Dorinda Medley likes to “make it nice” — and her points “very clear.”
In an exclusive interview with Page Six, the Bravo alum shares her side of a heated spat with fellow network star Vicki Gunvalson over the COVID-19 vaccine that was caught on camera for Season 2 of Peacock’s “Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip” spin-off.
“I just was kind of clear about my views on that. You know I like to be clear on my views. Especially after a couple martinis, I get very clear,” the pro-vax Medley, 57, says while promoting her partnership with Nutrisystem. “For me, it was [about] science.”
Referencing the legendary “She’s startin’” meme for which she is known, the “Make It Nice” author quipped, “[I] was startin’ — and goin’!”
Dorinda Medley shares her side of a heated spat with Vicki Gunvalson over the COVID-19 vaccine in an exclusive interview with Page Six. New York PostJokes aside, Medley feels that the virus has been “weirdly politicized” and let Gunvalson, 59, know that science — not any party affiliation — drove her to get the jab.
“There was nothing emotional about it. There was no red or blue,” the former “Real Housewives of New York City” personality explains, adding that her “Orange County” counterpart seemed to make “fleeting” generalizations about the vaccine that couldn’t be factually supported.
“That was one of the problems and one of the things we discussed,” Medley says, recounting her disagreement with Gunvalson. “You can’t be flip about it … [I had to] just jump and believe in science — not all the noise.”
An insider told Page Six in September 2021 that Gunvalson “told Dorinda that everyone who got the vaccine is going to die” when filming “RHUGT” at Medley’s Bluestone Manor in the Berkshires.
“To clarify, my conversation with Dorinda was specifically about a man I know who didn’t have a history of blood clots and unfortunately passed away from a pulmonary embolism, which happened to occur after he took the second dose of the vaccine,” Gunvalson told us at the time, revealing the frightening example she used in her argument.
Gunvalson stars with Medley on Season 2 of Peacock’s “Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip.”Getty ImagesAccording to the CDC, FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines are safe and known to maximize protection from emerging variants while possibly preventing the virus from spreading to others.
Though she fought hard with Medley over the vaccine, the self-proclaimed “OG of the OC” told us in February that she has since changed her mind about the shot.
“It’s different where I stand now. But at that time, which was September of last year, quite a while ago, it’s a different stance than where I am now,” said Gunvalson, who has previously insisted she is “not anti-vax.”
Still, the Coto Insurance founder expressed her belief that the vaccine is “political” despite Medley’s logic.
“I told [Dorinda] it’s political and she didn’t agree and if it’s not political then why is the government mandating it?” she elaborated in her chat with us. “So, you can believe what you wanna believe, but the facts are the facts. So, she has her opinions and I respect it, I just didn’t think she respected my opinion.”
On the contrary, Medley says she was simply disappointed by the level of “misinformation” she felt Gunvalson was expatiating.
“I hated during that whole period the misinformation, the silly chatter [I was hearing],” notes the SiriusXM Radio Andy host. “[And] these scary statements people made.”
“Real Housewives of New York City” alum Medley spoke with Page Six while promoting her partnership with Nutrisystem. Nutrisystem“Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip” Season 2 — which has yet to receive a premiere date — also stars franchise alums Jill Zarin (“New York City”), Tamra Judge (“Orange County”), Phaedra Parks, Eva Marciille (“Atlanta), Taylor Armstrong and Brandi Glanville (“Beverly Hills”).
Prior to production, Medley tells Page Six she got in the “best shape” with the help of Nutrisystem, a nutrition plan she has followed for two years after gaining “a bit of weight” during the early stages of lockdown for the pandemic.
“I’ve lost about 19 pounds since I’ve started and I’ve been able to keep it off. The program has great meal options but it’s taught me a lot about portion control, too,” she enthuses.
“I’ll still go get lunch with a girlfriend like Luann [de Lesseps], but now I understand the portion control part of it, how much to actually eat off my plate,” Medley continues. “And I’ve never felt better. I feel my healthiest, but also my most confident.”
