The cast of The Real Housewives of New York City, aka RHONY, has been confirmed, following a March announcement that filming for season 15 would be commencing shortly. The news comes after a difficult few months for the reality show, following allegations of racism and an eventual cast overhaul.
The new season will see the return of all six housewives from season 14: Sai De Silva, Ubah Hassan, Erin Lichy, Jenna Lyons, Jessel Taank, and Brynn Whitfield. Some sources indicate that the season may also feature two additional housewives, following rumours that the show would be bringing back some original cast members.
The recent announcement ended months of speculation about the cast, including speculation about the return of Lyons, who had hinted she might not continue on the show. Executive producer Andy Cohen had expressed a desire for the fashion designer to return, and it seems this has now been confirmed.
During an interview, Cohen stated that he believed there was room for improvement following the previous season, describing it as one of the ‘riskiest’ moves Bravo has ever made. He added that ‘growth areas’ would be addressed in the new season. Cohen’s comments seem to indicate that the show’s production team have heeded calls for change, following a decline in ratings and fan criticism.
It’s also been rumoured that the upcoming season will see the introduction of two new housewives, in addition to the six returning ones. Sources differ, however, on the identity of these housewives, with some claiming they will be new faces, and others asserting that they will be familiar ones, potentially including Luann de Lesseps and Sonja Morgan.
Following the controversy of the previous season, which saw Ramona Singer allegedly using a racial slur towards a Black crew member, it seems the network is remaining tight-lipped about the new season. Fans will be eager to see if the changes in the lineup bring the show back to its former glory.
There is no official release date for the new season, but it’s likely to be a mid-to-late 2024 premiere, in keeping with the release schedule of previous seasons.
