We have had some truly terrible men wandering around the Real Housewives universe. Some were cheaters, some were controlling, some were walking red flags, and some managed to combine several of these qualities at once.
Here are 10 of the worst house husbands from the franchises we cover here at Jurassic Snark.
10. Jim Bellino — RHOC
The giant sunglasses. The cigars. The condescending attitude. The bizarre marriage dynamic. Jim was peak early-OC house husband, and not in a good way.
9. Tom D’Agostino — RHONY
The Luann and Tom marriage was basically a Housewives speed run. The wedding, the cheating allegations, the Palm Beach incident, and the divorce all happened so quickly that it was almost impressive.
8. Jason Hoppy — RHONY
The Bethenny and Jason marriage was uncomfortable enough while they were together, but the aftermath was even worse. Their divorce and custody battle dragged on for years and became one of the ugliest Housewives-adjacent situations we’ve seen.
7. Mario Singer — RHONY
Ramona and Mario were supposed to be one of those quirky, long-married Housewives couples. Then came the cheating scandal and the marriage fell apart. Turtle Time was never quite the same.
6. Joe Giudice — RHONJ
Joe was entertaining as hell, but as a husband? Yikes. The infidelity allegations, financial problems, legal issues, and everything Teresa ultimately went through made him an easy choice for this list.
5. David Beador — RHOC
The affair and the emotional chaos that followed made David one of the great OC husband disasters. Shannon’s marriage storyline was painful to watch, even when it made excellent television.
4. Simon Barney — RHOC
Controlling, difficult, and miserable to watch during his marriage to Tamra. The early OC seasons gave us plenty of reasons to put Simon on this list.
3. Tom Girardi — RHOBH
This is well beyond the category of “annoying Housewives husband.” The scandal surrounding Tom Girardi and the allegations of misappropriating money belonging to clients turned Erika’s marriage into one of the biggest scandals in Housewives history.
2. Jim Marchese — RHONJ
Amber’s husband was spectacularly awful. His behavior toward Amber, his interactions with the other women, and his general presence on the show made him one of the most unpleasant house husbands we’ve ever been subjected to.
1. Russell Armstrong — RHOBH
This one isn’t even fun to joke about. Russell’s relationship with Taylor became one of the darkest storylines in Housewives history, and he belongs in a completely different category from the men who were simply cheating, obnoxious, or terrible on camera.
There you have it. Ten house husbands who should have been left in the Cretaceous Period.
And yes, there are definitely more where these came from. 🦖
We are back in New York City after a long break, and we even have some new ladies joining the crew. I meant to have this up last night, I swear—but it was my husband’s birthday and the evening kinda got away from me.
The episode opens with Carole pretending she is Carrie Bradshaw, as she often does. She narrates and types on her laptop as we see the cast and iconic shots of the city.
Are we supposed to act like a woman writing about her love affair with New York is new or cute? There was literally a whole show about this.
We meet Daisy, one of the new girls, and all of a sudden, Martha Stewart is there! Daisy is doing her makeup. I remember when there were rumors that Martha was joining the cast, and I guess these scenes were the source.
Daisy tells us that working for Martha Stewart involves anything from tea parties to camel rides, and it sounds great. Daisy tells us that she met Sai years ago at Scores, but that neither of them were strippers. She tells us that twice.
Martha and Daisy discuss Carole and the Kennedy connection. Martha remembers hearing from JFK, Jr. shortly before his death.
Daisy tells us she has been married for 10 years and has a son who is 8. Martha finishes getting ready at Daisy’s house, and it’s clear the two are close—until Martha sees store-bought pie on the kitchen counter. The horror! I would imagine having Martha Stewart over to your house is pretty stressful.
Next, we see Sai and Jessel at Sai’s house. Jessel brings a regift Christmas candle since Sai has just moved into Manhattan. Sai tells us the two are practically best friends now. Who would have thought?
We see clips of them fighting viciously in the past, but for now, they are getting along. Jessel has learned to look past Sai’s resting bitch face, and Sai has realized Jessel isn’t a snob—she’s just British.
Jessel asks how Sai’s family is adjusting to the move from Brooklyn, and Sai bluntly says she doesn’t care how her husband feels. She says they have completely drifted apart and don’t do anything together. All Sai does is work and take care of the kids. She feels completely alone, even though her husband finally got a job. It just isn’t enough for her.
Jessel thought he was retired and was supportive, so she is shocked.
Sai cries, saying she is embarrassed about the situation. She has asked for a separation. Jessel is even more shocked. Sai cries even more.
Sai apologizes for poking fun at Jessel’s relationship in the past. She explains that she wasn’t in a good place and that she should have been a better friend. Sai tells Jessel that Erin and Daisy also know about the separation.
Jessel is on the outs with Erin. They had some conflict during the Berkshires party on RHUGT. I am looking forward to seeing that.
