico together was just not as interesting as the three of them screaming at each other."
RadarOnline.com was the first to report that Vicki, who is currently in the Bahamas on vacation with Steve, was not offered a full-time cast position.
Vicki is expected to make the decision on whether or not to accept the "friend" position after she returns from the Bahamas. As RadarOnline.com previously reported, she was "crushed" when she was told she had been demoted."
Do you think that Vicki Gunvalson should return to 'RHOC' as a part-time cast member?
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