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Published January 4, 2024, 7:14 p.m. ET
“The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” producers had “no idea” that newbie Monica Garcia was associated with troll Instagram account Reality Von Tease before inviting her on the show, Page Six can confirm .
“Would you have known beforehand? [the ladies’ vacation in] Bermuda, they would never have withheld this information from the core four,” a production source told Page Six on Thursday.
“It was a shock for everyone, even Monica,” they added.
Garcia, 40, was outed by fellow actress Heather Gay, 49, on Tuesday's season four finale.
“Monica assumed the information would come out eventually, but she hoped she could have gotten through her first season without anyone blowing her cover,” a second source told Page Six.
Entertainment Tonight was the first to report the news after fans on social media accused producers of knowing the secret.
Producers of “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” claim they have “no idea” that Monica Garcia is behind the Instagram troll account Reality Von Tease, a source revealed to Page Six on Thursday. Monica Garcia/Instagram
During Tuesday's “RHOSLC” finale, Gay pulled Meredith Marks, Lisa Barlow and Whitney Rose aside to tell them that Garcia was trolling her – and her former castmate Jen Shah, who is in prison – online.
More reality TV updates from Page Six
A second source said, “Monica assumed the information would eventually come to light.” Meredith Andrews/Bravo “She hoped she could have gotten through her first season without anyone blowing her cover,” they added. Meredith Andrews/Bravo
“Guys, the four of us have come a long way. We have, and Monica is not who she says she is,” she began.
“She is not our friend. she is somebody [who] has been planning and working to infiltrate our friend group.”
“The name you all know, the woman whose birthday we celebrated, who we want to stand up for, support and defend, is Reality Von Tease,” Gay said, referring to the popular social media account , who had bullied her for years.
“I’m freaking out,” responded an emotional Marks, 52. “I’m so tired of people trying to hurt us. This is so fucked up.”
“RHOSLC” star Heather Gay confronted Garcia in Bermuda during the show's fourth season finale in front of Meredith Marks, Lisa Barlow and Whitney Rose. Getty Images She had informed them of Garcia's true identity before calling her at her dinner party. Fred Hayes/Bravo
The Instagram account gained attention by publishing insider information about the 2022 cast and boasts more than 36,000 followers.
Later at a cast dinner, Gay assisted Garcia with her knowledge and the support of her castmates.
“The real Monica is someone who really doesn't want to be our friend, but wants to profit from our lives and our pain,” she criticized.
“I know who you really are, and who you really are is cyberbully and internet troll Reality Von Tease.”
Although Garcia initially denied the accusation, she fessed up and admitted that she and other unknown people ran the account.
“The real Monica is someone who really doesn't want to be our friend, but wants to profit from our lives and our pain,” Gay explained over dinner. heathergay/Instagram
She then left dinner at Gay's request.
Garcia showed no signs of remorse as she shared several snaps from a “Gossip Girl”-inspired photo shoot on Instagram following the expletive-filled confrontation.
“You know you love me! Xoxo RVT😘,” she captioned the post – which has since been deleted.
In a shot she apparently shared again on Thursday, she showed a blinded newspaper page being set on fire.
The “RHOSLC” newbie initially denied having anything to do with the account. Jordan Strauss/Bravo After Gay presented her evidence, Garcia admitted that she and several others, whom she did not name, were behind the gossip report that was primarily directed at Jen Shah. Charles Sykes/Bravo
“Warm my hands on the bridges I have burned,” the burning paper read.
She captioned the post with the quote: “Sometimes people try to destroy you precisely because they see your power – not because they don't see it, but because they see it and don't want it to exist.”
The new Instagram post sparked a divide among fans: some cheered her on, while others scolded her for her actions.
After the confrontation aired on Tuesday, Garcia shared a “Gossip Girl”-themed photo shoot to proudly highlight her work on Reality Von Tease. Fred Hayes/Bravo
“This whole 'IDGAF' thing is so boring,” criticized one user. “You've planned your way into her life so calculatedly that there's no way you can't care.”
“Bullying doesn't make someone a 'queen,'” wrote another. “That makes them tyrants.”
“Your 15 minutes are up,” a third “RHOSLC” viewer joked.
Their shameless celebration sparked disgust from some “RHOSLC” fans and applause from others. Gizelle Hernandez/Bravo
On the other hand, a supporter commented: “We stand with you DIVA!!”
Another fan applauded Garcia for “giving the other ladies a job.”
“Collect your coin and don’t worry about the haters girrrrrrllll,” they continued cheering.
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