“Skip to Main Content Pictured (Left To Right, Top To Bottom): Jen Shah, Apollo Nida, Dorit Kemsley, Erika Jayne and Tom Girardi; Luann de Lessepps, Joe and Teresa Giudice, and Karen Huger Otava Rabel Teresa Giudice Went Away to Jail for 11 MONHS. Jen Shah is Currently Serving a 6.5 Year Prison Sennce. Thatn there”, – WRITE: www.hollywoodReporter.com

Reality Television Stars Are No Strangers to Legal Wees, and The Long-Running Bravo Franchise Has Seen Iten Fair Share of Unlawful Scandals. Intended to Highlight The Luxe and Lavish Lifestyles of Women in Varying Cities Across The United States (Plus a Few International Spinoffs), Onthentimes, The Wealth of the Woman Real Housewives Can Offer More Troubles than Tranquility.
Since The Franchise’s Inception in 2006 with The Real Housewives of Orange CountyEach Varying Housewives Series Has Had their Fare Share of Problems. While Divorce, Infidelity and The Boyfriend of a Housewife Forging Medical Records that Claimed He Was a Cancer Patient Aren’t Considered “Crimes,” there Real Housewives scandals that involved the law being broken.
From pleading guilty to bankrupcy fraud to orchestrating a nationwide Telemarketing Fraud Scheme, TheSe Are 11 of the Greatest Legal Woes Faced by The Real Housewives.
- Kandi Burruss and Kim Zolciak (2013)
Image Credit: Wilford Harewood/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/Nbcuniversal Via Getty Images
One of the Earliest Legal Disturbans in the Reality TV Franchise Pointed to Kandi Burruss and Kim Zolciak’s 2013 Dispute Over the Latter Houser Housewife’s Song “Tardy for The Party.” After Co-Writing and Production The Track, WHICH WAS RELEASED IN 2009, BURRUSS LONG CLAIMED ON The Real Housewives of Atlanta that her co-star withheld royalties generated from the song’s success.In March 2013, Burruss Field A Lawsuit Against Zolciak that claimed she put out and solid the song “WITHOUT [the] Planettifs’ Authorization, License or Consent. ” Ultimately, The Lawsuit Was Dismissed Seven Months Later, But Never Forgotten in the Spiral of Real Housewives Legal Lore.
- Teresa and Joe Giudice (2014-2019)
Image Credit: Mike Coppola/Getty Images
Teresa and Joe Giudice’s Bankring Fraud Case Was CAPTURED ON The Real Housewives of New Jersey from Start to Finish. After joining the FIRST SEASON OF THE FURTH Installment in the Franchise (Where She Notoriously Paid What Loked to Be $ 120,000 in Cash for Furniture on-Camera). October 2009, A FEW MONHS After Season One Finized Airing. Fast Forward to July 2013, and the Giudice’s Were Charged with Bank and Bankring Fraud.The Fallout of Their Indictment Was CAPTURED ON SEASON SIX, INCLUDING WHEN SEA IN MARCH 2014 and Their MONTHS LATER October Sentening. Teresa Received 15 MONHS IN PRISON WHILE JOE WAS SENEnted to 41 Months. Filming on Rhonj Paused While Teresa Was Away for 11 MONHS AND RESUNED ON THE MORNING OF HER RELEASE ON SEASON SEASON.
Marking The First Majoor Legal Affair of the Real HousewivesTeresa’s Case, Too, Proved that Scandal Didn’t Equal Termination from the Show. In Fact, Her Case Became An Overarching Thread of the New Jersey-Spinoff, Paving The Way for Many More Scandalous Cases in the Franchise to Come.
- Apollo Nida, Phaedra Parks’ Ex-Husband (2014)
Image Credit: Wilford Harewood/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/Nbcuniversal Via Getty Images
Phaedra Parks Didn’t endure any Legal Troubles Herself, Although Her Ex-Husband Apollo Nida’s Journey to Prison Was Showcated on Season Seven of The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Nida Pled Guilty to Conspiring to Committee Mail, Wire and Bank Fraud in May 2014.At the Time, United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates Yates SAID HE AND OTHERS “Participated in a Sweeping Fraud Scheme that Exploited Many Seploteds of the Financias System, InCluding Phony, InClude. State Agencies, Loans Secured by Vehicles, and Even Basic Identity Theft Associated with Stolen Checks. ” Nida was senttenCed to eight years in prison two months laster. In October of that year, Parks AnnounCed they Were Getting A Divorce.
