The Biggest Friendship-Ending Fights in 'Real Housewives' History

Lisa Vanderpump and Kyle Richards

Despite the occasional hiccup or two, Lisa Vanderpump and Kyle Richards' friendship remained the centerpiece to The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills over the years. That is, until season 9, when the BFFs had an epic fight that seemingly severed their relationship for good. It began when Richards accused Vanderpump of leaking stories to the press in order to make their costar Dorit Kemsley look bad over the #PuppyGate scandal. Richards said she was coming from a place of love. Vanderpump didn't believe her and swore on the lives of her children (and dog Giggy) that she hadn't done anything wrong — before throwing Richards out of her house. "You came here to tell me I am a liar," Vanderpump said. "So we’re done." The two haven't spoken since.

Cynthia Bailey and NeNe Leakes

The friendship contract is done ... again! Cynthia Bailey and NeNe Leakes fell out for the second time on The Real Housewives of Atlanta's eleventh season. Leakes called Bailey "sneaky and underhanded" after it appeared the former model had consipired to bring Leakes' enemy, Kenya Moore, back on the show. Bailey has denied any wrongdoing, but Leakes exploded on social media and at the reunion. "I’ve tried to be a good friend to her and I’m just tired," Bailey said. It was a sad ending for the two, who became close allies when Bailey joined the Bravo show back in 2010. An argument during the filming of RHOA‘s sixth season (which aired in 2013 and 2014) had previously put them at odds, but they reconciled years later. Could they make amends again? Only time will tell.

Bethenny Frankel and Carole Radziwill

Minor miscommunications initially drove a wedge in between Bethenny Frankel and Carole Radziwill on The Real Housewives of New York City's tenth season, but watching the show back (and reacting about it on social media) split things wide apart for good. Raziwill was hurt and angry to hear Frankel criticize her in confessional interviews for not being married, not having kids and not having a career. "I was really, really trying to salvage our friendship, and you didn’t seem that interested," Radziwill said on the season 10 reunion. "And I only can imagine it was because you knew what you had said at all those confessional interviews." When she saw the episodes, Radziwill lashed out in a scathing blog post, calling out Frankel’s “lies, insinuations, and false characterizations." That ended things for Frankel. "The bashing with the blogs ... made it over," she said on the reunion. "It was really mean." After their fight, Radziwill left the show. But in an April 2019 Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen appearance, Frankel revealed that the two had been in cordial communication. "It's clean," she said.

Tamra Judge, Vicki Gunvalson and Shannon Beador

The self-described "Three Amigos" split into two groups during The Real Housewives of Orange County's eleventh season, with Shannon Beador and Tamra Judge turning on Vicki Gunvalson over her alleged involvement in Brooks Ayers' cancer scam. Gunvalson denied any wrongdoing, but instead of trying to make right by Beador and Judge, she admitted she had sought to punsh them, repeating false rumors that Judge's husband was gay and that Beador's ex had physically beat her. It took a few years, but the three eventually made up. They even found a new nickname for themselves in season 13: "The Three Abuelas."

Caroline Manzo and Teresa Giudice

There's certainly no love lost between these two, who started The Real Housewives of New Jersey as close allies in season 1 but saw their 15-year friendship deteriorate in season 3. It started when Teresa Giudice made a dig at Caroline Manzo and her son in her cookbook. From there, Caroline got involved in trying to mend relationships between Giudice and her estranged family (brother Joe Gorga, sister-in-law Melissa Gorga and cousin Kathy Wakilie). Giudice accused Manzo of siding with them over allegations that she had plotted to explose Melissa's alleged past a stripper. Adding more fuel to the fire? Caroline's claim that for years, Giuidce had tried to poison her own "family members" (i.e. sister-in-law Dina Manso) against her. By the season 5 reunion, their friendship was clearly over. They haven't looked back since. "I don't want to talk to her," Caroline told The Daily Dish in August 2006. Giudice was stricter when speaking to E! News in January 2018. "I want to reconcile being friends? No," Giudice told E! News in January 2018. "She's a money-hungry bitch."

D'Andra Simmons and LeeAnne Locken

When LeeAnne Locken introduced her best friend D'Andra Simmons on season 2 of The Real Housewives of Dallas, she never would have believed that Simmons would end up being one of her biggest foes. But by season 3, the two were involved in a bitter battle, which started when Locken expressed her concerns over Simmons' financial struggles. Angry, Simmons spread allegations that Locken's fiancé Rich Emberland had been unfaithful, which the couple strongly denied. By the time Locken and Simmons met again at the RHOD reunion, there appeared no chance that the two would reconcile, though some intervention from Simmons' mother Dee helped calm their anger. Soon, Simmons apologized for spreading the cheating allegations, and Locken seemed open to reconciling. "We’ll see!" Locken said on Twitter. "Anything’s possible!"

Monique Samuels and Ashley Darby

Monique Samuels had the scare of her life when she fell asleep at the wheel of her car blocks away from her home. Lucky for the Real Housewives of Potomac star, she woke up just in time avoid a head-on collision with a tree. But her frightening moment turned even more dramatic when, days later, pal Ashley Darby told their cast that Samuels had consumed “four martinis” at a lunch before getting into the vehicle. The accusation, which Samuels denied, caused a rift that lasted throughout RHOP's third season.

