Meredith Marks found herself at the center of the latest Real Housewives of Salt Lake City casting chatter after Bronwyn Newport openly said she would bench Meredith heading into next season.
The comment made waves quickly, especially given Meredith’s long-standing role on the show and the ongoing tension between the two women.
During a Bravo crossover appearance, Bronwyn was asked who she would sideline for the next season and didn’t hesitate. She said, “Going into next season, I might bench Meredith. I think we just saw more from everybody else this season, like personal home life. I like that.”
The remark didn’t sit quietly. When Meredith later appeared on Watch What Happens Live, Andy Cohen brought up Bronwyn’s comment, and Meredith responded with a pointed but measured clapback. Meredith said, “Yeah I believe the reasoning behind it was I don’t share enough about my life. But she has things she claims that are sealed, that she can’t talk about. I don’t do that. I answer the question.”
The exchange reignited a familiar critique that’s followed Meredith for seasons — that she’s guarded or selective about what she shares on camera. But Meredith’s response made it clear she doesn’t agree with that narrative and instead suggested that others may be just as selective, if not more so.
Bronwyn’s comment also landed differently because of her own history on the show. Over the past season, she has been one of the more open cast members, allowing cameras into her marriage struggles, family dynamics, and personal conflicts. She has also admitted that watching herself back made her reflect on how often she repeated information shared with her by other cast members, something that fueled tension within the group.
That tendency became especially apparent during the fallout from the plane incident, where Bronwyn found herself caught between castmates and sharing details she later said she thought were appropriate at the time. While she framed her actions as trying to do the right thing, the situation ultimately damaged trust — particularly with Meredith, who has historically been sensitive to how private conversations are handled.
Meredith, meanwhile, has long pushed back against the idea that openness has to look one specific way. On WWHL, she made it clear she doesn’t hide behind excuses or legal limitations, saying she answers questions when asked, even if she doesn’t volunteer every detail unprompted.
The friction between Meredith and Bronwyn highlights a bigger divide within the group about what it really means to “show your life” on reality TV. For Bronwyn, vulnerability seems tied to constant disclosure. For Meredith, it appears to be about honesty within boundaries.
Whether Bronwyn’s bench comment was hypothetical or a real indication of where alliances are headed, it’s clear the dynamic between these two isn’t cooling off anytime soon — and with Season 7 on the horizon, this may only be the beginning.
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