Monica Garcia exits ‘RHOSLC’ after Reality Von Tease bombshell
Monica Garcia is exiting “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” after just one season, Page Six has confirmed.
The breakout star will not be returning as cameras pick up to film the show’s fifth season next month.
Hours after Garcia’s departure was first reported by People, Andy Cohen, Lisa Shannon — the SVP at Shed Media, which produces “RHOSLC” — and showrunner Lori Gordon further confirmed the news by telling Variety that Garcia won’t be returning for Season 5.
However, Cohen further elaborated on Garcia’s exit during Tuesday’s episode of “Watch What Happens Live,” saying that she’s “taking a break from the show.”
While talking to Variety, Gordon hinted at a possible return for Garcia after a cooling off period. “Never say never,” she said.
“You never know,” Shannon added.
Page Six has reached out to Garcia and Bravo for comment.
The reality star’s brief tenure on the Bravo hit will live on in infamy thanks to the revelation that she was behind the Instagram troll account Reality Von Tease that targeted “RHOSLC” cast members for years.
Her online activity put her in hot water with snowflake holders Lisa Barlow, Meredith Marks, Whitney Rose, Angie Katsanevas and, most notably, Heather Gay.
However, Garcia, 40, has been lauded by fans for bringing the drama that resulted in what was arguably the most explosive finale in “Salt Lake City’s” four-season run.
During the Jan. 2 episode — which took place in Bermuda during a cast vacation — Gay, 49, took Marks, 52, Barlow, 49, and Rose, 37, aside to inform them that Garcia had been trolling them and their ex-co-star Jen Shah, who is in prison, online.
“She’s not our friend,” the Beauty Lab + Laser co-founder told her fellow “RHOSLC” OGs. “She’s someone [who] has schemed and worked to infiltrate our friend group.”
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The Instagram account captured attention by posting insider information about the cast in 2022 and boasts more than 36,000 followers.
During a subsequent seaside dinner, Gay confronted Garcia with her knowledge in epic fashion.
“I know who you really are, and who you really are is the cyberbully, internet troll Reality Von Tease,” she said, later exclaiming in a now-viral moment that she had the “receipts, proof, timelines, screenshots” and “f–king everything” to prove it.
Garcia initially denied the accusation but eventually admitted that she and other unknown individuals ran the account. She then vacated the premises at Gay’s request.
The ordeal is expected to be heavily dissected during the third and final part of Tuesday’s “RHOSLC” Season 4 reunion.
After it taped, “Housewives” honcho Cohen teased that there was a question mark looming over Garcia’s future on Bravo.
“I think the question is how will Monica, or will Monica, find her way back into this group?” he told “Entertainment Tonight” during an interview that was published Jan. 22.
“Part 3 is a deep dive into Reality Von Tease and … so at the end, I think you’ll have a sense of where we go next season.”