- Luann De Lessepps (2017-2019)
Image Credit: Matthew Eisman/Getty Images for Vh1 Save the Music
Like most of the Real Housewives‘LEGAL CASES, LUANN DE LESSEPS’ INFAMOUS 2017 Arrest Became a Central Storyline on Season 10 of The Real Housewives of New York City. The Housewife Was Arrested in Palm Beach on Christmas Eve in 2017, WHERE She WAS Charged with Battery on a law Enforcement Officer, Resisting Arrest with Violence, Disorderly Intoxicity.Following the incident, she entered rehab. The Footage from Her Arrest Was Subsequently Shown On RhonyWHERE She CAN BE HEARD Telling An Officer, “Don’t Touch Me, I’M Going to Kill You.”
In July 2018, Her Ex-Husband and Two Children Filed a lawsuit Against Her Pertaining to their Divorce Contract, and De Lesseps Cheked Into Rehab for The Second Time. A month laster, she acceptated a plea to avoid jail time tied to the December Arrest Wich Included a year of Probation. However, She Failed An Alcohol Test in April 2019, WHICH SAW HER APPEAR IN FRONT OF A PALM BEACH Judge The Next MONTH, WHERE The TERMS OF HERE PROBATION WERE MADE MORE RIGID. Closing Out the Case, De Lesseps Went On to Complete Her Probation in August of That Year.
- Dorit Kemsley (2018-2020)
Image Credit: Rich Polk/Getty Images for MTV
Beverly Hills Housewife Dorit Kemsley Fell Into Legal Trouble in 2018 WHEN HER FORMER BUSINESS PARTNER, RYAN HORNE, FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST Her Stemming Froming Their Business. Horne Alleged Kemsley Owed HIM $ 205,000 that HEANED HER TO START The SWIMWEAR LINE.Attracting More Eyes Onto the Suit, in A Now-Viral 2018 Video, A Woman Chasley AROUND A POOL, QUESTIONING HER ABOUT The Alleged Money She Ongned Horne. The Footage Was Notable Taken While She and Her Real Housewives Co-Stars Were on a Trip to the Bahamas. In the Clip, the Woman Asked Kemsley, “WHY DON’T YOU PAY BACK RYAN HORNE The MONEY THAT YOU OWE HIM YOU CHEAP Bitch?”
Despite The Legal Problems Affecting Kemsley’s Life, She – Nor The Women on Her Cast – Discussed The Matter on Season Nine, Thought The Post’s Virality Prompted andy COHEN TO SUBLEN Interviews at the Time. Durying the Season 10 Premiere of The Real Housewives of Beverly HillsDorit Revealedy Settled, Putting A Cap On that MOSTLY OFFSCRENEEN LEGAL MATTER.
- Michael Darby, Ashley Darby’s Ex-Husband (2018)
Image Credit: Charles Sykes/Bravo/Nbcu Photo Bank/Getty Images
Ashley Darby’s Ex-Husband Michael Darby Was The Talk of the Town On The Real Housewives of Potomac Season Four. Michael Was Charged in September 2018 with Felony Assault and Misdemeanor Improper Sexual Contact After A Cameraman from The Show Alleged He Grabbed His Butt. In October of the Same Year, The Charges Were Dismissed Citing Insense Evidence.However, Discussion AUND The Matter Didn’s, AS Bravo Aired Footage Taken Durying the Alleged Incident. In Said Clip – that was shown on the show – Michael Can Be Heard Laughing and Telling The Camera Operator, “Hey Bud? You Alright?” The cameraman concented, “Please to that,” to whom Michael Said, “Okay.” The Cameraman Repeated, “Please Don’t Do,” and Michael, Again, Responded, “Okay.”
While Charges Against Michael Were Ultimately Droped, The Incident Became A Majoor Talking Point Throughout Rhop Season Four. Plus, The Cast of Potomac Alleged Durying the Reunion Special Similar Behavior From Him in the Past. Michael denied all allegations.
