Vicki Gunvalson, known as the “OG of the OC,” began her journey on reality television with the inaugural cast of “The Real Housewives of Orange County” two decades ago. Recently, she rejoined the series and participated in “The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th,” honoring the show’s longstanding presence in pop culture. However, Gunvalson shared that her family did not experience the same positive network exposure she did over the years.
Gunvalson revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that her daughter, Briana Culberson, chooses not to engage with the show after her military husband was depicted unfavorably. Briana, who appeared in various episodes over the years, declined an invitation to return for the twentieth season, even requesting that Bravo executive Andy Cohen “lose her number” after a proposal for a special appearance.
Briana last graced the Bravo screens during Season 18 of “Watch What Happens Live.” Her husband had recently concluded his service with the Marine Corps, completing six tours overseas. Gunvalson explained, “He’s got some PTSD, and they really showed a bad light of him. She just was like, ‘Mom, I want nothing to do with it.'” Despite Gunvalson’s encouragement for a cameo appearance, Briana remained firm in her decision.
Vicki Gunvalson’s son, Michael, who recently made an appearance on “RHOC,” mentioned he hadn’t seen Briana in eight years, noting he had yet to meet two of her children. Gunvalson expressed her feelings, “It absolutely sucks that my kids live far away. Mike’s in Spain, Briana lives in Oklahoma. They talk all the time, they FaceTime. But it’s definitely better to be in person.”
Reflecting on the strained family dynamics, Gunvalson said, “I see other families have their kids over on Sunday dinner, and I don’t have that. It’s not what I’d ever planned, but it’s their life.” Her candid reflections included acknowledging the impact her participation in “RHOC” had on her personal life, particularly her marriage to Donn Gunvalson. The former couple’s struggles, documented on the show, culminated in their divorce.
Gunvalson recounted an ultimatum from her ex-husband about choosing between the marriage and the show, stating, “It killed mine. When Scott [Dunlop] approached me and Donn at the time about doing this pilot, Donn’s like, ‘There’s no way we’re doing this in our family.’ He believed anyone on TV would eventually get divorced.” Though confident at the time that their marriage was strong, it eventually ended.
“My family was more important than the show, and it broke apart,” she revealed. Fellow housewife Porsha Williams once remarked that reality TV could both strain a marriage and uncover essential truths about relationships and individuals. Gunvalson agreed, “If the marriage is weak, it’s going to fall apart.”
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