The next scenes introduce Hailey, who is skating through the streets of Hell’s Kitchen, a la Kelly Bensimon and her crazy jogging.
Erin comes over to Hailey’s, and Hailey tells us she has been married for 15 years, but that she has her own apartment, too. I don’t hate this idea at all. This dinosaur likes her space.
Erin cries as they share some wine. She says her daughter has been acting out, speaking rudely, and hitting her brothers. Erin feels like her daughter wants her attention, but she doesn’t know why.
Hailey tries to listen politely, but is preoccupied by the fact that Erin has her shoes on and is spreading germs all through the house. Sisterhood is everything.
Hailey tells us a little about her eccentric mom, whom she feels like she has to appease. She even met one of her boyfriends through her mother.
Holy Balls of shit. I just realized Hailey is Hailey Glassman, of Jon & Kate shit show divorce scandal fame. This is fabulous! I remember when they were dating, and it was such a scandal because Hailey’s dad had been Kate’s plastic surgeon. Oh, and then Jon accused Hailey of vandalizing his apartment or something? It was great. Maybe Hailey is a keeper.
Hailey tells us she now dates women. She starts talking about dildos and gigantic tits breaking her nose. Jeezus. It’s a lot.
At Jessel’s apartment, her husband is making lunch for the kids, and Jessel thinks it takes him too long to do so. He is currently working as a food influencer, and Jessel wants him to make it lucrative so she can pay the bills.
She is also preparing to host a Lunar New Year party for the Year of the Horse. I hope they can afford it on a food influencer’s salary. Whatever that is. Jessel discusses how bad last year was for her. She lost her dad. I can’t even imagine. She tells us the loss has really affected her.
Daisy and Sai go shopping, and Daisy starts trying on clothes in the middle of the store. They discuss some of their champagne problems, like private tutors and $225 turtlenecks. They discuss the upcoming party Jessel is hosting, and Daisy tells us her husband, Eugene, will be there.
The night of the Lunar New Year party, we meet her friend Erika, another new member of the cast. We learn that she is married to a billionaire and had her wedding at the pyramids. In Egypt.
Daisy arrives with her husband, followed by Hailey and her date. Sai attends without her husband, which is a bold move since not everyone knows she is separated. Sai tells us she was not a fan of Hailey’s when she first met her, but now she finds her charmingly eccentric.
Erin arrives, and Jessel looks tense. She is not excited to see her, but didn’t want to leave her out of the party.
Erika asks Erin how she vibes with Sai and Jessel. Erin doesn’t have much nice to say. Erika asks Erin why she has tension with Jessel, and this is news to Erin, who thought they were fine.
Hailey asks Jessel how her IVF is going, and Jessel is taken aback and wonders how Hailey knows anything about such a private matter. Hailey reveals that Erin mentioned it. Uh oh. Here we go.
Hailey doesn’t remember the full conversation because she was high when she spoke to Erin, so she can’t give Jessel much information. Jessel warns Hailey that Erin often reveals information about the other women.
Then, Hailey keeps digging Erin’s grave and tells Sai that Erin also said Sai was going through a lot. Sai immediately wants to know what was said. Hailey says she didn’t ask any questions and doesn’t remember the full conversation, again, probably because she was high.
Jessel gives a speech for the new year and discusses how hard 2025 was for her. She says she doesn’t care who talks about her while looking directly at Erin, and then dismisses the Year of the Snake, noting that she does not like to be called a snake. LOL. She is clearly talking to Erin here.
Erin realizes that Jessel is being shady and goes over to say hello and ask what the problem is. Jessel says she is hearing from everyone that Erin is on a smear campaign against her. Erin insists that she doesn’t talk about Jessel.
Jessel again says that Erin was trashing her at the RHUGT finale party in the Berkshires. Erin called her thirsty and a snake. Erin admits saying and feeling those things, but wants to know how it got back to Jessel. We find out it was Chanel Ayan from Real Housewives of Dubai.
Erin doubles down on calling Jessel inauthentic. She thinks Jessel should have confronted her directly instead of giving her shady, bogus speech.
Sai comes over and asks Erin why she told Hailey that Sai was having a hard time. Erin won’t really answer and wonders how or why Sai suddenly trusts Jessel. Erin feels ganged up on.
Erin calls Jessel fake and phony, and Jessel tells her she can leave her party and walks away. Erin tells Sai that Jessel kicked her out and demands to know how Sai and Jessel are suddenly getting along when Sai always said Jessel was fake.
Erin and Sai go at it, and Jessel sends someone over to kick Erin out.
This wasn’t bad for a premiere! We already have someone thrown out of a party, a separation, and an unexpected Jon & Kate connection. Check back next week for Episode 2!
