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Alexia Nepola has openly addressed the halt in production for The Real Housewives of Miami.
Back in March, it was announced that Bravo would pause future episodes of RHOM. This decision was influenced by casting challenges and a significant lawsuit involving Nepola’s former husband, Todd Nepola.
However, Alexia attributes the primary reason for the pause to declining viewership numbers.
Alexia Nepola says Bravo fans didn’t show up for ‘RHOM’
“Bravo fans really need to tune into our show,” Alexia shared with Page Six’s Virtual Reali-Tea. “We constantly hear, ‘Oh my God, we love your show.’ It’s popular, but where are these fans? We need them to actually watch because low ratings are the reason we’re on hiatus — at least for now. But life goes on for us.”
Nepola and her fellow cast member, Marysol Patton, often meet RHOM enthusiasts in their day-to-day lives. Despite a dedicated fan base, the show struggles to attract enough viewers.
Both Nepola and her costar Marysol Patton said that they frequently encounter RHOM fans in the real world. But despite its popularity with a core audience, not enough people are watching the show.
“The ratings don’t reflect what our popularity is, is what I’m trying to say,” Nepola. “So to those Bravo fans and people that love our show, please continue to watch and support us because we need that if you want to see us back on TV.”
Patton agreed that the pause “doesn’t make any sense.”
“[E]]verywhere I go when I travel, people know who we are. “They know me, buy me a cockie, send me a cockie, the bartender’s like, ‘Can I get you a cockie?’” she said, referring to her well-documented love of cocktails.
“Everybody knows us, they watch it. Hispanic people from all over the world are like, ‘Oh my God, we’re so excited — you represent Latinos.’ And then to hear that the viewership was low doesn’t make sense,” she continued.
Insider claimed Todd Nepola’s lawsuit led to ‘RHOM’ pause
Alexia might be pointing the finger at Bravo viewers for not supporting RHOM, but some people suspect another factor is at play. Last year, Alexia’s ex Todd sued Bravo for defamation. Although he later dropped the lawsuit, the damage was done, especially after Alexia and Todd reunited post-divorce.
“Once she got back with Todd, Bravo had choices to make,” an insider told Reality Blurb. “They clearly couldn’t film with someone who had an active lawsuit against the network, and, while he may not have filmed, it would seem sort of like a conflict of interest to film with her IF he was suing.”
Even after Todd dropped the lawsuit, Bravo’s feelings toward him, were “not the warmest,” which was “definitely a factor in RHOM being put on pause,” the source added.
“Another issue was the cast and the tensions between them,” the person dished. “Obviously, Todd pulling the trigger to sue angered a lot of the other cast members, as it put them in an awkward spot with Alexia.”
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