Liz McGraw will not return to The Real Housewives of Rhode Island for Season 2, she announced via her Instagram on July 1, just days after the Season 1 reunion concluded.
“I’m full of gratitude for the amazing opportunity to appear on this show,” Liz’s official statement read. “As filming for Season 2 begins, I have made the decision to take a step back and focus on my family, my work and my passions.”
She continued, “The RHORI cast is an amazing group of women who have created something special. I’ll be watching next season, rooting for the continued success of this franchise. For now, I look forward to enjoying this little corner of the world from the other side of the camera.”
Details on Liz McGraw’s RHORI journey before her exit
Upon joining RHORI Season 1 (all episodes now streaming on Peacock), Liz immediately caught viewers’ eyes due to her striking resemblance to her close friend, The Real Housewives of New Jersey‘s Dolores Catania, with whom she said she shares a plastic surgeon and cosmetic dentist. The series premiered in April, and she continued to make a splash with her unfiltered commentary (e.g. revealing that she’s actually distantly related to her husband, Gerry McGraw) and unforgettable one-liners, such as “But he is, ma.”Â
Throughout her journey on RHORI, Liz also opened up about her family life as a wife and stepmom (and, more recently, a “Gigi” to her new granddaughter), as well as her booming business as the “cannabis queen” of Rhode Island.
Liz navigated her fair share of drama, too. Early on, she clashed with castmate Kelsey Swanson over rumors of an “ongoing” affair with her friend Dino (which she denied). Later in the season, another major conflict arose between her and lifelong friend Alicia Carmody. When Jo-Ellen Tiberi entered the fray in an attempt to play peacemaker, an explosive argument ensued between the two at Rosie DiMare’s husband’s dinner show in South Boston.
RELATED: Hear Rulla and Liz’s Whispered Conversation at the RHORI Reunion: “I Don’t F–k With Lies”
By the time the RHORI Season 1 finale rolled around though, Liz made peace with Alicia, Jo-Ellen, and the rest of the group, as the summer came to an end. While wrapping up the Season 1 reunion, host Andy Cohen asked the cast to share, in hindsight, what they would have done differently. Liz, for her part, answered, “I would try to control, react, police, and care less. All four.”
What’s next for Liz McGraw after her RHORI exit
Liz’s post-filming update from the RHORI finale noted that she and Dolores “are high on launching their menopause gummies” this year. Meanwhile, she and husband Gerry are simply enjoying their new grandbaby.
RELATED: Where the RHORI Cast Stands After Season 1 (EXCLUSIVE)
On The Real Housewives of Rhode Island After Show, Liz gushed about how “obsessed” she was with her granddaughter. “She is just pure love,” she remarked. “You feel that energy when she’s in your arms. Gerry’s addicted to it.”
A bit later, Liz concluded, “We pop in, we pop out, we bring gifts, [and] we spoil.”
As Liz’s journey continues off camera, don’t miss exclusive updates on what her RHORI castmates have also been doing after filming ended on Season 1.
