RHOBH executive producer Alex Baskin moved quickly to quash rumors that Dorit Kemsley would be put on pause for season 16, after chatter tied to Dorit’s season 15 reunion fallout and a separate, ongoing divorce battle with PK Kemsley.
The buzz around Real Housewives of Beverly Hills season 16 didn’t last long before the executive producer shut it down.
On Friday. May 23. RHOBH executive producer Alex Baskin pushed back on rumors of a cast overhaul. specifically denying that Dorit Kemsley was being put on pause for next season. The timing came amid renewed online chatter after Dorit clashed with longtime friends Kyle Richards and Erika Jayne during the season 15 reunion.
The claims were fueled by a blind item stating Kyle Richards. 57. Erika Jayne. 54. Sutton Stracke. Bozoma Saint John. and Rachel Zoe were “locked in” for season 16. The same item also alleged Jennifer Tilly was returning as “friend of the Housewives. ” while it suggested Bravo offered controversial newbie Amanda Frances a new contract. It further claimed RHOBH alum Crystal Kung Minkoff was “back in the mix.”.
Alex Baskin, 45, shut the rumors down quickly, dismissing them as “not true” through an Instagram Story posted on Friday.
At the center of Dorit’s current spotlight is her personal life as much as her television storylines. Dorit. 49. is in the middle of a messy divorce with husband PK Kemsley. and the couple has been battling this month over allegations that she spent more than $1 million—calculated as 80 percent of her available funds—on luxury items over the past year.
Dorit addressed PK’s allegations during an Extra interview on Thursday. May 21. telling viewers she would “have a response to it” in court soon. “When you’re in litigation, you have to sort of follow the legal process,” she said. “I think there will be answers to everything. When you hear one version or one narrative, there’s always another side.”.
She added, “Do I love fashion?. Yes. Do I spend a lot of money on clothes, expensive clothes, designer clothes?. Yes. It is my choice. It is also my money. It’s my money that I earn, that I work for. Not his money. However. once PK and I can finish and have an agreement. what I choose to spend my money on and what he chooses to spend his money on. it’s our own choice.”.
Dorit concluded with a point about how entangled their finances have become: “I think, right now because we’re sort of intertwined, there’s a sort of feeling like you can have a say about what the other is spending.”
That theme—money, judgment, and who gets to weigh in—already played out on RHOBH during season 15. Kyle openly questioned whether Dorit, whom Kyle called a frenemy, was acting out because of her marital issues. At the reunion. Kyle warned that it was “a lot of money [Dorit] is spending” during shopping sprees on the show.
Dorit hit back at that criticism, saying, “Being judged by you [hurts], having you go and speak to the girls about, ‘That’s a lot of money she’s spending.’ Kyle, especially from you of all people.” Kyle then clapped back: “By the way, I’m not in the same financial position as you, I’m sorry.”
For now, the cast-pause chatter aimed at Dorit has been met with a firm denial from the show’s top producer—while her divorce case remains active and, by her own description, headed toward courtroom answers.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills airs on Bravo and streams via Peacock.
RHOBH Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Alex Baskin Dorit Kemsley Kyle Richards Erika Jayne Sutton Stracke Bozoma Saint John Rachel Zoe Jennifer Tilly Amanda Frances Crystal Kung Minkoff PK Kemsley Peacock Bravo season 16 rumors
So Dorit’s not getting paused? Guess the rumors were fake then.
I swear they always say “not true” right before they change the cast anyway. Like Alex Baskin is just putting out fires. Dorit vs Kyle at the reunion was messy enough already.
The $1 million thing is the part that gets me. If she really spent that much on luxury during the year, pause or not, Bravo should address it. Also I saw something about Amanda Frances getting a contract… is that just more smoke?
Locked in for season 16 like it’s a sports roster lol. But blind items are always half wrong, right? I thought Dorit was basically done after the reunion fallout but now it’s “not true.” Meanwhile PK and Dorit in divorce court… can they even film if they’re fighting over money like that? I’m confused but I’m watching.