The Real Housewives of Rhode Island has been the gift that Bravo fans needed. The new franchise brought us a cast of strong, unfiltered ladies who adore their families and love stirring the pot. Plus, there was plenty of humor thanks to Alicia Carmody and her unintentional language faux pas. “Janes Fonda” would be so proud!
As the explosive first season drew to a close, fans wondered what would happen at the RHORI Season 1 reunion. There are plenty of feuds to unpack, so host Andy Cohen should fortify himself with some crackers and a stuffie. Of course, much of the drama led back to Liz McGraw, which was why she nabbed one of the seats next to Andy. Meanwhile, Alicia sat on Andy’s other side.
With so many memorable and dramatic moments, fans should be in for a wild ride. So, what questions do RHORI viewers need answered at the reunion? Let’s dive in!
Why is RHORI’s Rulla Nehme Pontarelli still with husband Brian?
One of the hottest topics of the season was Rulla Nehme Pontarelli’s marriage to Brian Pontarelli. Specifically, rumors that Brian’s affair with his mistress never ended. While Rulla seemed unwilling to entertain this notion, the rest of the RHORI cast believed that Brian was still cheating.
In addition, one of the nastiest feuds this season involved Jo-Ellen Tiberi and Rulla. When Jo-Ellen found photos of Brian and his mistress on social media, Rulla was angry at Jo-Ellen. Both Brian and Rulla called Jo-Ellen’s place of employment, which understandably ticked off Jo-Ellen.
Meanwhile, Rulla said that if her husband was still cheating, she wanted proof. So, Jo-Ellen delivered. She got her hands on a video of Brian and the other woman, time-stamped two days before the polo match. Still, Rulla wasn’t impressed and refused to watch the video.
Since Brian and Rulla share two children, she stated that she wanted her marriage to work. Still, I’m not sure whether Rulla was in denial about Brian’s alleged infidelity or simply chose to ignore it.
Later, a more serious, disturbing accusation was leveled at Brian. He was charged with a misdemeanor domestic violence offense because he allegedly put a tracker on Rulla’s car. While Brian added to his collection of red flags, Rulla still seemed reluctant to pull the plug on their marriage.
Fans need to know why Rulla stayed with Brian and hear what Brian had to say about his behavior.
Was Kelsey Swanson’s Miss Rhode Island USA win really paid for?
Kelsey Swanson was proud of her Miss Rhode Island USA win. So, when her season-long feud with Rosie DiMare hit the boiling point at Rosie’s house, it became brutal in a flash. Kelsey pulled up with a speaker, making fun of the size of Rosie and her husband’s home renovation.
Rosie saw red and unloaded on Kelsey. She slammed her for not having her own house or a husband. After Kelsey and her longtime boyfriend broke up, she moved out of his mansion. To ease the sting of adjusting to real life, Kelsey’s ex temporarily paid the rent for her new apartment.
Then, Rosie claimed that Kelsey’s ex-boyfriend, and alleged sugar daddy, bought her Miss Rhode Island title. After Rosie pushed Kelsey and her suitcase out the door, Kelsey returned to defend her win. Rosie fired back that Kelsey was “a slam pig” and “f*cks married men.”
The argument continued during trivia night at Ashley Iaconetti and her husband, Jared Haibon’s, coffeehouse. Kelsey entered, sporting a tiara and sash proclaiming her “Miss Slam Pig.” Yikes!
Of course, Rosie teased that she had some receipts about Kelsey’s ex buying the title. “Usually, I don’t say things that I can’t confirm,” she previously stated. “I like to have my documents in a row.” I hope this rumor is put to bed at the reunion.
What receipts did Liz McGraw and Jo-Ellen Tiberi bring to the Real Housewives of Rhode Island reunion?
Liz, the “weed queen,” was involved in messy friendship drama with both Alicia and Jo-Ellen. The trio was trapped in a car when all hell broke loose. Liz slammed Alicia for claiming that she was “homeless” after her father left. When Alicia became emotional, Jo-Ellen tried to mediate the dispute, which made Liz furious.
The drama continued at Rosie’s husband, Rich DiMare’s, show in Boston. Liz and Jo-Ellen couldn’t mute their argument during the performance. Then, Liz tugged at Jo-Ellen’s hair and shoved her chair. In the end, the confrontation led to Jo-Ellen’s early departure.
When Liz and Jo-Ellen later met for lunch, Liz was in denial mode, refuting that she pulled her co-star’s hair. Liz called Jo-Ellen “the f*cking devil” and told her that they were never best friends. A shocked Jo-Ellen called out Liz for being “cruel.”
However, at Block Island, the duo made amends and apologized. I have a feeling that it won’t last. Both Liz and Jo-Ellen seem like receipt queens, so this two-part reunion could become feisty when their issues are addressed. Plus, Jo-Ellen already claimed that she would be sharing proof about Brian’s affair at the reunion.
So, buckle up, Ma, and get your popcorn ready for what promises to be a dramatic, over-the-top end to RHORI’s debut season.
The Real Housewives of Rhode Island is available to stream on Peacock.
TELL US – WHAT QUESTIONS DO RHORI FANS NEED ANSWERED AT THE REUNION?
