The Biggest Bravo Blunders of All Time, Ranked by Messiness

Brace yourselves, Bravo fans, because we're counting down the biggest scandals to ever hit our screens. With the drama, deception, and downright messiness that these Bravolebrities bring to our living rooms, you'll be grateful you're not living in their chaotic world. From illicit affairs to lawsuits, nothing is off-limits in this list as we take a walk down memory lane to remind ourselves why we keep coming back for more.

So, grab your popcorn and get ready to dive into the down-and-dirty details of the most infamous Bravo scandals. Because let's face it, when it comes to drama, nobody does it quite like our favorite Bravolebrities.

Before there was Scandoval, there was "getting Jaxxed." And although Jax was notorious for being unfaithful to Stassi, it still came as a huge shock to the group when the rumors about Kristen and Jax hooking up were finally confirmed by Kristen herself. Stassi back-handed Kristen—otherwise known as The Slap Heard Around the World—and WeHo was never the same again. 

This hookup was a turning point in the show's history, and fans have been jonesing for a hit like it ever since. They finally got their wish with Scandoval...but we'll get there soon. We've saved the messiest for last!

When Real Housewives of New York City's Luann de Lesseps was arrested in Palm Beach in 2017, the reality TV community was shaken. She faced charges including disorderly intoxication and battery on a law enforcement officer due to an altercation in a hotel room, where she allegedly trespassed and resisted arrest.

Her arrest became a turning point in both her personal life and the franchise, prompting important conversations about substance abuse and the pressures of fame. The media frenzy and legal consequences led to public scrutiny and dragged on for several seasons. But it did make for some seriously compelling TV. 

Holy paternity drama, Below Deck fans! The truth bomb exploded when deckhand Dani Soares announced she was preggo and named fellow crew member Jean-Luc Cerza-Lanaux as the dad. Cue chaos among the cast and viewers, who had been rooting for the pair's love story all season long. Things got juicy as the crew debated the validity of the claim and what it would mean for their working relationship.

Dani and Jean-Luc's lives were under the microscope as they dealt with their unexpected situation. And boy, was it a rollercoaster. The Below Deck paternity scandal showed us just how complicated relationships formed on the show can be and how it can seriously mess with personal and professional vibes.

Season 10 of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills was rocked by scandal when Brandi Glanville claimed to have had a romantic encounter with the married Denise Richards. The allegations drove a wedge between the cast, with friendships strained and intense confrontations during the reunion episodes. Despite Richards denying the affair, the drama just wouldn't die down.

Ultimately, the controversy resulted in Denise packing her bags and leaving the show—but rumor has it she'll be making her big return on the upcoming season of RHOBH..! The Denise and Brandi saga will go down in RHOBH history (along with Puppygate..).

The Real Housewives of Potomac took things to the next level in Season 6 when Candiace Dillard Bassett and Monique Samuels got into a full-blown bar brawl. This wasn't just a little squabble; tensions had been brewing between these ladies all season long, and it finally reached a boiling point at a social gathering. The claws came out, and both women engaged in some serious fisticuffs. Needless to say, everyone was shook.

(Important to note: This is a still from that season; however, Monique was not pregnant when the fight took place. Just wanted to clear that up!)

The fallout from the brawl was intense, causing rifts in relationships and alliances that were previously thought unbreakable. The whole thing became the talk of the season, with everyone taking sides and dishing on the aftermath. Monique ended up leaving the show because the two women could no longer work together. This brawl will go down in history as a defining moment for The Real Housewives of Potomac, marking their spot as Housewives legends.

When Lisa and Lenny Hochstein announced their split, it was like a bombshell went off in the world of Miami socialites. The couple, who were fixtures on The Real Housewives of Miami, made headlines when it was revealed that Lenny left Lisa for a younger woman. The specifics of their divorce have mostly been kept under wraps, leaving fans and the media to speculate wildly about what could have led to the downfall of their glamorous life together.

As one of Miami's most prominent power couples, it's no wonder that their separation has caused such a stir. Lucky for us, we get to watch all the fallout and all the women's reactions on RHOM.

Anyone who watches Vanderpump Rules knows just how much Lisa Vanderpump supports the LGBTQ+ community. Each season, an entire episode is devoted to showcasing the joy of Pride in West Hollywood. So when Brittany's pastor, who was set to marry her and Jax, made public homophobic statements, fans and castmates urged the couple to take action.

And take action they did! They gave their pastor the boot, and Lance Bass took his place at the altar. Some might call this overcompensating, but regardless, the wrong was righted, and Jax and Brittany are now the only VPR couple still standing. A happily ever after all!

Phaedra Parks, former cast member of The Real Housewives of Atlanta and queen of the read, had to face her own challenges when her ex-husband, Apollo Nida, was sentenced to a lengthy prison stay. Apollo's fraud and identity theft charges earned him eight years behind bars.

The news caused quite a stir both on and off the show. For Phaedra, the situation was especially difficult because she had to navigate raising their children while their father served time. It's a situation that highlights the real-life consequences of white-collar crime and its impact on families. 

