Alfred Lord Tennyson said that it’s “better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all” — and yet we can only speculate if the latest one-season Housewives, The Real Housewives of Orange County’s Noella Bergener and Dr. Jen Armstrong, share this sentiment.
As reported by Page Six, both Bergener and Armstrong announced on Friday, July 8 that they will not be returning to RHOC next season. Season 16 was the debut season for both women on the show.
See also: What is the net worth of ‘The Real Housewives of Orange County?’
Noella Bergener says it was ‘possibly the hardest year’ of her life
“After a wild season of ups and downs, I will not be returning to The Real Housewives of Orange County,” Bergener — who was the franchise’s first Black cast member — wrote in her statement, which she made on Instagram. “Thank you to all of the fans for all of the love and support during quite possibly the hardest year of my life. I am looking forward to brighter skies ahead, and can’t wait to share what’s next.”
Indeed, Bergener’s first (and apparently only) season on RHOC was filled with many ups and downs. During season 16, for example, Bergener was served divorce papers, dealt with rising tension and feuds within the RHOC cast and reckoned with the loss of her estranged father.
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Dr. Jen Armstrong says she’s stepping away to focus on her family
Dr. Jen Armstrong, who is a cosmetic MD, shared sentiments about her own exit on Instagram:
“I loved opening up about being a working mom on [The] Real Housewives of Orange County. I am so grateful to have had the privilege to talk about my father, my kids, and a real modern relationship on national television. My family and my work are the most important aspects of my life, so I am stepping away from RHOC and focusing on them,” she wrote, confirming her departure from RHOC.
“Thank you to everyone who has reached out in support – especially from the working moms. Women can really have it all if you work for it. I believe in you, and I’ll still be here to chat about it with you. I love inspiring people to be their best. I am forever grateful for the friends I made, and the lovely people at [Bravo and Evolution Media]. Here’s to the next chapter, and I hope you’ll follow along for the journey. There are so many exciting things to come, so stay tuned.”
Armstrong’s first season (and the months following it), much like Bergener, were eventful. As she said in her statement, much of Armstrong’s season-16 story focused on being a working mother of three and her family, including the ups and downs of her marriage to Ryne Holliday. Since filming, the couple has officially called it quits: Armstrong filed for legal separation from Holliday in May.