Phaedra Parks and Kandi Burruss

One of the saddest friendship fallouts in Housewives' history came during The Real Housewives of Atlanta's eighth season, when viewers learned that Phaedra Parks and Kandi Burruss were no longer the BFFs they used to be. Parks wasn't happy that Burruss and her husband Todd Tucker remained close with her ex-husband, Apollo Nida, even storing some of his belongings at their house. Burruss wasn't happy that Parks hadn't paid Tucker for work he did on her Donkey Booty workout DVD. From there, things just got worse and worse, culminating in a season 9 blowout at the reunion, where it was revealed Parks had spread false rumors that Burruss and Tucker wanted to drug costar Porsha Williams. That was the last time the two talked; Parks left the series the following season.

Kandi Burruss and Porsha Williams

Viewers may have thought they’d seen everything on the Real Housewives franchise, but what happened between Kandi Burruss and Porsha Williams on season 9 of the Real Housewives of Atlanta truly took the cake. In a heated argument, Burruss and Williams threw out major accusations about each other’s sexual past — including their late-night dance-floor make-out session. The kiss got so hot that Burruss alleged Williams offered to have sex with her. When Williams heard that, she fired back with her own accusation, claiming that Burruss and her husband Todd Tucker had planned on drugging her that night. After two years of back and forths, they finally seemed to mend their broken fence on the season 11 reunion. "We good?" Williams asked. "We good!" Burruss assured her.

Bethenny Frankel and Jill Zarin

In the history of Housewives friendship breakups, no split rocked the world as much as Bethenny Frankel and Jill Zarin’s. The two Real Housewives of New York City stars had bonded like sisters throughout the show’s first two seasons, dubbing themselves a real-life Lucy and Ethel. But when season 3 kicked off, they were estranged, having grown apart between filming after Frankel told Zarin to “get a hobby.” Their castmates spent all season trying to get them together, to no avail. Zarin rejected Frankel’s early attempts at apologies (leading to a very memorable scene of Frankel crying in the street on the other end of a tense phone call). By the time the Zarin Fabrics owner was ready to forgive and forget, the Skinnygirl mogul had moved on to an new chapter of her life: marriage and motherhood. The pair didn’t patch things up until years later, when Frankel attended the funeral of Zarin’s late husband. They remain cordial.

Caroline Manzo and Dina Manzo

Sisters Caroline Manzo and Dina Manzo appeared on season 1 of The Real Housewives of New Jersey together, when Caroline famously proclaimed they were "thick as thieves." So it certainly shocked fans when the two had an off-camera falling out after Dina left the show halfway through season 2. "Caroline does not speak to me at all … we haven’t spoken in two years," Dina — who returned to the show in season 6, after Caroline had left — explained in August 2018. According to her, reality TV and the way it changes people contributed to their fallout. "People become [caricatures] of themselves. ... It was when I didn’t recognize who she was any more that I said, ‘I’m out.’ "

Kyle Richards and Kim Richards

Kyle Richards and Kim Richards have had so many fights on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, it's almost hard to keep track. The two sisters are good now, but there were times when the two weren't in communicaiton at all — espeically after Kyle called out Kim's alcoholism during an infamous season 1 finale argument. From there, the siblings butted heads over everything from Kim's dog biting Kyle's daughter to American Woman, Kyle's semi-biographical television series about their childhood. Seemingly helping them stay on good terms these days? The fact that Kim's no longer a regular on the show.

Karen Huger and Gizelle Bryant

The Real Housewives of Potomac‘s Karen Huger and Gizelle Bryant have had their fair share of disagreements throughout their long friendship. But in season 3, Bryant crossed the line when she made jokes about Huger’s finances. "You have not been a very good friend, Gizelle," Huger said at the reunion. "You do not allow me to be," Bryant shot back. In the end, Bryant was there for Huger after the death of both of her parents, calling Huger "one of the strongest women I know." Still, getting back on track won't be easy. The two reportedly start season 4 on very rocky grounds.

NeNe Leakes and Kim Zolciak-Biermann

NeNe Leakes and Kim Zolciak-Biermann began their reality TV careers together as original cast members (and friends) on The Real Housewives of Atlanta when it premiered in 2008. And for its 10th anniversary season, they both returned to the show — and promptly launched into all-out war. It started when Leakes slammed Zolciak-Biermann for using her many health ailments as excuses, an insult that lead Zolciak-Biermann to call Leakes “sick and disgusting” for living in a “roach nest” (a term many of the RHOA cast felt was racist for its cultural implications of impoverished black women living in the projects). In the wake of #RoachGate, as it was come to be known, Leakes and Zolciak-Biermann traded insults and legal threats. In the end, time seemed to settle their anger, but both agreed at the reunion they would never be friends again.

