After it was announced that several vital cast members are leaving "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" and "The Real Housewives of Atlanta," the Bravo network's New York franchise is also about to experience a casting shakeup as a new report claims that Heather Thomson is leaving "The Real Housewives of New York."
A source close to the Bravo star told Us Weekly in that magazine's latest issue that the businesswoman wants to spend more time working on her business and with her family, saying, "She wants to focus full time on her business, Yummie, her family, and expanding into the health and nutrition area."
The insider added that Thomson's role on the show has changed since she signed on three years ago, and she doesn't want to be a part of the franchise anymore.
"The cons of doing the show far outweigh the pros at this point, and what the show has become don't fit what she wants to be doing," said the source.
The insider also said that Thomson joined "RHONY" to promote her business, but it quickly devolved into feuds over the "ridiculous antics of some unstable women."
This season, the entrepreneur's storyline mostly revolved around her feud with costars Dorinda Medley and Bethenny Frankel. This week, Thomson and her friend, Carole Radziwill, were very upset when they found a man naked in the room next to theirs, and it turned out that Ramona Singer brought him to their Turks and Caicos rental after a night out with the other ladies. Thomson and Radziwill confronted LuAnn de Lesseps about it, and Thomson was crying from fear and anger over the incident.
Thomson founded shapewear company Yummie, which manufactures body-shaping jeans and tops and has estimated retail sales of around $60 million. Prior to founding her company, she was the creative force behind various internationally acclaimed brands including Sean "Diddy" Combs' line, Sean Jean. She is a mother to two children, Jax, 10, and Ella Rae, 8.
"The Real Housewives of New York" airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on Bravo.
