‘The Real Housewives of New York City’ Will See Jenna Lyons Exit After 2 Seasons

Jenna Lyons is departing from The Real Housewives of New York City.

“The rumors ….. Are true. So here’s the story,” Jenna, 57, shared via Instagram on Friday, November 21. “I appreciated being invited to participate in season 16 of RHONY ‘as a friend of’ — acknowledging my private life wasn’t readily available for filming, we agreed it was logical. After careful consideration, I’ve made the tough call not to come back to the show.”

Although Jenna expressed “love” for her fellow cast members, which included Erin Lichy, Jessel Taank, Sai de Silva, Racquel Chevremont and Uba Hassan, the businesswoman opted to step down.

“I’d be the senior cast member and the only openly gay woman on the show, and I think this presents a chance for a fresh dynamic to develop,” she stated in her announcement. “I deeply respect and appreciate the entire BRAVO team that produced the show with care and respect. I am incredibly thankful to @bravoandy for the chance and encouragement.”

Jenna also made sure to acknowledge the viewers, who consistently show her kindness even when the cameras are off.

“And most importantly, to every fan who has greeted me on the street, asked for a photo, and supported me on Instagram, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU !!!! It means the world to me,” she penned. “I’ll be watching and commenting from the sidelines with affection and sartorial opinions.”

Earlier in November, Andy Cohen stirred excitement among fans at BravoCon 2025 when he verified that producers are working on season 16.

“We have a cast assembled for The Real Housewives of New York City,” Andy, 57, announced during his “Ask Andy” session on Sunday, November 16. “We plan to start filming within the coming months. I’m really excited about it. More updates to follow.”

Andy also verified that the upcoming season of RHONY will not be a mix of the original series and the rebooted version.

“I honestly have faith in the Bravo production team. They understand what they’re doing,” Erin, 38, mentioned to Us at BravoCon. “If they genuinely believed that was the optimal approach, that’s the path we would take. I don’t think they feel that’s the appropriate choice for our group.”

Sai, 44, echoed the sentiment, adding, “I believe we were chosen for a specific purpose. We’re eager to see it through, and I’m excited for this new phase of RHONY.”

Since season 15 of RHONY finished airing in February, fans have been patiently awaiting any new information.

There was a point when Bravo had to refute claims that the show was canceled. Instead, sources informed Us that the network was diligently working behind the scenes to secure the best possible cast.

“It’s not clear how many cast members they’re searching for — and who might stay or leave,” a source previously disclosed to Us. “Producers are constantly reaching out to gauge interest and discover potential new additions.”

Brynn Whitfield and designer Rebecca Minkoff had previously communicated that they would not be returning to the Bravo show after their participation in season 15.