Vicki Gunvalson is the last remaining original housewife and she has no plans to leave the Real Housewives of Orange County. Vicki gave an exclusive interview to US Weekly and caught us up on what is going on in her life.
The most shocking news from the interview is that Bravo threatened to demote her if she refused to continue filming with Brooks Ayers. Vicki and Brooks are back together and she has been supporting him through his fight with cancer. The Real Housewives of Orange County, perhaps more than any other franchise love a controversial partner. In fact, Shannon Beador’s husband is pretty much the most laid back male on the show. All of the others are pretty polarizing. Frankly, I’ve always liked Brooks. He’s a good ole Mississippi boy that I think is often misunderstood by the Orange Country crowd.
Vicki tells US, “It’s really frightening bringing back Brooks into my life publicly. But Bravo, basically put the gauntlet down and said, ‘If you don’t film with Brooks, then we are reducing your role.’ And I was like, ‘Oh no! You did not just say that!’ ” You don’t make Vicki Gunvalson an FOH, Bravo!
Vicki’s reluctance is surely in part do to his fight with cancer. Brooks says his cancer has brought them closer together . Brooks says, “Yes, we are exclusive, we are dating, we are together.” Vicki confirmed. “It’s official.”
As far as Vicki’s friendships with the other ladies, she says she has grown very close to Shannon who has been very support of both Vicki and Brooks during his health scare. She also mention she is still friendly with Heather. She has not spoken to Tamra since the reunion despite the fact the two live on the same block.
When asked is she is growing tired of the show Vicki responded, “I am not going to throw in the towel on the Housewife franchise. I will be in a walker with my botox and my false eyelashes. I mean, at the end of the day, they’re going to have to kill me off!”
Be careful, Vicki. At the rate Bravo is going, they may just do that!
What do you think about Bravo forcing her to film with Brooks? Do you think she should have said no?
Scrub
Tamara lives on the same block as Vicki?
That’s what Vicki said in the interview she lives “half a block away”
Does Vicki not live in coto whatevo anymore? Certainly Tamra’s little townhouse is not in that neighborhood.
I’m not sure why it matters. But I never had the impression that they lived close. Did Vicki move? Weird.
The Coto de Caza house is/was for sale; Vicki bought a house in Dana Point. There were a couple of minor news blurbs about it over the summer.
I thought Vicki had to sell the house as part of the divorce settlement.
Maybe. But that would have been news I’d expect to see and hear about. Along with his small she downsized. Did she REALLY go from that big beautiful property to a McTownhouse?
they had her under contract, so they’ve already married her. They burned her in editing, so she’s been shagged. All they have left is to kill her!
I don’t understand her problem with filming with Brooks. They are dating exclusively …
I think the Bravo threat is a convenient excuse…
If that’s true…then Bravo has reached a new low. To make Vickie film with him means that he must also film. He has cancer and may not want all of that out there in tv land. Maybe if they paid him. But that will probably never happen.
Are you know kidding? Brooks is one of the biggest fame whores. He can’t hold a candle to Slade, however.
Sequoia- I’m with you on this … a little convenient. Side note: my spell check loves changing your name to tequila lol!
That’s funny. Bottoms up!
A convenient excuse for what?
A convenient excuse to film with Brooks…
I find it hard to believe.
Really they aren’t making her do anything. She’s a successful business woman who doesn’t need the money but loves the attention. If she truly didn’t want to film with Brooks during his illness she could have said no. Would it be a demotion? Perhaps but it’d be more classy than putting the blame on Bravo.
Checked on Zillow, Vicki’s Coto de Caza house is currently for sale, the last time it was sold was in 2001, which was most likely when Vicki bought it.
I guess she means it when she says she will do whatever it takes. I agree..Brooks is a Mississippi boy who won’t ever fit in with the OC crowd!
I thought Tamara moved into Eddie’s home. Was his house in Coto?
Tamra and Eddie live in Ladera Ranch (10 minutes away from Coto)
Did she say what type of cancer? I’m sorry to hear he has cancer, but that doesn’t change my opinion about him. Brooks is a fraud and a con artist. He is all about Vicki’s money, and having complete control of her. It’s all one big sad story. I hope he gets well, and I hope Vicki finds happiness. I doubt very much she will find happiness with Brooks. However, a serious illness can change people.
He has Stage 3 non-Hodgkins lymphoma. I had a friend who died from it back in 2002.
This is Brook’s third recurrence of this cancer. For the sake of his kids, let’s hope he has life insurance.
I agree with you. I feel badly for him, for his family, and for anyone who loves him… However it doesn’t change my opinion of him.
Well I am sure his family and friends and Brooks himself will find great comfort in the vitriol they read here.
Please, spend your days enumerating his most horrific traits. It’s what Jesus would want.
On Fri, Dec 12, 2014 at 12:09 AM, Tamara Tattles wrote: > >
They work within a block from each other. Maybe that is what she meant.
