Vicki Gunvalson, known as the “OG of the OC,” gained fame as a cast member of the original “Real Housewives” series two decades ago. She recently returned to the Southern California franchise and participated in “The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th.” Despite her fame, Gunvalson shared that her family did not enjoy the same network attention.
Gunvalson, now 64, revealed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that her daughter, Briana Culberson, has distanced herself from the series. Briana expressed disinterest in appearing on the show, especially after how her military husband was portrayed. She has been vocal about wanting nothing to do with the series, replying to requests from Bravo with a firm, “please lose my number.”
Briana appeared in several episodes alongside her mother but declined an offer for the 20th season. She was last seen on Bravo during Season 18 of “Watch What Happens Live.” Her husband, after six tours overseas in the Marine Corps, faced challenges portrayed unfavorably by the show, contributing to Briana’s decision to step away.
Gunvalson admitted her family faced stress from the show. Her son Michael, 40, recently appeared on “RHOC” and disclosed he hasn’t seen Briana in eight years and hasn’t met two of her children due to their dispersed living arrangements.
Gunvalson, reflecting on her family’s situation, noted the difficulty of not having her children close by. While they communicate often, they live in different parts of the world, with Michael in Spain and Briana in Oklahoma.
She shared a personal regret tied to the show’s impact on her marriage. Gunvalson’s ex-husband once asked her to choose between their marriage and the show, warning her of the potential for divorce. This ultimatum eventually led to the dissolution of their marriage.
Another housewife, Porsha Williams, shared her perspective, suggesting that reality TV can both strain and illuminate aspects of a marriage that might need addressing. Gunvalson agreed that a weak marriage is more likely to crumble under the pressure of reality TV.