Dorit Kemsley Explains Why She Decided Not to Quit RHOBH

“Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Dorit Kemsley says she nearly left the Bravo series following season 13. 

During an appearance on the November 26 episode of “Bravo’s Hot Mic” podcast, Kemsley shared that she wanted to step away from the series, which she joined in 2016, after season 13. She explained that she and her estranged husband, Paul “PK” Kemsley had just decided to separate. In addition, Kemsley said she was not close to any RHOBH cast members, besides Erika Jayne.

“I made the decision not to [stay on RHOBH]. And I think I remember PK saying something to me like, ‘Well you have to do it.’ And when I heard him say I had to do it, it was wanting to take back that control,” said Kemsley during the podcast interview. “Like, ‘No, no, no. This is going to be my decision. I’m the one that’s doing it.’ And I said, ‘Well you know what? I’m not.’ And I had thought I felt comfortable about that decision.”

She said that she eventually decided to remain on the RHOBH cast because she “had unfinished business.”

“I had too much I needed to say. I didn’t leave the impression that I wanted to leave really of who I am,” said Kemsley. 

Kemsley is not the only RHOBH season 14 star who considered quitting the series. In a November 2024 interview with Us Weekly, Kyle Richards said she wanted to leave the Bravo series while filming season 14, which premiered on November 19. 

“I had a meltdown. My first in 14 years. I was like, I don’t think I can physically do this anymore. I walked off the set and didn’t shoot the next day. I was at my breaking point. I have so much on my plate, and some of the women just push,” said Richards to Us Weekly. 

She said, however, that her experience with her season 14 co-stars eventually got better. 

“I needed that break. I think they saw [I was] really struggling and were reaching out to me. They actually helped me get through the rest of the season,” said Richards during the Us Weekly interview.

Richards and Kemsley have been at odds throughout RHOBH season 14. While speaking to Access Hollywood in November 2024, Richards said she decided to pull away from Kemsley because of her behavior. She said she was particularly unhappy with Kemsley after she said she believed Richards’ emotional comments about her estranged husband, Mauricio Umansky, at BravoCon 2023 were for show. 

“That really bothered me. Because if you know me, you know how I feel and you know I’m an emotional person. And you know I’m struggling. So how good of a friend can you be to me if you not only think that but would say that? So that really bothered me,” said Richards to Access Hollywood. 

Kemsley spoke about her falling out from Richards in the “Bravo’s Hot Mic” podcast interview. Kemsley said that she felt like she was “outside of her inner circle.”

“It felt like our relationship was strained. And it wasn’t my choice. It just felt like I was put there,” said Kemsley.