'RHOC' Vicki Gunvalson Reveals Getting Paid 'Nothing' For Her First Real Housewives Season: 'A Deal With The Devil'
Vicki Gunvalson continues to slam Bravo, this time describing signing on the franchise as "a deal with the devil."
Vicki Gunvalson continues to slam Bravo, this time describing signing on the franchise as "a deal with the devil."
The "Real Housewives of Orange County" star took fans through her financial journey on the show and how she practically taped the entire first season for free.
Vicki Gunvalson starred in 14 seasons of the franchise since it debuted in 2006 and closed the curtains on the show in 2020.
Vicki Gunvalson Had No Attorney To Examine Her Contract When She Joined Bravo
The OG "RHOC" cast member disclosed on the series "The Dark Side of Reality TV" that she was paid nothing for starring in the first season and likened it to striking "a deal with the devil."
"Season 2 I believe I got paid $5,000 for the whole season. Not much money, I didn't even have an attorney look over my contract. I had no idea what I was doing," the celebrity added.
The tides soon changed for the Bravo show, and the big leap was reflected in Vicki's paycheck, which saw her rake in millions in season 13. In her words:
"My final full-time season, [the pay] was significant. Seven figures. I never really thought I would make the number I was making."
The Show Captured Some Of The 62-Year-Old's Lowest Moments
Despite getting paid peanuts in the first few seasons, the reality star was vulnerable many times before the camera. Her divorce from ex-husband Donn Gunvalson was a central talking point on the show.
The reality star divorced Donn in 2010 but finally finalized things after four years in 2014. The star declared, "People ask me if I regret doing the show, and when I look at my relationships, I'd say yes."
She explained that the show played a huge role in her divorce from Donn due to the pressures of being under scrutiny 24/7, and added: "I think we would've survived if I wasn't on the show. So that I regret."
The Business Mogul Slammed Bravo For Creating Content Out Of Her Mother's Death
Vicki also recalled learning about her mother's death during the shooting, an act she described as despicable by the camera crew, who chose to use her pain for content.
The Blast gathered from the reality star that the producers knew about her mother's passing one hour before breaking the news to her in front of the camera.
"They were out of line, and I think they should have taken me aside and said, 'Your mom has passed. Talk to your daughter off-camera.' If I was a producer, that's what I would've done," the Bravo veteran discussed.
Vicki stated that she would not forgive the network for profiting off something as painful as her mother's death. She added, "Let me scream and cry on my own," emphasizing how betrayed she felt by the producers' decision.
The Reality Got The Unpleasant News At Shannon Beador's Home
Vicki continued that the painful event happened while filming a game night at Beador's house. Her family, who already heard the news, tried reaching out to her but to no avail.
She stated that the daughter Brianna pled with the production to let her speak to her mom and deliver the news that changed her life forever, but the pleas fell on deaf ears.
The businesswoman added that instead of the crew interrupting filming and finding a way to break the news to her calmly, they decided to transform a room in Beador's house as a means to capture her raw emotion when they eventually inform her.
Hearing the news, Vicki broke down in front of the camera, screaming, "Oh, my God. I don't want to believe this. I just talked to her this morning." She expressed her profound pain and yearned for her mom while tears streamed down her face as she collapsed on the floor.
Vicki Gunvalson Penned Down A Touching Tribute One Year After Her Mom Died
The Bravo style finally put her grief into words in 2016, one year after her mother died. She uploaded a picture of a rose and penned down a lengthy caption on her Instagram, which read:
"1 year ago today, our family lost our amazing, fun, beautiful, classy, talented mother and Nana. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't miss her & I hope she hears me when I speak to her in heaven. I lift our family up in prayer today as we mourn our beautiful Joanne. Life is not the same without you."
The TV personality also acknowledged her friend in the touching post, revealing that she was in Beador's name when she received the sad news.