Brooks has the cancer? What kind? And I too thought Tamara moved in with Eddie.
Brooks lives with her, this is a reality show. Wanting to keep him off camera is not because of the cancer, its because the viewing audience hates him…as do her children.
He doesn’t live with Vicki he is getting his cancer treatments in Mississippi. I forget what kind it is but it was caught at stage 3 which is kind of late.
On Thu, Dec 11, 2014 at 4:08 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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Ick… Brooks – gag me. Of course they are exclusive – he needs someone to take care of him.
No doubt, BRAVO is hoping to film a death scene.
Tamra and Vicki don’t live on the same block. They love like 10 minutes away from each other.
If it is true, it is lowly of BRAVO to force Vicki to film with anyone who is not a RH cast member or a BRAVO personality, who appears on BRAVO pursuant to a contractual agreement by and between BRAVO and its cast members/personalities, especially in light of the fierce disdain which Briana holds against Brooks, and how it may impact Vickie
I wonder if what Vicki claims may actually be an attempt by BRAVO to coerce her into voluntary retirement from RHOBH.
I will never understand what she sees in this scam artist. I bet she pays his bills. She is not attractive even with all the botox and plastic surgery but she could still easily get a good older HONEST man who would love and appreciate her.
I really don’t get all the vitriol over Brooks.
My icky feeling over Brooks stems from the stories that he didn’t financially support his children (allegedly). If Vicki wanted to pay his bills, get rid of those rotten pervy chompers, and let him drive her car, hey, it works for them (?)
His comments about needing to beat Brianna into submission sealed my opinion, just as Brianas husbands disrespect of Lydias mother finalized my distaste for him.
I don’t get it either, especially after learning he’s not well. Geez, the man is sick – people should keep their negative comments to themselves and think how they would feel if this were their sick family member being trashed. If you can’t find anything nice to say then zip it! The man is sick. I guess some people get delight in things like this and watching people who are struggling with something they could help with but don’t. I once witnessed 5 cars almost run over an elderly man shuffling his way home. I was outraged. I stopped and gave the man a ride home and he called me an angel for doing so. Where are people’s heads – besides obviously up their asses? I wish Brooks well. Sorry for the rant but this kind of shit pisses me off. If someone I know but don’t care for is not well, I say “wow I’m sorry *insert name here* is sick” and leave it at that – there is no “but”………….
Dammit – sorry again for the rant.
He’s a creepy slimeball who got drunk and told Vicki’s son-in-law to beat her daughter into submission. Not my cup of tea, but clearly what Vicki needs. She needs someone who fawns over her all the time filling her tanks. So much for independent business woman. So much of her self worth is tied up in being loved by a man.
If my husband ever started yammering off those Hallmark card quotes, I’d gag and fall over in laughter.
It’s almost impossible to recover from a season of ‘bad edit’. Just ask Brandi…
I agree Tamara…the man has stage 3 cancer for God’s sake. No matter how much one might dislike the man…… would this not be one of those times you could stop talking crap about him and have a little sympathy? Let’s say he is a fame whore. Does that mean he would want his illness to be broadcasted? You can dislike him all you want, but let’s assume that this may be one of those very personal and private issues he doesn’t want to be on camera. Like Tamara said…..Jesus. Think about it.
Ahh did anyone see the Vicki tweet with her headphones? She still looks pretty good.
I loved the Vicki headphones tweet today! I could not stop laughing! Looking good Vicki, looking good! 😉
She actually does. I am impressed. I’ve nearly done a similar thing with holidays picks and my reflection in the glass.
BoobsByVicki. I see a new venture in there for her. Somewhere. LoL
I would have said no. No contract should be able to dictate your personal interactions. Brooks is very polarizing but I’m sorry to hear he is battling cancer. I’m sure Brianna and her husband are miserable they are back together.
My feelings toward Briana changed last season. Sometimes I can’t put down on the screen what my head is thinking so bear with me lol.
It’s ok for Briana to give her opinion and threaten Vicki with not seeing the grandkids if Brooks is in sight, but Vicki wasn’t allowed to be sad and say things to Briana when she was moving to Oklahoma and basically abandoning the mother that did everything for her out of love. I don’t get that entitled little bitch at all. She needs to stay off camera and raise her family. BTW, where is Michael, Vicki’s son?
I hope Vicki and Brooks’ relationship thrives and Briana realized that yes Vicki can be happy with her living a thousand miles away.
I’m having an insomnia attack – excuse the rants LOL – it’s the coffee. Yes I should put it down and try to get back to sleep but I’ve already done that. It didn’t work :-\
I get Brianna’s feelings about Brooks, especially given his comments that were discussed two reunions ago about beating her. But, I agree she is kind of pot calling the kettle black here with how aggressive and somewhat scary her own husband can be (Lydia’s mom incident) I think that her intentions are good and she does want the best for her mom, but if she wants to move to Oklahoma and do her own thing (also disagree with you there, she’s a grown woman and a mother herself, she’s not abandoning anyone, she’s making choices for her own family) she should also stay out of Vicki’s personal decisions.