Lori Peterson and Vicki Gunvalson

They were close friends and co-workers when The Real Housewives of Orange County began in March 2006. But all that changed in season 8, when Peterson — who left RHOC after season 4 — returned as a Friend and claimed that she had once seen Gunvalson in bed with two other people while she was still married. The accusation set Gunvalson off. "I have never been with multiple partners in my life!" she screamed at Peterson, confronting her on the ski slopes during a girls' trip. "You’re filthy! Good luck with your life, Lauri."

They stopped speaking. But during a 2015 appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Gunvalson admitted she had forgiven Peterson. "Lauri and I saw each other a couple a months ago and all’s good," she said. "I said, 'I forgive you, and let’s move on.' ... Lauri was just trying to get another job. And it didn’t work, she’s off the show."

Teresa Giudice and Jacqueline Laurita

Another "Lucy and Ethel" in the Housewives franchise were Teresa Giudice and Jacqueline Laurita, who began The Real Housewives of New Jersey as close pals before having an epic squabble over Giudice's legal troubles. "I lost a best friend tonight," Laurita said during RHONJ's third season. Throughout the fourth and fifth season, the ladies remained mostly in a terrible place. Laurita left for season 6 and returned in season 7, attempting to try to make up with Giudice. But in the end, the two couldn't find common ground. At the season 7 reunion, each traded cheating allegations before Giudice alleged that Laurita had been the one to turn her and husband Joe in to the feds. Laurita hasn't returned to the show since.

Brandi Glanville and Lisa Vanderpump

Brandi Glanville and Lisa Vanderpump were unlikely friends on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, with Glanville's unfiltered attitude serving as a hilarious counterpart to Vanderpump's prim-and-proper persona. The only thing more enjoyable than watching their friendship blossom? Watching it fall apart on RHOBH for almost three seasons. There were verbal arguments, attempts at reconcilliation, and one very memorable slap. Glanville left the show in 2015, accusing Vanderpump of manipulation on the way out. "Lisa Vanderpump is a manipulative person, and when I was on the show, I did a lot of her dirty work for her. And I finally realized it, and I started calling her on her s—," Glanville said in March 2019, noting that the two hadn't spoken in years. Vanderpump spoke to PEOPLE in 2015 about Glanville: "I don’t have any understanding of her motives in any situation ever. I thought the only way for me to really sustain any kind of relationship was to give her the kind of credibility she deserves, which is little to nothing."

Stephanie Hollman and Brandi Redmond

Brandi Redmond and Stephanie Hollman couldn't have been closer during the first season of The Real Housewives of Dallas. But whenseason 2 premiered, fans learned that the longtime BFFs hadn’t spoken in nearly four months, with Redmond icing out Hollman after Hollman compared Redmond's marriage to a "slow motion car crash" in a BravoTV.com blog. "I know that her marriage isn’t perfect and I would never say anything about her marriage that was hurtful and mean," Redmond said. "Our relationship feels like a breakup. My best friend is not my best friend anymore." Luckily, this story has a happy ending. Hollman eventually reconnected with Redmond and apologized, and they picked up right where they left off. They remain close today and even host a podcast together called Weekly Dose of BS.

Kathy Wakile and Teresa Giudice

Kathy Wakile and Teresa Giudice may be family, but they certainly aren't friends. Though the two cousins were once close, they had a major falling out when Wakile joined The Real Housewives of New Jersey in season 3. Attempts to reconcile never really stuck. In season 7, Giudice told Wakile (and her sister Rosie) that she didn't want to have a relationship with them whatsoever. "At this point, there really isn't any relationship," Wakile told The Daily Dish in 2018, adding to The Morning Breath. "I think that I've tried as much as I can, and at this point, I'm so fulfilled and so happy with my life that anybody would want to be in my life, and I'm not chasing anything."

Danielle Staub and Margaret Josephs

Danielle Staub's marriage to Marty Caffrey lasted about as long as her friendship with her Real Housewives of New Jersey costar Margaret Josephs. Though Josephs was a bridesmaid at Staub's wedding, the two spent the weeks leading up to the big day fighting, with Josephs snapping back at Staub’s claims that she hadn’t done enough. "You’re a f—ing bridezilla, and you’re being an a–hole," Josephs said, in one heated season 9 battle. Staub eventually apologized but doubled down later when she claimed Josephs was never around her childen, prompting Josephs to throw her wine glass. Oh, and then Caffrey knocked Josephs' appearance, claiming she was jealous of Staub's looks. By the finale, Josephs and Staub were done ... and Caffrey was in the pool. Their war continues on social media.

Siggy Flicker and Everyone

Siggy Flicker could not seem to find her footing on the eighth season of The Real Housewives of New Jersey. She began by taking the whole cast to Boca Raton, Florida, for Melissa Gorga‘s birthday. But when Gorga and sister-in-law Teresa Giudice got into a playful cake fight, Flicker was hurt and couldn’t ever seem to get past it. It didn’t help that newcomer Margaret Josephs, whom Flicker brought onto the show, didn’t have her back. For the rest of the season, the two were at each other’s throats. Before the show had even stopped airing, Flicker announced her departure, saying, “I want to focus on my beautiful family, my growing business and some exciting new projects.” She's only remained in contact with Dolores Catania.