Andy Cohen, host of Bravo's "Watch What Happens Live," has defended the casting decisions on "The Real Housewives" franchise, addressing criticism that the shows include individuals with conservative viewpoints, sometimes referred to as "MAGA women."

In a question-and-answer session on his Threads account, Cohen responded to a user who questioned the presence of such individuals and expressed difficulty watching "The Real Housewives of Orange County" as a result. Cohen asserted that the show's premise relies on showcasing a variety of perspectives. "If we didn’t showcase people with different POV’s there would be no show," he wrote. He further emphasized that the series centers on the personal lives and relationships of the cast members, not political discourse.

Recent years have seen several former "Real Housewives" stars speak out about facing backlash for expressing conservative views. Kelly Dodd, a former cast member of "The Real Housewives of Orange County," was dismissed from the series in 2021 following remarks related to the COVID-19 pandemic and accusations of mocking the Black Lives Matter movement. Dodd has described her experience as a form of "cancel culture" and alleged political discrimination.

Annemarie Wiley, formerly of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," stated last year that she was not invited back to the show after expressing conservative opinions, such as those concerning girls' sports. Wiley, who identified as having been a Democrat and apolitical prior to her time on the show, said she believed her conservative stances contributed to a negative edit and her subsequent departure.

Jill Zarin, a cast member from "Real Housewives of New York" and a friend of the Trump family, has also voiced criticism regarding the entertainment industry's engagement with global events, specifically noting a perceived lack of support for the hostages during the Israel-Hamas war. Zarin expressed bewilderment at what she described as Hollywood's silence on the issue compared to other past global concerns.

NBCUniversal, the parent company of Bravo TV, was contacted for comment, but did not immediately respond.