RHUGT: Dorinda Medley Explains What Led To COVID Vaccine Fight With Vicki

After admitting that things got ugly between herself and former The Real Housewives of Orange County star Vicki Gunvalson in January, Dorinda Medley explains what caused the two to fight over the COVID vaccine while filming The Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip season 2. This season, which also features Vicki’s best friend Tamra Judge and The Real Housewives of New York alum Jill Zarin, Housewives across multiple franchises will be seen enjoying a vacation at Dorinda’s Blue Stone Manor in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. With all the success of RHUGT season 1, fans are excited to watch what drama brews from this mix of women staying together.

As two recognizable figures from their respective Housewives franchises, Dorinda and Vicki share several personality traits which make them great additions to reality television. Both women are known for being passionate, assertive, and hardheaded, and as successful entrepreneurs and businesswomen, Dorinda and Vicki have enjoyed profiting from their start-up ventures. Dorinda founded the successful cashmere company DCL Cashmere, while RHOC cameras filmed Vicki working at her insurance company, Coto Insurance & Financial Services. With both women not afraid to say what’s on their minds, it was no surprise when Dorinda admitted that the two bumped heads over their opposing views on the COVID pandemic. While Dorinda has been a supporter of the vaccine and an advocate for safety protocols since 2020, Vicki has come under fire from Bravo fans after repeatedly spreading misinformation.

In a new interview with Page Six, Dorinda reveals that her argument with Vicki over the COVID-19 vaccine began when politics surrounding the jab were brought up. “[COVID] got politicized in a weird way,” the RHONY star carefully explains. “I felt like there were a lot of people that just…weren’t as educated about it and sort of started listening to hearsay.” While fights across each Real Housewives installment tend to flame up as emotions (and alcohol consumption) increase, Dorinda says that this particular fight was the opposite for her.“For me, it was [all about] science,” Dorinda continues. “There was no red or blue,” — in reference to the colors representing the Republican and Democrat parties, respectively — “and one of things we discussed is, you know, you can’t make fleeting statements about COVID and you can’t beflip about it.” 

Detailing her decision to get the COVID vaccine, Dorinda reiterates that she was primarily influenced by information provided by medical professionals. Although she wasn’t excited for her daughter to receive the vaccine, Dorinda finishes by remarking that at the of the day, it is imperative to believe in science versus word of mouth. As for Vicki, who reportedly told her RHUGT castmates that those with the COVID vaccine were “going to die,” it seems as though the argument with Dorinda partially reshaped her perspective. While the 59-year-old is still unvaccinated, Vicki did tell Page Six that the vaccine should be available for anyone who wants it — although without government intervention.

The premiere date for The Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip season 2 has yet to be announced, and filming took place last September; fans speculate that they will be able to watch the show sometime this summer after Tamra teased a potential release date last month. With the addition of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alums Taylor Armstrong and Brandi Glanville and The Real Housewives of Atlanta’s Eva Marcille and Phaedra Parks — who was infamously fired after RHOA season 9 — Bravo and Peacock viewers are already excited to see which women will become friends or enemies.

Sources: Page Six, Page Six

About The Author