It's the end of an era at Bravo.
After five years as a certified fan favorite, Dorinda Medley announced today that she's stepping down from her role as one of the Real Housewives of New York City.
“What a journey this has been. I have laughed and cried and tried to Make it Nice…” Dorinda wrote on Instagram.
“But all things must come to an end. This was a great outlet for me to heal when my late husband Richard passed away,” she continued.
“I have met so many interesting people and learned so much about myself, about life and about women along the way.”
Perhaps to make it perfectly clear that she's leaving on the best of terms with her bosses and colleagues, Dorinda concluded on a note of heartfelt gratitude:
“Thank you to Bravo and NBC for the incredible ride and to my cast mates for constant stimulation and entertainment," she wrote.
"I wish you all health, happiness and success.”
The surprising announcement instantly erupted with comments, some of them from Dorinda's fellow Bravo-lebrities.
“What a ride. Unforgettable,” Andy Cohen wrote.
“XOXO,” Bethenny Frankel remarked.
The exact reason for Dorinda's departure remains unclear, though it's worth noting that she tagged her location as Great Barrington, the Berkshires town where she grew up and now spends most of her time.
Many people well-to-do New Yorkers have been spending time away from the city in recent months due to the coronavirus.
But while most of them are likely planning to return, Dorinda's endured such a difficult year that she may have decided it's time for a fresh start in a new state.
For starters, Medley's Great Barrington house flooded last summer, and it seems she's still in the process of renovating the property.
Then, just yesterday, Dorinda revealed that she was mourning the passing of her best friend and Dorobics co-creator Jon Griswold.
"Friendships are like homes, some of it is superficial and pretty and some are a part of your foundation," she wrote, in a moving Instagram tribute.
"John was my ride or die, my 5:30 in the morning FaceTime, my thoughts and dreams person, my Dorobics buddy, My Forever Friend."
Given the timing, it seems almost certain that Griswold's passing factored into Dorinda's decision to leave the series that made her famous.
But it seems the move may have been on her mind for quite some time.
A recent episode of RHONY prompted Dorinda to speculate about quitting the show, as she informed fans that she might need to step down for the sake of her mental health.
The episode dealt with Dorinda's grief over the passing of her late husband, and her scenes made it abundantly clear that the 55-year-old is coping with some issues that might best be dealt with off camera.
So even though she was a fan favorite who helped restore the show to its former glory, Dorinda's announcement was met with kind and supportive words from her Instagram followers.
Of course, many RHONY viewers are now concerned for the future of the series.
After all, Dorinda's announcement comes just weeks after Tinsley quit the show.
Are there behind-the-scenes tensions we're not aware of? Are the ladies concerned about continuing in their roles amid the coronavirus pandemic.
We're not sure, but this is the type of drama that fans could probably do without!
Whatever the case, we'd like to add out voice to the chorus of those wishing Dorinda all the best in her future endeavors.
We'll have further updates on this developing story as more information becomes available.
In the mean time, there have been little signs that Dorinda is looking to move on for some time now.
And now, we're not just talking about her creating an OnlyFans account.
Though the account is to show fans her life, not her genitals, we are still, months later, reeling from teh chaotic energy of that announcement.
Additionally, Dorinda has had a weird season, acting in an almost villainous role in earlier episodes.
She has since admitted that she was in a deeply weird mood and place in her life.
And then there was, as we mentioned before, Tinsley Mortimer's announcement that she was quitting the series.
When Tinsley shared that she was calling it quits and moving, Dorinda's reaction was downright cold.
"I don't want to talk about it," she replied to her castmate.
Dorinda explained that she felt that way because she felt like Tinsley's relationship was too flimsy to cheer on ... but wow, it was harsh.
Still, Dorinda has made quite the impression upon viewers and fans over the years.
Her impact upon the franchise has been indelible.
We are still reeling from this news, despite the foreshadowing, but we wish Dorinda the very best in her ventures to come.