Stassi Schroeder and Kristen Doute, two OG cast members of Vanderpump Rules, got the boot in 2020 when it was revealed that they had falsely reported a former cast member, Faith Stowers, to the police for a crime she didn't commit. And why? Because they claimed she looked like the woman in security footage. (Also mostly because she hooked up with Jax while he was dating Brittany—I say that for context, not to condone their actions.) 

Bravo didn't waste any time in firing the duo—a decision Lisa Vanderpump herself claims was not made directly by her. This incident put a big ole spotlight on the issue of racism and lack of inclusivity in reality TV and sparked an important discussion about the consequences of perpetuating harmful stereotypes—and the role privilege can play in our actions. 

(Image via Instagram; Instagram)

As if a highly publicized breakup weren't bad enough (especially when a child is involved), Lala Kent also had to deal with accusations surrounding Randall's behavior in Hollywood. The couple's split made headlines, with rumors and speculation circulating about infidelity and discord in their relationship. Accusations also emerged regarding Randall's conduct in the entertainment industry, with Lala herself calling her ex a "mini Harvey Weinstein."

And for those who want to consume aaaaaaall the tea spilled, a documentary about Emmett's wannabe-Weinstein shenanigans, called The Randall Scandal, is now on Hulu.

It looks like Thomas Ravenel won't be making any appearances on Southern Charm's reunion anytime soon. The former cast member has been banned from the show due to a string of serious allegations and legal troubles. He's been accused of sexual assault and harassment by multiple women, and it looks like the producers and network have had enough.

With ongoing legal proceedings and the severity of the claims, they made the important decision to keep him away from the reunion, opting for a safer and more respectful environment for the cast and guests. It's clear that allegations of misconduct shouldn't be shrugged off—as they've done with Ravenel—but taken seriously and acted upon to prioritize everyone's well-being.

What happens when legal troubles land a housewife and her hubby in separate prison cells? Just ask Teresa and Joe Giudice of The Real Housewives of New Jersey. After being convicted of fraud, Teresa spent 11 months behind bars at a federal prison in Connecticut—but that was just the beginning. Hubby Joe didn't fare much better, serving a whopping 41 months for his fraud-related crimes.

And the impact on their family was brutal, especially for their four young daughters. Their struggles were all caught on camera, but the real-life consequences were even more devastating. The couple ended up going their separate ways when Joe was deported to Italy, and Teresa decided to end the marriage after realizing she couldn't move past her anger at Joe—because her mother died while she was locked up. The message is clear: crime doesn't pay, even if you're a reality TV star.

RHOBH cast member Erika Jayne and her now-estranged husband, lawyer Tom Girardi, faced a legal scandal involving embezzlement, fraud, and questionable finances in 2020. Erika's personal finances and extravagant lifestyle were called into question during their divorce proceedings. Some believe Tom misappropriated funds meant for victims of various lawsuits he had handled, making the situation even more complicated.

As you can imagine, the legal troubles surrounding Erika and Tom's financial affairs caused a lot of controversy and speculation. Even the fans and cast members of the show were divided in their opinions on the matter. Erika faced mounting pressure to address the allegations and provide clarity on her knowledge and involvement in the situation, but she has maintained the stance that she is the true victim—you know, the rich lady and not the widows and burn victims.

In January 2023, Jen Shah pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering—after screaming her innocence at everyone for two seasons. A gaslighter can only gaslight for so long before they light themselves on fire—and in this case, a housewife facing years upon years of time in an ugly orange jumpsuit. Reality caught up with Shah, but she does love to go for the shock factor—so maybe her guilty plea was a plot twist she had planned all along. Who knows?

And the craziest part of it all? Fans got to watch all the drama unfold on their TV screens; cameras were rolling on The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City when the FBI raided the ladies' sprinter van looking for Shah—who had just conveniently received a call that her husband was in the hospital and rushed away mere minutes before. It writes itself, folks.

And of course, as promised, we've saved the absolute messiest for last. If you've been living under a rock and don't know what all the term "Scandoval" entails, let me give you the long-story-short. Tom Sandoval cheated on his girlfriend of a decade, Ariana Madix, with Vanderpump Rules newbie (and ex-fiance of cast member James Kennedy) Raqchel Leviss—for seven months. So how did she find out?

Sandoval dropped his phone while performing with his midlife-crisis band, Tom Sandoval and the Most Extras, and someone handed it to Ariana for safekeeping. When she opened it up, she found a recorded FaceTime of Sandoval and Rachel—and he has since admitted on the show (because of course they picked cameras back up two days after the news dropped) that he would normally "delete things like that," but he was...too busy. So she confronted both of them, both happily admitted it and divulged way too many nasty details, and the rest we'll have to watch play out on our TV screens!

Regardless of what happens at the reunion and who comes back next season, one thing remains true: Scandoval will go down in Bravo history as the biggest, messiest scandal of all time. The Vanderpump ladies were even invited to the White House for the Correspondence Dinner! Legends.