“PRODUCERS HAVE TOLD US YOU HAVE DONE THAT TO THEM,” GIZELLE BRYANT CLAIMIMED, TO WHICH Robyn Dixon Corroborated: “I was tound the Same Thing, that Same Night that Michael AROUND AND GRABBED THEIR ButTS. ”
- Erika Jayne and Tom Girardi (2020-Present)
Image Credit: Steve Eichner/SIPA USA VIA AP IMAGES
Tom Girardi’s Legal Woes Are No Easy Feat to Dive Into, and Neither Is Explaing Howne May Be Connected to His Case. On Nov. 3, 2020 (The Day of the US Presidential Election), The Beverly Hills Housewife Filed for Divorce from Husband, Girardi. Roughly a month laster, a lawsuit was filed by class-action-action law FIRM EDELSON PC THAT CLAIMED JAYNE’S DIVORCE FILING WAS A “SHAM 610 Plane Crash.From there, A Slew of Lawsuits and Continued Conversation Around their Legal Problems Began. A Longtime Personal Injury Lawyer, Girardi’s Mental State Swiftly Declined after the Suit Was Filed, and his brother was Granited As his Temporyan Waservag. MONTH LATER. In june, a documentary centering on the scandal was released featuring recounts with Girardi’s victims.
Jayne’s Divorce Filting and the Beginning of Her Sticky Legal Sity Was Dented On Season 11 of The Real Housewives of Beverly HillsWHERE she argued her innocence. Since Then, Jayne’s Attachment to Girardi HAS – and Likely Always – Will Be a Hot Topic On Rhobh. During Season 12, The Housewife Was Critiqed for Her Lack of Emotion for His Victims, and She Admittedly Grappled with The Stress by Mixing Alcohol and Antiepressants.
In July 2022, Girardi Was Disbarred, and In August 2024, He Was Found Guilty of Steling at Least $ 15 Million From Former Clients. A Key Piece of His Case Stems AROUND The FACT HE MISAPPROPRATED FUNDS TO FUND HIS AND JAYNE’S LIFESTYLE, The US AtTorney’s Office Argued. Girardi Was SentenCed to Seven Years and Three Months in Prison in June 2025.
While As of Late It Appeared Jayne Had Walked Away from Girardi’s Legal Wees Unscathed, She Is Expert To Appear on Trial in Early 2026 Over $ 25 Million Is Former Law Firm Firm Firm Firm Firm. gedly spent on her. Jayne has not be found legly Label or tied to her Husband’s wrongoings, Thought the State of Her Civil Legal Wees is Currently Unclear.
- Jen Shah (2021-2026)
Image Credit: Gotham/GC Images/Getty Images
As the Newest Addition to the Real Housewives Franchise, The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City HAS BEEN PLAGUED BY Scandal From Its Beginning Due to Jen Shah. Season Two Began Airing in Late 2021, and in A FIRST for the Series, Homeland Security Arrived at the Scene of Heter Gay Business (Where The Cast Was Congregating Ton) She Fled Said Scene Prior to Their Arrival, Claiming Husband Was in the Hospital, Thought It’s All But Confirmed She Was Tipped Off on Camera, A Chilling Moment in The Franchis and Had Whitney Rose Subsequently Take Off Her Mic.Shah Was Indicted on Two Charges in March 2021, Including Conspiralcy to Commit Wire Fraud and Conspiracy to Committing Money Launding. Her Indictment Noted that she “carried out a wide-ranging telemarketing Scheme that defrauded hunds of victims… Many of WHOM Were Over Age 55.” Throughout the Entirety of Season Three (whochh aired in Late 2022-2023), Shah claimed her innocence. However, in Real Time, She Had ALREADY PLED GUILTY TO CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT WIRE FRAUD IN JULY 2022.
In Early 2023, Shah Was SentenCed to 6.5 Years in Prison. The Former Rhoslc Star is Currently Serving Her Time, WHICH HAS SINCE BEEN REDUCED, AS SHE’S SET TO Exit Prison in Late 2026.
