The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills executive producer Alex Baskin is shutting down the latest round of casting rumors.
As speculation continues to swirl about who will and will not be returning for RHOBH Season 16, Dorit Kemsley found herself at the center of a new rumor claiming she had been put on pause following her dramatic Season 15 reunion.
But according to Alex, fans should not believe everything they read.
On Friday, May 23, rumors began circulating that Dorit would not be returning next season after clashing with longtime friends Kyle Richards and Erika Jayne during the reunion. The blind item claimed Kyle, Erika, Sutton Stracke, Bozoma Saint John and Rachel Zoe were all “locked in” for Season 16, with Jennifer Tilly returning as a “friend of the Housewives.”
The rumor also alleged that Bravo had offered controversial newbie Amanda Frances a new contract and that RHOBH alum Crystal Kung Minkoff was “back in the mix.”
Alex quickly shut down the speculation, writing “not true” on his Instagram Story.
The denial comes as Dorit’s future on RHOBH remains a major topic of conversation. Dorit had a heavy Season 15, with her separation from PK Kemsley, her fractured friendship with Kyle and her emotional reunion performance taking center stage.
Dorit recently made it clear that she would be open to returning if Bravo asks her back.
While speaking with Entertainment Tonight, Dorit was asked how she would respond if her RHOBH contract was renewed for Season 16.
“I’d say, ‘I’ll be there,’” Dorit confirmed.
Dorit also addressed whether she is financially dependent on the show, saying she would “like to think” she would be okay without it.
“And thank God a million times I have the ability to work,” Dorit shared. “Listen, I can’t be driven by fear. Period. I believe in myself, even separated. I went to work. It was like, ‘Okay, I need to go to work. I need to support these kids,’ and that’s what I did. I think if you believe in yourself and you’re not governed by fear, you can do anything.”
The casting rumors come while Dorit is also dealing with a messy divorce from PK. The estranged couple recently made headlines after PK alleged that Dorit spent more than $1 million on luxury items over the past year, which he claimed amounted to 80 percent of her available funds.
Dorit responded to PK’s allegations during an Extra interview on Thursday, May 21, saying she would address the claims legally.
“I will have a response to it,” Dorit said.
Dorit also admitted she had regrets about her behavior at the Season 15 reunion, where she acknowledged she was in a dark place emotionally.
“I think I was in a such a dark place, and, you know, I was hurt and frustrated and aggressive, and, you know, it was hard to watch back because it’s not who I am,” Dorit explained.
While fans continue to speculate about what Bravo will do with the Beverly Hills cast, Alex Baskin is making it clear that at least this specific rumor about Dorit being put on pause is not accurate.
For now, Dorit says she is willing to come back, Alex says the pause rumor is “not true,” and RHOBH fans are still waiting to see who officially holds a diamond for Season 16.