Sutton Stracke isn’t new to criticism, but she was still surprised to hear that some Bravo stars view the Beverly Hills Housewives as unwelcoming.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast member addressed the long-running perception during a recent interview with Deadline, where she was asked to respond to comments suggesting the group lacks warmth and carries an air of elitism compared to other franchises.
The question referenced remarks made by Kate Chastain and Heather Gay. Kate previously said the Beverly Hills cast is “not the warmest,” while Heather claimed that although the Salt Lake City women are close with the Beverly Hills cast, there’s still an elitism that’s difficult to break through.
Sutton said she hadn’t heard those comments before and didn’t quite understand where they were coming from.
“Well, I hadn’t heard those things. Heather Gay is great. Kate and I have met a few times. She’s a Florida girl. Personally, I don’t get it, but OK. I mean, I’m sorry that people feel that way about our show and our cast on other Bravo shows because we’re actually not. We’re fun. We’re fun, I promise. We might have to sit at several separate tables sometimes, but we’re a pretty fun group of girls.”
The idea that the Beverly Hills Housewives aren’t “nice” has followed the show for years. While the franchise is known for its wealth, fashion, and polished image, it’s also often described as more guarded than other cities in the Bravo universe.
From the early seasons, the Beverly Hills cast has been portrayed as more reserved, with friendships that feel strategic or slow to form. Many of the women entered the show with established social standing, high-profile connections, or long histories that naturally created distance, especially for newcomers.
That dynamic has frequently played out on screen. Unlike franchises where the cast moves as a tight unit, Beverly Hills has often been defined by smaller alliances and fractured friendships. Sutton’s comment about sitting at “several separate tables” reflects what longtime viewers have watched for seasons.
At the same time, Sutton’s response suggests there’s more happening off-camera than audiences realize. While the cast may not present as instantly warm or open to outsiders, that doesn’t mean they aren’t enjoying each other’s company or having fun in their own way.
Whether fans agree with Sutton or not, the discussion raises a familiar question about what warmth and closeness look like across the Real Housewives franchises. For Beverly Hills, it’s never been about instant bonding. It’s about layered relationships that take time to understand.
And according to Sutton Stracke, despite the criticism, the Beverly Hills women are having a lot more fun than people think.
