Dorinda Medley Breaks Silence On Carole Radziwill ‘RHONY’ Return

Former “RHONY” star Dorinda Medley said she’s “surprised” about Carole Radziwill‘s unexpected return to the series. According to a previous report from The Blast, Radziwill, who left the series in 2018 after a tumultuous few years on the air, will rejoin the NYC ladies as an official “friend of” the group.

Speaking with Kate Chastain on a recent episode of her “Reality Checked” podcast, Medley said she was taken aback to learn of Radziwill’s role on the upcoming season of “RHONY.”

“I’m surprised I knew nothing about it, and we’re quite close,” she said. “So she kept it very — her cards very close to her chest.”

Radziwill will star in the series alongside many of the show’s new era women, including Jessel Taank, Sai De Silva, and Erin Lichy. Newcomers Hailey Glassman, Erika Hammond, and Daisy Toye will also join the group.

Bravo TV confirmed in early March 2026 that production on season 16 of the series would begin imminently. She also shared her thoughts on how Radziwill’s role in the upcoming season could help “bridge” the gap between old school “RHONY” and the revamped series.

“I think that Carole’s just a New York character, and she’s very close to Andy [Cohen] and she had such a great comeback on Watch What Happens Live and BravoCon, and I think the show needs a character, something to sort of unify it back to the old a little bit,” Medley said.

While excited, Medley stated that Radziwill’s position as a “friend of” the show wasn’t sufficient. “I think she should be full-time,” she said.

“But a ‘friend of,’ that’s too little. She should be … I don’t know if I could as a full-time Housewife go back and be a ‘friend of’ with these new girls,” she added.

Radziwill initially joined the series in 2012 before leaving in July 2018 after five seasons.

“After six seasons on Bravo’s RHONYC, I have decided to return to what I do best — journalism and producing,” she announced. “I am sure this does not come as a surprise to any of the viewers, all of whom have been supportive, encouraging, and kind.”

Radziwill added, “My original curiosity about reality television has waned over the years, and I am focusing on TV and writing projects that better suit my more steady temperament.”

On her podcast, Medley doubled down on being surprised by Radziwill’s return. “I didn’t see that coming because, you know, after she left, she didn’t seem to like it anymore. You know what I mean?” she told her co-hosts.

Medley hasn’t spoken with Radziwill since the news of her surprising return broke the internet. “I mean, if she wanted to tell me, she would tell me, right? … Someone else texted,” she said.

“I think it’s going to be interesting to see because the girls are a lot younger. And it’s a different world than the world she was [in]. She really kind of knew us. But I just don’t know. I don’t know the new show anymore.”

Radziwill has kept busy since she last appeared on “RHONY” in 2018. During an August 2025 “Watch What Happens Live” guest spot, the reality star and author said she’s continued writing on her Substack, often posting about “cultural observations” and sharing “unsolicited opinions.”

“It’s sort of like my life with Carole Radziwill, and a lot of unpublished work I’m gonna put up there,” she described her newsletter. “I like interacting with the fans, and the Bravo fans are so incredible, even all these years later…and so I want to give them something to read and think about.”