Why Dorinda Medley Left Real Housewives of New York

The Real Housewives of New York first aired in 2008 and instantly captivated the audience with its bright cast. Unlike its predecessors, this new reality TV installment felt a lot more exciting and showcased various parts of this bustling city. As such, the show introduced some of the franchise’s best Housewives and it quickly became a fan-favorite.

One of the show’s most pivotal Housewives was Dorinda Medley. Known for her explosive temper and dry wit, Medley was involved in a ton of tremendous arcs and was a key source of drama for the show. But, after Season 12, she announced that she was leaving the show, leaving a wealth of fans shocked and disappointed.

Although Dorinda Medley didn’t join The Real Housewives of New York until 2015, she instantly became a key part of the show. While her fiery personality and sense of humor made her an enigma in her own right, she’s best known for being married to a prominent hedge fund investor named Richard. Unfortunately, he passed away in 2011 at the age of 60, which was a key source of her trauma. She remained on the show for six seasons and became a pivotal part of its appeal. Aside from her marriage to one of the biggest names in the American finance sector, she’s also renowned in the London fashion scene. After completing college, she zoomed off to London to open her own cashmere store, DCL Cashmere. In just a few years, her company was associated with many of the greats, including Princess Diana and Joan Collins. So, it’s clear that Dorinda Medley was able to make her mark on London and New York.

Yet, after wrapping up Season 12, Medley announced that she would be handing back her apple. In an Instagram post, she noted

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At first, fans were shocked and concerned that something had happened to Medley behind the scenes. Yet, a lot of other fans could see her departure coming from a mile off, especially after her behavior throughout Season 12. Tensions started to bubble at the beginning of the season when Dorinda kept on pressuring Tinsely to share more about her private relationship. Another big issue with this season was obviously Medley’s drunken outbursts. She would often have a bit too much to drink and engage in spiteful arguments with her friends. In the Season 12 reunion, Andy Cohen made a comment about Dorinda’s drinking habits, assumed because she was drunk at the time. Medley was quick to fight back and dismiss these accusations, but her friends were also clear about her unsavory attitude.

In turn, it seems that Bravo put her presence on ‘pause’ to give Medley a chance to recover from her various personal battles. In the space of just a few months, her father had become very sick, and she suffered flood damage to her beloved home. She had also separated from her long-time partner John Mahdessian, the owner of a prestigious dry cleaning business called Madame Paulette. Thus, it seems that Medley was not in the right headspace to share the most intimate details of her life on TV and Bravo had to step in to protect the other Housewives.

Her Charisma Charmed Everyone

While it’s very easy for fans to focus on Dorinda’s disastrous performance throughout her final season, it’s important for viewers to understand why she was such a beloved part of the franchise. Medley has a wit that very few of her peers could match, making her a keen source of comic relief. Her interesting personality was also reflected in her interior design choices, especially her house in the Berkshires. Bluestone Manor is an unbelievable home that is teeming with couture items and stunning pieces. Yet, the thing that audiences will remember most about that house is the infamous fish room. In Season 11, Medley invited the women to stay in the Manor and, unfortunately, Luann was left in a rich green room that was filled with taxidermy fish. For a woman with so much style and indeed money, audiences were shocked to see such a unique space in such a decadent house. As such, the giant swordfish hanging from the ceiling will be haunting fans and Luann for the rest of their lives.

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Another key part of Dorinda’s charm was her signature catchphrase, “I made it nice.” In Season 8, Dornida invited the women to celebrate Christmas together and spent countless hours decorating her home to suit the theme. But, as fans can imagine, the women couldn’t remain peaceful for more than a moment. Luann and Bethenny start arguing about a ton of trivial things, including the former’s haircut. Yet, the women start throwing low blows at Dorinda’s house and the cake her mother made for the party. Of course, Medley starts to get very upset and screams “I cooked, I decorated, I made it nice.” Although a lot of fans could get frustrated with Dorinda at times, viewers felt very sorry for her at that moment. So, not only did this fight create one of the biggest memes in the Real Housewives franchise, but it showed a softer side to this ferocious character.

Dorinda also formed very strong bonds with other women on the show, creating a comforting sense of comradery. She built a joyful relationship with Carole Radziwill, whose husband Anthony also passed away in 1999 at just 40 years old. Thus, the pair often discussed their crushing grief and how they managed to move on after an immense loss. Dornida also made friends with Bethenny Frankel, sharing stories about their times in the city. As such, it would be wrong to label Dorinda as some sort of antagonist because, in reality, she was a charming woman who had the ability to make her friends feel welcome, while still standing her ground.

Medley Is Still a Part of the Real Housewives Franchise

Although a lot of fans felt as if they had lost a limb when Dorinda announced that she was leaving the show, it wasn’t long before she showed her face again. In 2021, she released her memoir, Make It Nice, which detailed all of her rollercoaster moments as well as some funny anecdotes from her glamorous life. A year later, she appeared on The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip, a spin-off show that brings together some of the franchise’s biggest names and asks them to dish the dirt on their time on the show. The second season was set in Medeley’s Bluestone Manor and included some other popular faces, such as Phaedra Parks and The OG of the OC Vicki Gunvalson. As expected, this season was packed full of shocking revelations and dramatic fights, proving that Dorinda will always be cherished by fans.

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While a lot of audiences assumed that Dornida and Bravo came to a mutual decision about her departure, Medley recently revealed that she was let go from the franchise. While key members of Bravo, including Andy Cohen, described her as being on pause, Medley believes that she was fired from the show altogether. During a conversation on Bethenny Frankel’s podcast Just B, she explains:

She also appeared on another reality show, RHONY: Legacy, a celebration of the best New York Housewives. Alongside Dorinda, the show welcomed Kelly Bensimon, Luann De Lesseps, Sonja Morgan, Ramona Singer, and Kristen Taekman. This spin-off was an instant hit with fans and audiences adored the rush of nostalgia. So, while it’s very unlikely that Dorinda Medley will make a triumphant return to The Real Housewives of New York, especially since Bravo decided to give the show a complete makeover, it’s likely that she will continue to make appearances on spin-off shows with her friends and former reality stars.