Kelly Dodd fired from 'RHOC'? Why the controversial Arizona-born star is leaving Bravo

Scottsdale native Kelly Dodd, a lightning rod for controversy, won’t return to “Real Housewives of Orange County.”

People magazine reported that Dodd, who has drawn the ire of the show's fans for wearing a “Drunk Wives Matter” hat and once called the COVID-19 pandemic “God’s way of thinning the herd” (she later apologized), won’t be back for the upcoming sixteenth season.

Dodd confirmed the news, more or less, in a tweet Tuesday.

“The last five years have been an amazing experience,” Dodd tweeted. “The next five years will be even better. I am so grateful for all the love and support and so excited about the future #RHOC.”

In addition, People reported that Braunwyn Windham-Burke and Elizabeth Lyn Vargas will not return for the upcoming season — and that Heather Dubrow, who left after the 2017 season, will be back.

Did Kelly Dodd get fired?

Dodd couldn’t stay away from controversy, it seemed. Some controversy is, of course, good for a reality show — keeping the show’s name in the headlines is a good thing.

Keeping it in the headlines for saying, “Cheers!” when someone yells, “To superspreaders!” is not. That particular incident precipitated Dodd being fired by Positive Beverage, a company she had a partnership with.

She wasn't technically "fired" from "Real Housewives." People reports that her contract was not renewed.

Fans reacted on Twitter to the “Real Housewives” news about as you’d expect. Some supported the move.

“Kelly has had several chances to get herself together but she just couldn’t stop saying awful things,” one person tweeted. “It’s not like she said one or two things and they kicked her off. Her mouth has gotten away from her many times over the past 5 years.”

Others saw a conspiracy behind the move.

“Wait this has something to do with politics,” one person tweeted. “Please don’t tell me now people are getting fired on housewives because of their political views? I’m sick! I might even start watching bravo I am literally sick!”

Bravo has not announced a date for the show’s return.

Reach Goodykoontz at bill.goodykoontz@arizonarepublic.com. Facebook: facebook.com/GoodyOnFilm. Twitter: @goodyk. Subscribe to the weekly movies newsletter.

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