The Real Housewives have given us plenty of screaming, table-flipping, wine-throwing and friendships that lasted approximately fourteen minutes.
But sometimes a Housewives feud doesn’t end at the reunion.
Sometimes someone gets a lawyer.
And that is when things get really interesting.
Here are five of the wildest lawsuits and legal battles to come out of the Housewives universe.
1. Brandi Glanville vs. Joanna Krupa
Let’s start with perhaps the most gloriously ridiculous Housewives lawsuit of all time.
During her feud with Joanna Krupa, Brandi Glanville made some extremely personal comments about Joanna’s sex life and hygiene. Joanna responded by suing Brandi for defamation.
Yes, a Real Housewives feud over an insult about another woman’s vagina eventually made its way into an actual courtroom.
The lawsuit dragged on for years before the two women eventually reached a settlement.
There are many serious lawsuits in Housewives history.
This was not one of them.
This was Housewives at their most Housewives.
2. Jim Bellino vs. Shannon Beador and Tamra Judge
Jim Bellino, the ex-husband of former RHOC Housewife Alexis Bellino, sued Shannon Beador and Tamra Judge over comments they made during a podcast appearance.
Bellino alleged that the women defamed him and damaged his reputation.
Shannon fought back with an anti-SLAPP motion and won. The court awarded her more than $137,000 in attorney fees, and the California Court of Appeal later affirmed the ruling.
Tamra’s legal battle with Bellino continued separately.
The whole thing was basically a Housewives argument that escaped from the television screen and wandered directly into the California court system.
3. Shannon Beador vs. John Janssen
This one might be the most painfully Housewives lawsuit imaginable.
After Shannon Beador and John Janssen broke up, John sued Shannon over $75,000 that he said he had loaned her for a facelift.
Shannon disputed his characterization of the money as a loan.
So now we had a former Housewives couple arguing in court over facelift money.
The lawsuit became a major storyline during RHOC Season 18, with Alexis Bellino caught directly in the middle because she was dating John.
Shannon and John eventually settled the case in November 2024.
There are breakups.
There are ugly breakups.
And then there is having your ex sue you for the money he says he spent on your face.
4. Erika Jayne and the $25 Million Lawsuit
If we’re talking about Housewives legal drama, Erika Jayne deserves her own geological era.
The collapse of Tom Girardi’s law firm, Girardi Keese, resulted in years of litigation involving Erika and her businesses. A bankruptcy trustee accused Erika and her companies of receiving more than $25 million in firm funds that were allegedly used for personal expenses.
Erika denied wrongdoing and was never criminally charged in connection with the allegations.
In May 2026, Erika settled the $25 million civil lawsuit shortly before it was scheduled to go to trial. The settlement terms were confidential.
This wasn’t just a Housewives lawsuit.
This was a full-scale legal catastrophe involving millions of dollars, bankruptcy, a disgraced attorney husband and enough courtroom drama to fill several seasons of Beverly Hills.
5. Teresa and Joe Giudice’s Fraud Case
And then there is Teresa Giudice.
Teresa and Joe’s federal fraud case remains one of the biggest legal scandals ever to hit the Housewives franchise.
The couple pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and several counts of bankruptcy fraud. They were accused of hiding assets and submitting false information in connection with loans and bankruptcy proceedings.
In October 2014, Teresa was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison and Joe was sentenced to 41 months. They were also ordered to pay $414,000 in restitution.
Teresa ultimately served her sentence, while Joe served his and was later deported to Italy.
Unlike some of the other cases on this list, this wasn’t just a ridiculous Housewives squabble that got out of hand.
It completely changed Teresa’s life.
Final Verdict
The Housewives have taught us many valuable lessons over the years.
Don’t throw wine.
Don’t flip tables.
Don’t call someone’s husband a little bitch on television.
And perhaps most importantly:
Be careful what you say on a podcast.
Because sometimes a Housewives feud stays a Housewives feud.
And sometimes it ends up in court.
And that, my fellow dinosaurs, is when the real drama begins.
This episode of Jersey opens at a crystal/zen center, where Teresa is meeting up with Dolores and Jen Aydin. Teresa tells us she is planning a “Tipsy in Tulum” party.
Over at Envy, Melissa tells us the store is bigger and better than ever since moving locations a year ago. She is getting ready to host a fashion show and introduce Envy to the new community. Danielle Cabral comes by to learn about the business and the show.
They discuss Melissa’s housewarming party and the gift Teresa sent. Melissa thinks it was a spectacle. Jen Aydin tells Teresa that Joe Gorga threw her card in the fire.
At the crystal shop, Jen, Teresa, and Dolores have a sound bath, and we see clips of all the fights and arguments that have happened so far this season. Dolores says her mind is too fucked up to be cleansed.
She tells us she is opening a business with Paul, who is still not divorced. Dolores says marriage is not a priority for her.
