Former “Summer House” star Stephen McGee is making a surprising claim about how Paige DeSorbo ultimately joined the Bravo reality series.
Speaking to Page Six’s “Virtual Reali-tea” during a “Summer House” reunion watch party, McGee suggested a behind-the-scenes casting shakeup helped open the door for DeSorbo to join Season 3.
“I love Paige DeSorbo,” McGee said. “Actually, the very first time I ever met Paige, we were in Capri, Italy, and we were sat next to each other at a restaurant randomly.”
He then made the comment that immediately grabbed Bravo fans’ attention online.
“But, she does not — I don’t think — really even know this: I’m the reason that the world has a Paige DeSorbo.”
Stephen McGee Shares Story Behind Paige DeSorbo’s Casting
McGee went on to explain that two women were originally expected to join “Summer House” for Season 3 before plans allegedly changed ahead of filming.
“Another Bravo star that works in real estate, who was on ‘Million Dollar Listing,’ told me that these girls were coming in for Season 3 from their office,” McGee claimed.
According to McGee, he then looked into the women’s backgrounds and alleged that he discovered interesting political activity connected to them.
“So, I had done a little background digging, and found that they had done some [political] stuff and I leaked that to Girl With No Job, on her Facebook group,” he said.
McGee claimed the fallout ultimately shifted Bravo’s casting plans before production officially began.
“They dropped out before filming started,” he said. “Then, they added in Paige DeSorbo.”
The comments quickly sparked discussion across Bravo fan pages and social media, especially because DeSorbo eventually became one of the most recognizable faces in the franchise.
McGee himself exited “Summer House” after Season 2, meaning DeSorbo joined the cast shortly after his departure from the series.
Paige DeSorbo Became One of Bravo’s Biggest Breakout Stars
DeSorbo officially joined “Summer House” during Season 3 alongside Hannah Berner and quickly became one of the show’s standout personalities.
Over the years, her sarcastic humor, fashion-focused commentary, and relationship storylines helped turn her into a central figure within the Bravo universe.
Outside of reality television, DeSorbo has also built a major following through her “Giggly Squad” podcast and live tour with Berner. The podcast expanded her audience far beyond Bravo viewers and helped establish her as a crossover entertainment personality.
She has also become a regular presence in the fashion and influencer space, frequently partnering with major brands and appearing at high-profile entertainment and style events.
That larger success is part of why McGee’s comments generated so much attention online. For many viewers, it’s difficult to imagine modern “Summer House” without DeSorbo as part of the cast.
Bravo Fans Continue Debating Casting Decisions
Bravo viewers have long been fascinated by behind-the-scenes casting stories, especially when former cast members reveal details about auditions, producer decisions, and lineup changes that happened before cameras started rolling.
McGee’s comments added another layer to that conversation, particularly because “Summer House” has gone through several major cast evolutions since its early seasons.
Some fans viewed McGee’s comments as playful exaggeration, while others debated whether his actions may have genuinely contributed to the final Season 3 lineup.
Either way, the story reignited discussion around one of Bravo’s biggest breakout stars — and the unexpected chain of events that may have helped bring Paige DeSorbo onto television screens in the first place.
That’s a wild story to hear! It’s amazing how influential people can be, even in reality TV.