The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Desperately Needs to Break the Clique's Grip
So, we have an opinion we’ve been stewing on—The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (RHOBH), once a glittering showcase of wealth, glamour, and authentic drama, has officially lost its sparkle. Season 14, which just wrapped its three-part reunion, perfectly exposed a persistent issue dragging the franchise down: a calculated, antagonistic clique that stifles its strongest voices and (in some instances) manufactures uninteresting drama for the cameras.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (Season 14) | Bravo and NBC Universal
The Clique's Calculated Takedowns
The core issue is the not-so-subtle alliance of Kyle, Dorit, and Erika, who operate as a unified front to target and oust cast members who challenge their dominance. This dynamic, once amplified by Lisa Rinna’s confrontational style, has systematically sidelined some of RHOBH’s most compelling figures. Lisa Vanderpump, a fan favorite whose wit and business savvy anchored early seasons, exited in 2019 after clashing with Kyle, Dorit, Teddi, Erika, and Rinna over “Puppygate,” a feud fans widely view as orchestrated to (unsuccessfully) diminish her popularity with viewers.
Then, Denise Richards, whose Hollywood pedigree and quirky candor brought fresh energy, was hounded out in 2020 following relentless scrutiny from the clique over her personal life. Most recently, Garcelle Beauvais, a trailblazer as the first Black housewife on RHOBH, announced her departure after Season 14 when it became abundantly clear that she still hasn’t been accepted after several seasons of efforts.
This pattern isn’t a coincidence to viewers—it feels strategic. The clique’s bully-esque playbook appears to involve amplifying minor issues to isolate their target, throwing out a few damaging labels, and justifying poor behavior, ensuring other castmates are driven off. We’re tired, Bravo!
Manufactured Beefs and Stretched Drama
When not targeting outsiders, the clique’s internal spats—such as Kyle and Dorit’s Season 14 fallout over Kyle’s texts with Dorit’s estranged husband, PK—feel contrived and overly dramatized. In the series, Kyle accused Dorit of being “manipulative,” while Dorit questioned Kyle’s loyalty, yet their conflict quickly pivoted to unify against others, like Sutton Stracke.
This bait-and-switch is a hallmark of their dynamic: personal disputes are aired but never fully resolved, serving as fodder to refocus attacks on a chosen scapegoat. For instance, during the Saint Lucia trip, Kyle and Erika piled on Sutton for her lack of support, while Dorit clashed with her over perceived slights, creating a narrative of Sutton as the problem. But Kyle and Dorit want to say Sutton and Garcelle are the “mean girl duo.” Sure, Jan.
A Fading Anchor
Kyle, the last remaining original housewife, was once RHOBH’s focal point, her family dynamics and friendships grounding the show. But her role has officially shifted from anchor to being the root of the problem. She skirts accountability, chastising others for guarding their personal lives while shielding her own—like her rumored relationship with a singer who wants to be known, but apparently not spoken about.
Furthermore, by getting to pick and choose what she addresses so freely, the series enables her to control narratives and dodge scrutiny, which stifles the show’s trademark honesty. This perceived selective openness (which tends to be at the expense of her family members) contrasts sharply with the transparency forced upon others, like Garcelle, whom Kyle and Erika pressed to share more personal details. That’s not exactly anchor behavior, is it?
A Path to Revival
RHOBH’s salvation solely lies in dismantling the clique and rebuilding around fresh, genuine voices. New cast members—who aren’t afraid to get messy like the iconic RHOSLC cast. And at this point, the loss of Vanderpump, Richards, and Beauvais proves the clique’s tactics are unsustainable for the series. Their unified front has turned RHOBH into a predictable cycle of manufactured conflict that’s not even a glimmer of the RHOBH golden years.
Something needs to change, and only then can RHOBH reclaim its status as the crown jewel of the Housewives franchise.