The infamous Gia analogy comes up, and Teresa gets fired up. Teresa doesn’t understand analogies.
Danielle says that Jen Aydin is mad at her about Danielle’s charity event. Jen says that Danielle is cheap and paid for the event out of the charity budget, not her own pocket. Dolores thinks it’s all bullshit and that Jen just doesn’t like Danielle, period.
Dolores is also mad at Jackie about the “slob” text that Margaret revealed. It was a shrewd move on Marge’s part, and Jackie is dead to Dolores now. She warns Jen and Teresa about Jackie, and Teresa says she is close to Jackie right now because she wants to expose Marge.
Marge goes over to Rachel Fuda’s house. They have become close recently. Rachel says Marge gets a bad rap, but that she is a great person and a good friend. Marge brings gifts for Rachel’s girls, who are adorable. Her youngest just had surgery to have a tongue tie fixed, and it’s been super stressful.
Rachel’s arthritis has also been bothering her, and she wishes she had appreciated her health when she had it. This resonates with me.
Meanwhile, Joe B. had an unusual prostate exam result, so Marge is freaking out about that. These ladies are really going through it.
Marge goes off about how vile Jackie is, and that seems to be the general consensus. I never liked her, personally. She is a smug little thing.
Dolores and Paul go to work out together, and he firmly says that she is done with plastic surgery. For Dolores, this is a problem. She loves a little nip and tuck here and there. Dolores says she had no idea that Jackie hated her so much, and that she is done with her.
The day of the party, we see each of the women getting ready. Teresa wants everyone wearing as little as possible. Jen Aydin is worried about seeing Danielle at the party, and everyone is curious to see how Dolores will treat Jackie. Danielle says she is disappointed with Jennifer and that she is not looking forward to seeing her. She has heard that Danielle was shady, and now she believes it.
Teresa and Louie set up for the party, and it looks expensive. At least we don’t see her paying in cash. Teresa is worried about all of the fractures among the group, and Louie encourages her to just let go and enjoy the evening. Teresa, however, is on a mission to show everyone that Margaret is evil.
Everything looks great, and the women start to arrive. There are bongos! There are people at the door greeting guests with glitter and drinks, but the women don’t waste any time rejoicing in Marge and Melissa not being there, as Teresa celebrates her “chosen” family. Dolores says she isn’t interested in speaking with Jackie.
Boom! Jackie arrives, and Dolores can’t move away from her quickly enough. I love Dolores, and I like how she handles things.
Jackie tells Jen Aydin that she feels bad and needs to talk to Dolores. Jen blames Marge for the whole thing. Jen Fessler walks away as Jen Aydin and Jackie talk shit about Marge.
Teresa tells Jackie to apologize to Dolores, and it’s clear Jackie is afraid to approach her, and I don’t blame her a bit. Dolores is formidable. Jackie finally makes her way over to Dolores and asks if they can talk. Dolores looks completely uninterested in the whole thing. She has already held a little funeral for Jackie in her head, and whatever slight friendship they had is dead.
Jackie apologizes, her voice wavering, and it sounds phony to me. Dolores says she doesn’t buy it. Jackie insists that the bad guy is Margaret, and Dolores sees through this. She tells Jackie sometimes friendships need a break, and that theirs does. She could give a fuck about Jackie’s hurt feelings and thinks Jackie is a shit talker. Dolores is good without her.
Danielle checks in with Teresa to make sure that they are good, and Teresa warns her against Marge and Melissa. Danielle is mainly concerned that Jen Aydin is badmouthing her. And, cue Jen Aydin. She comes over and Danielle asks why she has been acting nastily towards her. They get into a whole debate about VIP areas, charity events, and hair extensions, and it all sounds like nonsense. The bottom line is that Jen thinks that Danielle is cheap.
Danielle starts yelling and calls Jen psychotic and diiiiirty. She says it a bunch of times, and it’s great. “You’re diiiiirty.” My husband and I now say this to each other all the time. Not in a sexy way. Like, in a “You need a shower” kind of way.
Danielle definitely gets in Jen’s face. I would not like it if I were Jen. Danielle calls Jen a piece of shit and a dirtbag and is barely an inch from her face when Jen pushes her and says, “You’re the dirt bag!” And uh oh, here we go! Danielle takes her drink and smashes it against Jen’s head. I am pretty sure it is a plastic cup, but still. Jen barely reacts as Danielle rushes screaming out of the party. She tells Bill, “Your wife is a fucking bitch! She is the devil!”
The women are unclear on who pushed who first, but the cameras don’t lie. Danielle got in Jen’s face, and Jen pushed her.
On the way home, Danielle goes off about Jen Aydin. Nate tries to talk her down. Danielle says Jen must be miserable in her life, 16 bathrooms and all.
Jurassic Snark: A Place to Excavate The Real Housewives 