TV
Published on January 23, 2024
Updated January 23, 2024, 10:19 p.m. ET
Monica Garcia is leaving The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City after just one season, Page Six has confirmed.
The breakout star will not be returning as cameras begin filming the show's fifth season next month.
A few hours after People first reported Garcia's departure, Andy Cohen, Lisa Shannon — senior vice president at Shed Media, which produces “RHOSLC” — and showrunner Lori Gordon further confirmed the news by telling Variety that Garcia had left for the season 5 will not return.
However, Cohen elaborated on Garcia's exit on Tuesday's episode of Watch What Happens Live, saying that she is “taking a break from the show.”
Speaking to Variety, Gordon hinted at a possible return for Garcia after a cooling off period. “Never say never,” she said.
“You never know,” Shannon added.
Page Six has reached out to Garcia and Bravo for comment.
Monica Garcia is leaving The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City after just one season. Clilifton Prescod/Bravo
The reality star's short tenure on the Bravo hit will live on in infamy thanks to the revelation that she was behind the Instagram troll account Reality Von Tease, which targeted the cast of “RHOSLC” for years.
Her online activities got her into trouble with snowflake holders Lisa Barlow, Meredith Marks, Whitney Rose, Angie Katsanevas and, most notably, Heather Gay.
However, Garcia, 40, was praised by fans for the drama, which led to arguably the most explosive finale of Salt Lake City's four seasons.
The reality TV newbie (far left) is leaving the Bravo hit after Heather Gay (third from left) exposed her for running an Instagram troll account. Gizelle Hernandez/Bravo Reality Von Tease, the account in question, had targeted the “RHOSLC” cast for years. Charles Sykes/Bravo
During the Jan. 2 episode — which took place during a cast vacation in Bermuda — Gay, 49, pulled Marks, 52, Barlow, 49, and Rose, 37, aside to tell them that Garcia was dating her and her ex- Co-partner had trolled star Jen Shah, who is in prison, online.
“She’s not our friend,” the Beauty Lab + Laser co-founder told her “RHOSLC” OGs. “She is somebody [who] has been planning and working to infiltrate our friend group.”
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The Instagram account gained attention by publishing insider information about the 2022 cast and boasts more than 36,000 followers.
At a seaside dinner afterwards, Gay confronted Garcia in epic fashion.
Garcia's online activity came to light during the explosive finale, which was filmed in Bermuda. Meredith Andrews/Bravo
“I know who you really are, and who you really are is cyberbully and internet troll Reality Von Tease,” she said, later exclaiming in a now-viral moment that she had “receipts, evidence, schedules, screenshots.” and “ “f–king anything” to prove it.
Garcia initially denied the allegation, but eventually admitted that she and other unknown people operated the account. She then cleared the premises at Gay's request.
The ordeal is expected to be analyzed in detail in the third and final part of Tuesday's season 4 reunion of “RHOSLC.”
The Instagram account – which Garcia (pictured here with Meredith Marks) claims to have run with others – gained attention for posting inside information about the 2022 cast and has more than 36,000 followers. Brett Colvin/Bravo The Reality Von Tease drama was discussed during the Season 4 reunion of “RHOSLC.” Clilifton Prescod/Bravo
After the taping, Housewives boss Cohen teased that there was a question mark over Garcia's future at Bravo.
“I think the question is, how will Monica or will Monica find her way back into this group?” he told “Entertainment Tonight” during an interview published on January 22nd.
“Part 3 is a deep dive into Reality Von Tease and…so by the end I think you'll have an idea of where we're going next season.”
Filed under Bravo, Heather Gay, Lisa Barlow, Meredith Marks, Real Housewives, Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, Reality Show, Reality Stars, Reality TV, Whitney Rose, 01/23/24
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