The Friend role on Real Housewives is a complicated and inconsistent one. Sometimes, you end up with just as much screentime as a full-time cast member. Other times, the role feels more like a glorified cameo. Unfortunately for Dolores Catania, it’s really starting to seem like she’s falling into the latter category on The Real Housewives of Rhode Island.
During a recent episode of Two Ts in a Pod, Dolores revealed that production didn’t invite her to the reunion, along with the cast trip to Newport that’s currently airing. So, what exactly happened here?
Dolores confirms she wasn’t invited to the RHORI reunion
Season 1 of RHORI has turned into a runaway success, but Dolores said she never saw it coming because production kept her on the sidelines. She couldn’t gauge how audiences might respond and admitted she felt “bitter” about her limited role during filming.
“I was bitter because when I got there, they didn’t let me film and be involved as much,” Dolores claimed. “They kept me on the bench.”
Dolores listed the cast trip to Newport that kicked off in Episode 6 as an example. Production didn’t include her, even though it was Liz McGraw’s trip—the one person she actually knew before filming. Dolores said she and Liz both felt like it didn’t make sense, so she called production to get some answers.
Dolores recalled. “I called production, and I said, ‘I have a wedding in Ireland—should I go or not?’ And they’re like, ‘Go, because you’re not invited on the trip.'”
“And I’m not invited to the reunion,” she added.
According to Dolores, no one ever gave her a clear explanation for her reduced involvement in RHORI Season 1. It could be because Bravo already knew their plans to bring her back to The Real Housewives of New Jersey, which recently came out of its years-long pause.
Either way, Dolores doesn’t seem to have any hard feelings. She said she’s happy for the show and “proud” of the Housewives. Plus, skipping the reunion means one less dress to shop for.
Dolores said, “They really put it all out there, and that’s just the way it is.”
The Real Housewives of Rhode Island continues on Bravo every Sunday at 9/8c. You can stream new episodes the next day on Peacock.
TELL US – WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON DOLORES’ EXCLUSION FROM THE RHORI REUNION? DO YOU THINK SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A BIGGER PART OF SEASON 1?.