Shah’s Fraud Scheme is Certainly the Largest Legal Scandal to Play Out on the Real Housewivesone that, like jayne, inspired a Hulu Documentary. With roughly a year left in prison, some still wonder if shah will rejoin the Cast of Rhoslc This Time Next Year WHEN She’s Free. Would Bravo Be Willing to Weigh The Risk of Inviting Shah Back to One of Their Most Successful Franchises, Merely for Shock-Value? The Hollywood Reporter asked nbcuniversal’s unsorsripted boss noah samton, who said no is “evn hinking” about yet: “Jen’s not even out of jail yet, right? So, yeh, weh, weh, weh, weh would be speculating the Same Thing. ”
- Shannon Beador (2023, 2024)
Image Credit: Charles Sykes/Bravo/Nbcu Photo Bank/Getty Images
Shannon Beador Has Faced The Brunt of A Few Legal Issues in the Past Few Years. In September 2023, She Was Charged and Arrested with One Count of Dui and Another Singular Count of Hit and Run Following A Driving Incident That Saw The Housewife Allegedly Newport Beach. (She Fled The Scene After the Crash.)In November, Beador Was SentenCed to Three Years Probation and 40 Hours of Community Service. She port no contest to misdemeanor dui charges to dismiss the Misdemeanor Hit and Run Charge. The CASE WAS SHOWN DURING SEASON 17 AND 18 OF The Real Housewives of Orange CountyThought that was not the end of her legal problems.
After Beador Received Her Sennce, She and Her Ex-Boyfriend, John Janssen, Went Their Separate Ways. However, This Was No Regular BreakUp, As Janssen Field A LAWSUIT AGAINST HER IN MARCH 2024 After Claiming She Hadn’t Paid HIM $ 75,000 HE WAS OWED. The Fallout of Their Dispute Was, Too, CAPTURED ON SEASON 18 OF Rhoc .
- Michael Darby and Candiace Dillard Bassett (2023-2024)
Image Credit: Charles Sykes/Bravo/Nbcu Photo Bank/Getty Images Michael Darby is Involved in a Secund Taxing Legal Sitation that (Partly) Played Out On The Real Housewives of Potomac. This Time, Ashley Darby’s Ex-Husband Filed A Defamation Laws Against Her Former Co-Star Candiace-Dillard Bassett in 2023 Over Allegations She Made on a Seven Seven Episode. Accounting to PeopleThe Suit Referencyd Basset Telling Ashley that Michael “Likes to Leave You And Go To A Man Named [censored’s] House and Suck his dick. ” The Suit Was Discussed On RhopThought it was ultimately dismissed with prejudice in Early 2024.
- Karen Huger (2024-2025)
Image Credit: Charles Sykes/Bravo/Getty Images
The MOST RECENT AND UNFORTunate Unlawfulful Real Housewives CASE CENTERS AROUND The Grande Dame Herself. Just as season nine of The Real Housewives of Potomac Was Gearing Up, Karen Huger Was Charged with A dui and Dwi Linked to a March 2024 Car Crash. Throughout the Entirety of that season of Rhop (like most of the Real Housewives Who Face Legal Issues), She Professd Her Innocence, Thought Her Two-Day Long December Trial Proved OtherWise.Huger Was Found Guilty on the Outlined Charges (Plus A FEW OTHERS), and Was SentenCed to Two Years in Prison, With One Suspended, Meaning She Will Only Sereve One in Jail. She is Currently Serving Her Time, Thought the Mosst Devastating Aspect of Her Case Is That This Her Four Dui CONVICATION. Plus, The Accompanying Bodycam Footage That Was Released from The Night of Her Crash Was Incredibly Unflattering, Juxtpoging The Innocence She Clai Rhop Season Nine.
As outlined, after claiming she was innocent, the Footage Taken by Police Corroborated the Allegations that Huger Was Overly Intoxicated On the Night of the Crash. Throughout the clips, she referencyd her status garnered Via the bravo Series, Even Telling An Officer, “WHEN YOU Google Me, You’re Going to Be So Ashaned Of Yourself.” Plus, she later name-droped her title of the “Grande Dame”-and her Closens to Andy Cohen. “I don’t know what the fuck that’s about, andy Cohen Did that,” She Could Be Heard Saying in the Video.
Huger Was Released on Sept. 2, Thought is unclear if she will have a much (or any) Involvement on Rhop‘s upcoming 10th Season. She was notable Missing from the Cast List, Because She Was in Jail While Filming Occurred, Thought andy Cohen Told Told Tmz Hew Be “Speaking With Her ImMinent” Amid Her Release. Plus, WHEN Asked If The Potomac Housewife would return to the show, Cohen replied, “I hope so.”
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