Dorinda Medley Breaks Silence On Carole Radziwill ‘RHONY’ Return

Former “RHONY” star Dorinda Medley stated she’s “shocked” about Carole Radziwill‘s surprising return to the sequence. In line with a earlier report from The BlastRadziwill, who left the sequence in 2018 after a tumultuous few years on the air, will rejoin the NYC girls as an official “pal of” the group.

Talking with Kate Chastain on a latest episode of her “Actuality Checked” podcast, Medley stated she was greatly surprised to study of Radziwill’s position on the upcoming season of “RHONY.”

“I’m shocked I knew nothing about it, and we’re fairly shut,” she stated. “So she stored it very — her playing cards very near her chest.”

Radziwill will star within the sequence alongside most of the present’s new period ladies, together with Jessel Taank, Sai De Silva, and Erin Lichy. Newcomers Hailey Glassman, Erika Hammond, and Daisy Toye can even be part of the group.

Bravo TV confirmed in early March 2026 that manufacturing on season 16 of the sequence would start imminently. She additionally shared her ideas on how Radziwill’s position within the upcoming season might assist “bridge” the hole between old style “RHONY” and the revamped sequence.

“I believe that Carole’s only a New York character, and she or he’s very near Andy (Cohen) and she or he had such a terrific comeback on Watch What Occurs Dwell and BravoCon, and I believe the present wants a personality, one thing to form of unify it again to the previous a bit of bit,” Medley stated.

Whereas excited, Medley said that Radziwill’s place as a “pal of” the present wasn’t adequate. “I believe she must be full-time,” she stated.

“However a ‘pal of,’ that’s too little. She must be … I don’t know if I might as a full-time Housewife return and be a ‘pal of’ with these new ladies,” she added.

Radziwill initially joined the sequence in 2012 earlier than leaving in July 2018 after 5 seasons.

“After six seasons on Bravo’s RHONYC, I’ve determined to return to what I do greatest — journalism and producing,” she introduced. “I’m positive this doesn’t come as a shock to any of the viewers, all of whom have been supportive, encouraging, and type.”

Radziwill added, “My authentic curiosity about actuality tv has waned through the years, and I’m specializing in TV and writing initiatives that higher go well with my extra regular temperament.”

On her podcast, Medley doubled down on being shocked by Radziwill’s return. “I didn’t see that coming as a result of, you already know, after she left, she didn’t appear to love it anymore. You already know what I imply?” she instructed her co-hosts.

Medley hasn’t spoken with Radziwill because the information of her shocking return broke the web. “I imply, if she needed to inform me, she would inform me, proper? … Another person texted,” she stated.

“I believe it’s going to be attention-grabbing to see as a result of the women are quite a bit youthful. And it’s a distinct world than the world she was (in). She actually type of knew us. However I simply don’t know. I don’t know the brand new present anymore.”

Radziwill has stored busy since she final appeared on “RHONY” in 2018. Throughout an August 2025 “Watch What Occurs Dwell” visitor spot, the fact star and writer stated she’s continued writing on her Substack, usually posting about “cultural observations” and sharing “unsolicited opinions.”

“It is form of like my life with Carole Radziwill, and loads of unpublished work I am gonna put up there,” she described her e-newsletter. “I like interacting with the followers, and the Bravo followers are so unimaginable, even all these years later…and so I wish to give them one thing to learn and take into consideration.”