I liked Briana in the past, but when she started dictating who her mom could date, I changed my mind. Help me out with my baby, but don’t have a life of your own, Ma … Girl, please.
Briana wasn’t dictating who Vicki dates. Just said she won’t be around Vicki when she’s around Brooks. Could not agree more with that statement. If my mom dated someone who said such hateful things to my husband, I’d be heartbroken if she continued to date him. Just wrong.
And, kids grow up and move away. It’s part of life. Vicki’s dramatics were ridiculous. Brianna’s beef with her then was more that it’s always all about Vicki (even when Brianna had the cancer scare). You never heard Vicki voice concern over Brianna setting up a support network in Oklahoma or meeting new people, etc. It was all about how sad Vicki was.
Vicki needs massive amounts of therapy.
Swizzle…I agree. Brianna never said anything other than something along the lines of “I won’t be around, when he is.”
I felt Brianna voiced many other opinions out of concern for her Mom. That had zero to do with the tape recording’s and all that.
Brianna also married a Military Man. Guess what, they move all the time. However, I also would be devastated.
As usual, I’m positive there is sooooo much we have no idea about! We get to see edited little clips and as a Mom, I’m sure Vicki wants them all to be some big happy family. Probably not going to work between the Brieanna’s husband and Brooks…
The problem steamed from the fact that Brianna finally gave her mother boundaries and we see how well Vicki took to them. I honestly think that Vicki agreed to Brianna and the baby moving in with the no Brooks condition thinking she would just boss and guilt Brianna into letting Brooks come around. When Brianna held her ground Vicki did not know what to do.
The fact that Michael will not even tell his mother where he lives is a huge red flag on how overbearing she can be.
If you’ve never had to establish boundaries with a parent or in-law you have no idea how difficult it can be. How much everyone will call you a bitch or a brat or ungrateful. It is exhausting.
Michael is sitting at his desk in Vicki’s office!
I really don’t think they live nearby, I can’t figure out Vicky’s comment. Vicki’s insurance company is in Rancho Santa Margarita and Tamra lives in Ladera Ranch. Ladera & RSM are next to eachother. Tamra’s gym is in another city nearby. Coto and Dana Point are a hike.
Brooks made some ugly statements during a drunken state which I’m sure many of us have done but were fortunate enough not to be immortalized on camera he has appoligized for his remarks so I think he deserves a chance to redeem himself. He appears to love Vicki and wants to right his wrongs. I did see on reality tea very recently that brooks has moved in with Vicki in her new home. I wish them the best if they make each other happy than so be it.
Ah…. the voice of reason…
I know cancer changes people, but I still couldn’t see Brooks saying no to filming. If he’s happy doing it, then I think it’s fine. I didn’t realize Vicki and Tamara lived so close to each other.
I’ve never understood all the negativity about Brooks. Didn’t everything start with Tamra saying vile things about him? I certainly wouldn’t judge someone based on Tamra’s evaluation. I believe I recall that Brianna initially mistrusted Brooks because she read some texts he sent to Vicki while she was still married to Don. Why so many people, including Andy Cohen, were so enamored with Briana and credited her with being some sort of moral authority was always baffling to me.
And good grief, that whole kerfuffle about what Brooks said when he was drunk shouldn’t be held against him. People say all sorts of stuff when they are drunk out of their minds – it doesn’t mean they will act upon it. The only thing that truly annoyed me about Brooks was how he spoke in platitudes and quotes from greeting cards.
I think anyone who can put up with all of Vicki’s screeching and wahooing deserves some sort of credit. I’m sorry to hear he has cancer. I wish him well.
For the people whose comments are NOT being put through. Brooks, Vicki, his family and friends read here.
If I didn’t like someone with a serious illness, I think I could opt out of going up to their faces and saying vile things. I just wouldn’t pay them any more attention than I usually would.
There is a reason I haven’t been covering Brooks fight with cancer. I’m sure there are plenty of places you can spew vitriol on the subject but this is not one.
Go fuck yourself.
On Fri, Dec 12, 2014 at 9:36 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote: > >
I agree TT my mother was diagnosed with stage 4 blood cancer this summer and it’s a battle that the whole family goes thru. One of the first things that the dr. Told her is that staying positive is going to be key to beating this. I actually applaud them for putting it on the show not only does it bring focus to what people go thru when dealing with this so maybe it will help to soften people’s judgements of others. Your lives can change in an instant with that brings growth and I think brooks and Vicki both have shown personal growth
I guess she means it when she says she will do whatever it takes. I agree..Brooks is a Mississippi boy who won’t ever fit in with the OC crowd!