Jenna Lyons is explaining why walking away from The Real Housewives of New York City felt less like quitting, and more like choosing herself.
While appearing on SiriusXM’s The Happy Hour with host Talia Parkinson, the former The Real Housewives of New York City star opened up about the disconnect she says she felt within the cast and why continuing no longer made sense for where she is in life.
From the start, Jenna says she knew she stood apart — even if it didn’t fully register right away.
“The first season I was the oldest person and I was also the only gay person,” Jenna explained. “And I didn’t realize until the second season where they brought in another woman who was closer to my age and also gay, how alone I felt.”
She was careful to note that the feeling wasn’t caused by cruelty or exclusion from her castmates — but by circumstance.
“It’s not that the women made me feel alone,” she said. “It was just, imagine every time you’re having a conversation about sex or dating or anything around relationships, I could not relate. I felt completely on the outside.”
As the rebooted RHONY found its footing, Jenna said the differences between her and the rest of the group became harder to ignore — particularly when it came to age and life stage.
“With the age gap, my child is in college, their kids are all young,” she explained. “They’re having different issues. My career has happened and I’m in a different stage in my life. They’re all trying to hustle. And I actually am not in that place in my life.”
Instead, Jenna said she’s reached a point where her priorities have shifted.
“I actually want to do meaningful, careful, thoughtful things that matter to me,” she shared. “I’m just in a different place.”
While Jenna admitted the second season felt easier and more enjoyable once she found her rhythm, upcoming cast changes ultimately solidified her decision to step away.
“And then this year, three of the people are gone and the new people that are coming in, they’re much younger, totally different,” she said. “And I’m like, I don’t think I’m going to feel great in this situation.”
For Jenna, the choice came down to emotional honesty.
“I don’t need, I don’t want to do something that doesn’t make me happy,” she said. “And I just was like, I don’t think I’m going to feel good and I don’t need to do it.”