The Real Housewives of Orange County newbie Braunwyn Windham-Burke reveals behind-the-scenes details of the season fourteen reunion, in an Instagram Live interview with me. Braunwyn also sets the record straight on reports that her famously eccentric mom, Dr. Deb, was caught shoplifting in Mexico, explaining how she was threatened with machine guns. Plus, Braunwyn tosses an epic diss at Vicki Gunvalson, and answers whether she thinks “The OG of the OC” wants her fired from the show...
After describing how the RHOC cast are kept separated before filming the reunion, Braunwyn divulges a secret rendezvous with co-star Kelly Dodd. “Even the night before we all have hotel rooms, and most of us were in different hotels…although I snuck out and hung out with Kelly the night before.”
While Braunwyn remains tight with Kelly, Emily Simpson, and Gina Kirschenheiter, season-long nemesis Vicky isn’t a part of her life. “Honestly she wasn’t one of my castmates this year and I didn’t film with her that much. So I really don’t put a lot of thought into her. Sorry.”
Throwing Vicky’s part-timer status in her face is a major burn! But Braunwyn says she wouldn’t mind returning in a friend-of role, though negotiations for season fifteen don’t start for a few weeks. “I don’t know [if I’ll return]. None of us knows. I asked, and what I’ve been told is that we’ll find out…next month, January. So I’m keeping my fingers crossed, because I had the best time. I would love to come back.” On the possibility of taking a reduced role Braunwyn says, “I would do this in any capacity. It’s such a good time, and it’s such an amazing opportunity.”
Fans who watched the season finale were surprised to discover that Braunwyn is no longer in touch with her mom. But that doesn’t mean Dr. Deb’s daughter won’t go to bat for her after recent reports the rocker-turned-M.D. was caught shoplifting in Mexico. “The story that was reported was one hundred percent not true. But I think she was set up, and it was very scary. They had machine guns on them.” Braunwyn acknowledges her reality fame has made her family a bigger target.
She was the one being attacked earlier this year, when Braunwyn’s infamous lip-lock with Tamra Judge shocked fans and their co-stars. “When we watched it, I was like, oh that’s so bad! But I mean, it is what it is, and it actually ended up, for me at least, being a very great learning experience.” The new TV star says there was no hiding any part of herself after that!
Braunwyn has a lot to look forward to in the new year, with a new home, family ski vacation, and joining Kelly and fiancè Rick Leventhal in Miami for his birthday. Plus, despite January marking she and hubby Sean Burke’s twentieth wedding anniversary, the hot couple are throwing a party in March. If the delay is to accommodate Bravo cameras, Braunwyn won’t say. “We’re gonna celebrate a little bit later this year,” she says, smiling coyly.