Crystal Kung Minkoff may be ready to pick her diamond back up.
The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star is addressing the recent rumors that she could be returning to the franchise for Season 16, and for the first time, Crystal sounds very open to stepping back into the Beverly Hills drama.
During the Monday, June 1 episode of her Humble Brag podcast with Cynthia Bailey, Crystal was asked directly about the speculation surrounding her possible RHOBH comeback.
“Miss Crystal, there is a lot of chit chat on the blogs about a certain Chinese beautiful woman with a podcast called ‘Humble Brag’ with Cynthia Bailey about possibly coming back to The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” Cynthia said. “So, No. 1, can you give us any information about that? And No. 2, would you go back? And No. 3, would you go back in either capacity, a friend or a Housewife?”
Crystal admitted that she had seen the rumors because fans had been tagging her nonstop online.
“OK, so yes, I saw it because my phone was blowing up just being tagged in everything and whatever,” Crystal said. “I’m always having conversations in general at Bravo. Just you know, doing little things here and there. Obviously after Ultimate Girls Trip. Would I go back? I always dream about the friend role now. Like, you’ve made that the ideal role. But it just depends on the cast. But yeah, I think I’d be ready. I think I’m finally ready.”
When Cynthia asked whether Minkoff would be open to either a full-time role or a friend role, Crystal made it clear that she is at least willing to talk.
“I’m open to a conversation for sure,” Minkoff replied.
Minkoff made her RHOBH debut in Season 11 back in 2021 and remained on the show through Season 13. In 2024, she confirmed she would not be returning for Season 14. At the time, a source told Us Weekly that Crystal was “devastated” by her exit.
“She was fired because she didn’t deliver,” the insider claimed. “Producers told her she doesn’t have a storyline, so they had to let her go.”
Since leaving RHOBH, Crystal has stayed in the Bravo universe through her podcast and her appearance on Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip. Now, with Beverly Hills casting rumors heating up, fans are wondering if Crystal could be brought back into the mix.
Crystal also shared how she thinks she would fit in with the current RHOBH cast.
When it comes to Amanda Frances, Crystal admitted she has complicated feelings.
“I have mixed feelings about Amanda [Frances],” Crystal said. “I know that the chatter out there is like, Crystal and Amanda would be together. … I think because I would be more empathetic to her and understanding. Though, I would just tell her she’s annoying. I would still tell her, ‘You’re being annoying.’ I think I would have to as a real friend. Like, ‘You’re driving me crazy.’”
Crystal also said she would still have a friendship with Sutton Stracke, even though their relationship has always been up and down.
She continued, “I would still obviously be friends with Sutton [Stracke]. Though Sutton and I always fight, so I don’t know how that would go. But, you know, we always make up. We fight and make up. The rest of the cast — I’m good with Kyle [Richards] right now, for sure. I don’t know, I think I’d have to get through stuff with Dorit [Kemsley]. I’ve always liked Erika [Jayne], but I think Erika wants a lot from me. In a good way, but I think I would have to just tell her, ‘This is who I am.’”
Crystal also noted that she has multiple mutual friends with Rachel Zoe, who has been rumored to be part of the RHOBH conversation, but said she does not know Bozoma Saint John.
Bravo has not officially confirmed the full cast, but there has been plenty of chatter about who could return, who could be put on pause and whether any former Housewives may be brought back.
Crystal’s possible return would be interesting because fans were divided on her original run. Some felt she was underused and never got the chance to fully shine, while others believed she struggled to drive major storylines. Would you want to see Crystal return?