Lydia McLaughlin Quits 'Housewives;' Reveals Gretchen, Alexis Not Returning
"Real Housewives of Orange County" star Lydia McLaughlin has reportedly quit the Bravo TV show after just one season.
During her season 8 debut, the magazine entrepreneur, 32, instantly tried to become the group peacemaker by inserting herself into nasty feuds in an attempt to bring her fellow cast mates together. However her attempts fell short and by the end of the season the mother of two found herself also engaging in the petty drama.
"It's bittersweet. It's hard, but overall you know you're doing the right thing," McLaughlin told Us magazine regarding her decision not to return for season 9.
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"I never wanted to make a career out of being a Housewife. That's never really been a dream of mine," she explained.
McLaughlin and her husband Doug, 33, own Beverly Hills Lifestyle magazine and in addition she runs Lydia M Jewelry and SKYLAB Modern Art. The couple shares two sons, Stirling, four, and two-year-old Maverick.
"I want to build my brand outside of the Housewives. I've always been really honest with the producers about that," she said. "I knew that while I was filming it that I probably wasn't going to be doing it again."
The former Bravo TV star joins the likes of her former costars Gretchen Rossi and Alexis Bellino, who are both reportedly not returning to the show.
"I still see Alexis and Gretchen. Ironically they're not on the show anymore!" she said.
Rossi and Bellino, who joined the show in season 4 and season 5 respectively, were at the center of drama throughout season 8 however Bravo TV producers reportedly want fresh faces for season 9. Both Rossi, 37, and Bellino, 33, are yet to publicly respond to the axing reports.
"Gretchen and Alexis are not going to be back next season. Every season they look at how to shake up the cast," a source told LifeandStyle magazine.
"They needed new women and in order to do that they had to say goodbye to some of the current cast," the source explained.
