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The Real Housewives of Potomac star Karen Huger purposefully kept her circle small during her incarceration.
“Bravo stood by me when I went through a lot,” Karen, 63, told E! News on Tuesday, August 4, recalling her recent jail sentence. “I often credit the courage that I had from the training I had as a Housewife to make it through and to get sober and to be clean.”
According to Karen, executive producer Andy Cohen was on the shortlist of friends she was able to maintain contact with during her sentence.
“Andy was one of the few people that I allowed to talk to me inside while I was paying my dues, which I needed to do,” she revealed on Tuesday. “He was so lovely and so supportive. I adore him. I love him. I am so happy to be a part of his team and his family.”
Karen was arrested in 2024 for driving under the influence and was sentenced to two years in jail with one year suspended. The Bravo star was ultimately released in September 2025, six months before her scheduled release date.
Following her release, Karen returned to RHOP but declined to appear on the upcoming The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th.
“The offer was made. I thought for my sobriety, ‘Take it slow,’ because I was planning on coming back to [RHOP for] season 11,” Karen exclusively told Us on Tuesday at the UGT premiere in New York CIty. “I didn’t want to overdo it, so I’m here to cheer and support. I can’t wait to see it with you guys.”
Karen, best known as the “Grande Dame” of Potomac, stressed to Us that she wanted to ease back into the Bravoverse while focusing on her health.
“I’m very proud to be a part of this family, and I earned my place to be [in] it,” she explained. “The fact that they recognized me and supported my decision to just stay low for a minute and continue to heal was so, so loving and so supportive. I’m so grateful.”
When RHOP picks up cameras for season 11, Karen hopes to further showcase her growth and progress.
“I’m so happy. I encourage anyone that’s struggling to face it and get the help they need, and walk through it. Come out on the other side. It’s wonderful,” she said of sobriety, noting that her castmates had her back. “They were so loving and supportive. You know, we’re messy, so come for me. I can handle it. That’s me. But when they understood my commitment to my sobriety, I think they got on board with it. I’d like to think so. Let’s watch it together. If they come for me, then I will address it at the reunion.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
