Carole Radziwill is opening up about her highly anticipated return to RHONY — and according to the former Housewife, fans can expect a very different energy in season 16.
Months after reports confirmed Radziwill would return to “The Real Housewives of New York City” as a friend of the cast, the former Bravo star shared new details about filming while appearing at Vulture’s Reality Masterminds event on May 7.
During her presentation honoring “Watch What Happens Live” host Andy Cohen, Radziwill hinted that the new season has already brought back some of the chaos and fun longtime viewers missed from earlier RHONY seasons.
“I can’t remember the last time I screamed, drank, and laughed until I was crying,” Radziwill said in a clip shared on Instagram. “It might have been way back in season 7.”
She then added, “I can’t give anything away but guys, New York is back.”
Carole Radziwill Says Andy Cohen Helped Convince Her to Return
Radziwill originally starred on RHONY from season 5 through season 10 before leaving the series in 2018.
According to Variety, Radziwill will return as a friend during season 16 alongside returning cast members Erin Lichy, Sai De Silva, and Jessel Taank.
Brynn Whitfield, Ubah Hassan, Racquel Chevremont, Jenna Lyons, and Rebecca Minkoff will not return for the upcoming season.
Speaking to The New York Times earlier this year, Radziwill admitted she initially hesitated to return to the Bravo franchise after spending years away from reality television.
“To go back to something that I was such a big part of, you know, is a bit of a risk for me,” she told the publication.
She added that Cohen helped make the decision easier.
“Andy said I could film as much or as little as I want,” Radziwill explained.
During the Vulture event, Radziwill also praised Cohen personally and professionally.
“I can tell you he’s exactly what he’s like on camera, off camera,” she said. “What you see on ‘Watch What Happens Live,’ what you see on the reunions, and on his radio. He’s authentically himself.”
“He bares his soul. He shares a billion thoughts. He puts up. He makes up. He moves on, and that all plays out on screen,” she continued. “But also, he’s the mastermind behind the scenes.”
RHONY Season 16 Cast Changes Continue as Radziwill’s Real-Life Past Plays Out on TV
Several new faces are reportedly joining RHONY season 16.
According to DeuxMoi, Bravo began filming the new season this spring with additions including Martha Stewart collaborator Daisy Toye, celebrity trainer Erika Hammond, and Hailey Glassman.
The gossip account also reported that former “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” showrunner Lori Gordon would take over production duties on RHONY.
Radziwill has recently re-entered the spotlight for another reason as well, following renewed public fascination with John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy.
Carole was married to Anthony Radziwill, who was JFK Jr.’s cousin and best man at his 1996 wedding to Carolyn Bessette Kennedy. Anthony died from cancer in 1999 just weeks after JFK Jr., Carolyn, and Lauren Bessette died in a plane crash.
Although Anthony appeared in FX’s 2026 limited series “Love Story: JFK Jr. & Carolyn Bessette,” Carole was notably absent from the dramatization.
She later addressed ongoing public fascination with the couple in a February 2026 Substack post.
“Sitting here now, we know how it ended,” Radziwill wrote. “And yet the story keeps being told. Reinvented. Embroidered. Filled with details no one could possibly know, by people who weren’t there and don’t care about the truth.”
