Jennifer Armstrong and Noella Bergener Depart 'Real Housewives of Orange County' After 1 Season

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty; Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty

Two Housewives are out on theThe Real Housewives of Orange County.

Jennifer ArmstrongandNoella Bergener, who both joined the Bravo reality series in season 16, are now departing it ahead of season 17, PEOPLE can confirm.

On Friday, Armstrong, 44, and Bergener, 36, both announced their exits in back-to-back Instagram posts.

“I loved opening up about being a working mom onReal Housewives of Orange County,” said Armstrong. “I am so grateful to have had the privilege to talk about my father, my kids, and a real modern relationship on national television. My family and my work are the most important aspects of my life, so I am stepping away fromRHOCand focusing on them 🙏♥️🖤🍊💉”

“Thank you to everyone who has reached out in support — especially from the working moms. Women can really have it all if you work for it. I believe in you, and I’ll still be here to chat about it with you ♥️♥️ I love inspiring people to be their best,” she added. “I am forever grateful for the friends I made, and the lovely people at @bravo & @evolutionmedia. Here’s to the next chapter, and I hope you’ll follow along for the journey. There are so many exciting things to come, so stay tuned.”

Wrote Bergener: “After a wild season of ups and downs, I will not be returning toThe Real Housewives of Orange County. I am so grateful to Bravo,Andy Cohen, and Evolution Media for giving me this incredible platform to share my story. Thank you to all of the fans for all of the love and support during quite possibly the hardest year of my life. I am looking forward to brighter skies ahead, and can’t wait to share what’s next.”

Tommy Garcia/Bravo

Armstrong’s exit comes months after she filed for a legal separation from husband Ryne Holliday. The pair share three children: twins Vera and Vince, 10, and Robert Valor, 9.

“Ryne and I are taking some time apart to focus on ourselves and our children,” she told PEOPLE in a statement in May. “While we are very sad, we are hoping that we will heal and be even stronger as a family. We ask for patience as we navigate this new chapter in our lives.”

Since then, Armstrong, 44, and Holliday, 42 have been “working on their relationship,” a source tells PEOPLE, though they’ve sold their Newport Beach home.

Their divorce has yet to be finalized. In her filing, Armstrong is seeking legal and physical custody of their three children, offering Holliday visitation rights.

Bergener — who made history onRHOCas its first Black and openly bisexual Housewife — also went through a breakup, though while theRHOCcameras were rolling.

Viewers saw her pain when she was allegedly blindsided when her husband James Bergener’s served her with divorced papers in July 2021. He filed in Puerto Rico, where the two had been living in late 2020 before she relocated back to Orange County to in May 2021 to filmRHOC.

Noella, who also is mom to a 7-year-old daughter named Coco from a previous relationship, filed for legal separation from James a month later, in August 2021.

The former couple were together for five years and before marrying in June 2020, and share a 3-year-old son, James Jr. Their divorce was finalized in Dec. 2021, though custody and spousal support has not yet been determined, she has said.

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Armstrong and Bergener were two new additions in season 17 ofRHOC.

Heather Dubrowalso returned to the series. She had previously starred on the show in seasons 7 through 11.

Other Housewives last season were returning favoritesShannon Storms Beador,Gina Kirschenheiter, andEmily Simpson.

Production on season 17 ofRHOCis expected to begin later this month. No airdate or additional casting has been announced yet.

source: people.com