Dorinda Medley’s authenticity drew fans in with her truthfulness and vulnerability, particularly after her husband’s passing. Her memorable “Dorinda-isms” and Berkshire trips made her a RHONY favorite. Despite her popularity, issues and conflicts with the cast led to a pause and a void in the show. Medley’s sincerity and courage in sharing her personal struggles had an incredible impact on the franchise.
From the start, Medley cemented herself as one of the best housewives to join The Real Housewives franchise due to her personality, pot-stirring, and friendships with all the ladies. Although she was initially overshadowed by the many arguments between the ladies, she proved to be capable enough of keeping up with their antics. Throughout her time on The Real Housewives of New York City, Medley consistently showcased her true self, which attracted many fans to her. She was never afraid to tell the truth, even if it meant that it would hurt someone’s feelings.
Medley’s life, including her struggles after the loss of her husband and going dating after dealing with death, made audiences love her even more. Her friendship with Carole Radziwill, formed through shared tragedy, created a special bond between them. This connection made viewers root for them as they traveled to London to close chapters from their past.
As a testament to Medley’s popularity, Season 8 marked a new era for the housewife. She came forward and spoke her mind, introducing Jules Wainstein to the group. She struggled with her relationship with John Mahdessian and had many of the ladies going against her due to her relationship. Medley felt betrayed by her friend Ramona Singer, who kept going behind her back and talking about her boyfriend.
Dorinda Medley in ‘RHONY (Photo: RHONY)
As the series progressed, Medley’s relationships were continuously scrutinized. Bethenny Frankel went toe-to-toe with John over his claim that she had stolen her brand, Skinny Girl, from another brand, Skinny Cow. This argument broke Dorinda’s heart, as she felt like her boyfriend and her friend were at odds over her. This period raised many red flags among viewers about her relationship, as they only wanted the best for her. It seemed that John was a factor that kept bringing her down. After the annual trip to the Berkshires, Medley’s popularity grew, but so did other issues, leading to her eventual pause from the show.
The Berkshires held a special place in the hearts of both the cast and the viewers. Whenever the ladies visited Medley’s home, it was always unpredictable how the trip would go for everyone. Medley’s famous phrase, “I cooked all day, I cleaned, I made it nice,” became her iconic tagline and a testament to her determination to make everything perfect for her friends.
Notably, many iconic moments from the franchise took place at Medley’s home, such as the battle between Bethenny Frankel and Luann de Lesseps over their similar haircut and who they were sleeping with. The Berkshires had become a staple in Housewives history, and it was where many memories were made.
Despite her popularity, Medley’s issues and conflicts with the cast led to a pause and a void in the show. When a reality TV star is put on pause, it means they could have an opportunity to return to the franchise in some form. Putting someone with Medley’s personality on pause would show a void in the show, leaving fans in a state of uncertainty.
After her pause, Medley joined the spinoff, The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip, which served as a necessary send-off for many of the RHONY ladies, especially for Dorinda. With her addition to the show, it was nice to see her again on screens, doing what she knows to do best: making it nice.
