(Image Source: Bravo)


BY CHRISTINA HONAN

ANCHOR ANA COMPAIN-ROMERO

New drama this week for the Real Housewives of New York -- but this time it’s not the cast shaking things up -- it’s Bravo. The network fired four of the show’s biggest stars just before they were set to start taping the fifth season. ABC has the story.
 

Reporter: “While Bravo says it was a friendly departure among the other ladies, Cindy paints quite a different picture, telling ABC News, ‘Following the reunion it was clear that the women genuinely didn’t like each other anymore.’”
Jennifer Peros: “I think the producers over at Bravo are stirring up their own drama with New York.”

But one of the leaving-ladies, Jill Zarin, is playing the "I quit" card. The housewife made an appearance on CNN to make it clear that she was NOT fired.
 

“There’s no such thing as a pink slip when it comes to TV. It’s really more of they ask you if you’re interested in coming back and it’s a negotiation and the money’s right and the timing and the terms and everything. So everybody has a different deal, everybody came on in a different season, everybody has a different situation.”

Regardless, viewers can say goodbye to Jill and three other housewives, Cindy Barshop, Alex McCord, and Kelly Killoren Bensimon.According to the Huffington Post, the ladies were blindsided by the decision. The article quotes an insider saying-- Bravo needed a change of pace from the catty cast.
 

“‘[Bravo] wanted to mix things up with fresh blood. Add ladies to the cast that better represented New York -- aggressive, powerful, glamorous and very wealthy. Next season 'New York' will have the glamour of the 'Sex and the City' movies rather than the twitter wars and bickering.’”

Speaking of bickering, it wouldn’t be the Housewives if there wasn’t a little bit of backlash. After the news, McCord and her husband, Simon van Kempen fired back with a statement they released to the Hollywood Reporter.
 

“We don't intend for this to be the final time you'll see us on television...We're not going away.”

But according to Bravo, they are going away for now. The show is set to start taping the fifth season soon with the three remaining housewives. Bravo has not yet released information on possible replacements.