Even among some of Bravo’s most recognizable faces, introductions can still go hilariously wrong.
Cynthia Bailey recently looked back on a memorable moment from “The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th” when fellow Housewife Vicki Gunvalson failed to recognize her altogether.
The surprising encounter unfolded while the cast was filming in Atlanta and quickly became one of Bailey’s favorite behind-the-scenes stories from the anniversary series celebrating two decades of the “Real Housewives” franchise.
While speaking on Page Six’s “Virtual Reali-Tea,” Cynthia Bailey recalled approaching Vicki Gunvalson during filming only to realize the “Real Housewives of Orange County” veteran had absolutely no idea who she was.
“I go up to Vicki [and] she literally has no idea who I am,” Bailey said, adding, “She might’ve been a little afraid of me, actually.”
The confusion stemmed from Bailey’s appearance as 50 Cynt, the male alter ego she famously introduced during her 50th birthday celebration on “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” Season 10.
Dressed as the character while filming at an Atlanta party, Bailey assumed Gunvalson would at least recognize her as a fellow cast member.
Instead, the model said Gunvalson appeared completely baffled. “Gunvalson is looking at me like I’m crazy, so finally I’m like, ‘Vicki, it’s Cynthia,’” Bailey recalled. The realization did not come immediately, either. According to Bailey, Gunvalson responded, “‘Cynthia?’” prompting her to clarify, “‘Bailey … from the Atlanta Housewives.’”
Only then did the situation click. Bailey said Gunvalson reacted with, “‘Oh, my God! I didn’t know who you were!’”
Bailey’s Story Comes As Gunvalson’s Mix-Ups Continue
For longtime Bravo viewers, the misunderstanding may not come as a complete surprise. Vicki Gunvalson has developed a reputation for occasionally confusing fellow Housewives, even within the larger franchise.
A recent example occurred during the second episode of “RHUGT: Roaring 20th,” when Gunvalson mistakenly identified former “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Crystal Kung Minkoff as Sutton Stracke. Kung Minkoff later laughed off the incident while speaking to Page Six.
“I did Vicki’s podcast [before that], but sometimes we get mixed up,” Kung Minkoff said.
Meanwhile, the new season of “The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip” marks the franchise’s 20th anniversary and brings together some of Bravo’s most recognizable personalities for a cross-country road trip.
The series also serves as a notable return for Gunvalson, who exited “RHOC” in 2020 before rejoining Bravo programming for the milestone celebration.
While Bailey and Minkoff were able to laugh off Gunvalson’s latest cases of mistaken identity, not every interaction on “The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th” ended on such a light note.
As the cast continued their cross-country adventure, Gunvalson found herself at the center of a much more serious confrontation when Teresa Giudice accused her of repeatedly making comments about her past legal troubles.
The tension surfaced while the cast traveled together in a luxury van, when Gunvalson commented that someone could be “mean” at times before admitting, “I can be mean too.”
That remark prompted Giudice to immediately address lingering frustrations from the previous day. “Vicki, you were mean to me yesterday,” she told the “RHOC” veteran, leaving the other Housewives noticeably silent.
Giudice then accused Gunvalson of making remarks suggesting she had changed the most since joining the franchise and of bringing up her legal troubles.
According to Teresa, Gunvalson had previously shouted, “Pay your taxes,” a comment she interpreted as a direct jab at the prison sentence that followed her tax fraud case.
Gunvalson Reveals Why Her Daughter Told Andy Cohen To ‘Lose My Number’
Before finding herself in the middle of yet another Housewives dispute, Vicki Gunvalson turned her attention away from cast drama and toward a much more personal subject: her family.
While the “RHUGT” star has spent years sharing her life on camera, she revealed that not everyone in her inner circle shared her enthusiasm for reality television.
In fact, according to Gunvalson, her daughter Briana Culberson had become so determined to leave the Bravo spotlight behind that she once delivered a blunt message to Andy Cohen when the possibility of returning to the franchise came up.
Speaking about her family’s complicated relationship with reality television, Gunvalson told The Hollywood Reporter that Briana’s reluctance stemmed largely from how the show portrayed her husband, Ryan Culberson, after his military service.
Ryan, a former Marine who completed six overseas deployments, struggled with PTSD, and Gunvalson believed the series failed to handle that reality fairly.
According to Gunvalson, the experience left a lasting impression on Briana, who eventually decided she wanted nothing more to do with the franchise.
Recalling a conversation about a possible appearance, Gunvalson said Briana told her, “Mom, I want nothing to do with it.” She later revealed that when Cohen reached out directly about filming, Briana’s response was even more definitive. She reportedly told Cohen, “Please lose my number.”
Vicki Gunvalson Responds To ‘Debbie Downer’ Criticism From Fans
Gunvalson’s comments about Briana’s decision to step away from reality television also arrived as the longtime Bravo personality faced renewed scrutiny of her own.
While her daughter has chosen a more private life away from cameras and public opinion, the 64-year-old remains firmly in the spotlight, where every interaction and on-screen moment is dissected by viewers.
That scrutiny recently intensified after some fans and fellow Housewives labeled her a “Debbie Downer,” a description that the reality TV star reportedly found difficult to shake.
The criticism gained traction after “RHOC” cast member Emily Simpson used the phrase during a game. According to Gina Kirschenheiter, Gunvalson was deeply bothered by the label and continued bringing it up throughout filming.
“Vicki brought it up at every event, every table, and every place we went to this season,” Kirschenheiter told Decider, adding, “She was really offended by that comment.”
Despite the criticism, Gunvalson has pushed back against the perception that she brings negative energy to group events, arguing that she remains the same outspoken personality fans have watched for years.
