Vicki Gunvalson's Shocking Demotion: 'RHOC' OG Refusing Low-Ball 'Friend' Offer
Star 'didn't take it well' when Bravo pulled the plug on full-time role.
Feb. 11 2019, Updated 2:41 p.m. ET
Is the O.G. from the O.C. out after 13 long years? Vicki Gunvalson has been demoted from a full-time cast member to a "friend" on the Real Housewives of Orange County, RadarOnline.com can confirm — and the star's deadline to accept the low-ball offer is set to expire. Click through RadarOnline.com's gallery for the exclusive details about Gunvalson's reality crisis with the show she's called her own since 2006.
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"She's been demoted, but she hasn't agreed to take the offer," a production source snitched to RadarOnline.com. The 56-year-old grandmother of two was the original Real Housewives star, making her debut on March 21, 2006.
The emotional star "did not take the news well," the insider spilled to RadarOnline.com.
The source said Gunvalson is up against a ticking clock: "Typically, the ladies are given a really short time, like five days, to either accept the offer from Bravo, or leave the show. There aren't a lot of negotiations."
"Vicki's attorneys are talking to her," the source told RadarOnline.com.
Flipping Out star Jeff Lewis first claimed Gunvalson was demoted. "Okay, so we're going to just jump right into it. I have some breaking Bravo news," Lewis said on his Sirius XM radio show on February 9. "I have a few Housewives friends, and there were some rumors were swirling that Vicki Gunvalson was going to be demoted as a friend on the Real Housewives of Orange County."
Lewis called Gunvalson's nemesis Kelly Dodd to confirm the news. Dodd responded, "Well, I cannot confirm nor deny. However, that's the word on the street."
The source told RadarOnline.com that Gunvalson's drug accusations against Dodd was critical in the network's demotion decision. "The cocaine allegations played a part, but there was no organic story with the remaining cast," the source said. "No one wanted to shoot with her.
The source told RadarOnline.com that Gunvalson's situation was similar to that of Kenya Moore from The Real Housewives of Atlanta: "Kenya was offered a very low day rate to appear sporadically on RHOA. She tried for more, she didn't get it. And now she's off the show."
Gunvalson left the country , going on vacation with her boyfriend Steve Lodge in the Bahamas. Meanwhile, RHOC filming started without her back home.
"The cast started filming on Friday," a source told RadarOnline.com.
Several of the RHOC ladies, including Dodd, Tamra Judge and Shannon Beador were spotted filming at The Quiet Woman, a notorious restaurant where Beador and Dodd once got into a vicious fight.
Gunvalson was glaringly absent from the filming, as she remained in the Bahamas.
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Gunvalson appeared on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen for an OG holiday special, and hosted his baby shower, but her generosity didn't save her job.
Bravo had no comment when reached by RadarOnline.com.
"Thirteen years is a long time," the insider told RadarOnline.com about Gunvalson's run on the hit Bravo show. "She should want to enjoy her life at this point."
Do you think Vicki should stay on RHOC as just a friend after her demotion? Sound off in comments below.
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