Debbie Matenopoulos Could Be What ‘RHOBH’ Needs

Garcelle Beauvais shocked The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills viewers last week with the announcement that she would be leaving the series. The reunion offered little clarity about why she had become so fed up with her co-stars that she chose to exit the show.

Known for her direct questions within the friend group, Garcelle has been an inquiring mind, especially since her time co-hosting the talk show The Real. The experienced and savvy entertainment industry veteran rarely took her co-stars’ words at face value on the Bravo series, but instead asked the questions that viewers were also dying to know. So, Garcelle’s departure is a significant loss for the series.

Fortunately, a rumor has been circling about a potential new cast member that could be exactly what the series needs after Garcelle’s shocking exit. The View alum Debbie Matenopoulos let slip to Page Six that she is “currently” in talks to join the Bravo series. A journalist’s keen eye could be exactly what the ladies of Beverly Hills need going into Season 15, in the absence of Garcelle’s inquisitiveness.

Garcelle Beauvais Leaves ‘RHOBH’ On Her Own Terms

Garcelle’s departure is the show’s loss, as her star has never stopped rising since she came to the United States and immediately stunned as a successful model and actress. Her inquisitive nature has always been a problem for the women in the Beverly Hills friend group, especially for those who have tried to control the public narrative through their role on the show. Garcelle had a habit of poking holes in people’s stories, often trying to make sense of the false narratives they presented to cover up difficult times in their lives.

When Erika Girardi spun her legal issues story about her estranged attorney husband, Tom Girardi, Garcelle revealed to the group that Erika was still in contact with her embattled husband. Garcelle and Sutton Strack’s curiosity about Erika’s narrative throughout her legal ordeal irked their co-star to the point that she has continued taking jabs at them in recent seasons.

Kyle Richards has been irate with Garcelle for her inquiries about Morgan Wade, when viewers were also curious about why she had suddenly decided to stop speaking about her alleged romantic interest on the series. And Dorit Kemsley couldn’t stand Garcelle’s curiosity about the details of the break-in she endured in 2021. After pushing them to reveal more details than they wanted to on the series, Garcelle seemed to feel alienated from her co-stars by the end of the Season 14 reunion.

While it wasn’t immediately clear why she left the reunion stage so dramatically, earlier in the episode she made known she was “pissed,” apparently about the double standards in the group, especially when it comes to her co-stars hiding parts of their lives or offering incomplete stories. Garcelle’s authenticity, skepticism, and inquisitiveness will be missed. Hopefully casting and production have found a solution to fill the sudden accountability gap that is about to exist in the group in Beverly Hills after Garcelle’s departure.

What Could Debbie Matenopoulos’ Potential Role Be in the Group?

If the success of Angie Katsanevas on The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City is any indicator, adding a Greek Housewife into the mix is the perfect formula to revamp a series. Debbie Matenopoulos is an accomplished journalist who was handpicked as a co-host by Barbara Walters when she created The View in 1997. When speaking to Page Six about the possibility of joining RHOBH, Debbie said she would approach the group with her “journalist hat” and play a peacekeeper in the group of women, several of whom she already has friendships with. Her focus on keeping a balanced, unbiased approach could be useful in a group with such ongoing division.

The role of a newcomer in a Housewives franchise is to learn about past conflicts and then, inevitably, take sides. With her balanced approach to journalism and her composure on camera, Debbie could be the perfect newcomer to dig into the friendships on RHOBH. With the loss of Garcelle’s relentless curiosity to get to the bottom of her co-stars’ often suspicious stories, a journalist like Debbie, who has intentions of playing peacekeeper but can also sniff out a story, could be the perfect opportunity for the ladies to re-group for a cohesive Season 15.