Carole Radziwill, who starred on The Real Housewives of New York City from 2012 to 2018, has been announced to return for season 16 just weeks after her name was included in files related to the case of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Joining the cast as a “friend” of the main housewives, Radziwill, 62, will share the screen with Sai De Silva, Erin Lichy and Jessel Taank — all of whom joined the hit series for season 14 — as well as newcomers Hailey Glassman, Erika Hammond and Daisy Toye.
The author and journalist’s return to the franchise was announced by Bravo with an Instagram post with the caption: “In the marathon of life, loyalty is everything. And because of Bravo fans’ loyalty, Carole Radziwill is returning to #RHONY as a friend-of for Season 16!!!”
While many fans were thrilled by news of Radziwill’s return, others were shocked that Bravo would proceed with the casting after her name appeared in the Epstein files.
“I’m sorry but this is not working. Love her but this is not the place. We are trying too hard here,” one fan commented on Bravo’s Instagram post.
“Friend of Ghislaine Maxwell,” another claimed, while a third said, “Let’s go ahead and get her in a confessional to talk about her friendship with Ghislaine Maxwell and involvement with Epstein…”
Among the released documents were several emails between Radziwill and jailed British socialite Maxwell. In one instance, Maxwell wrote to Radziwill that she’s the “most wonderful, the most beautiful, the smartest, the best, the brightest,” before signing the email “your BF friend (fingers crossed).”
An FBI document also noted that Radziwill was in Epstein’s black book and visited Maxwell’s house in New York.
Epstein’s former girlfriend, Maxwell, 64, is serving a 20-year sentence for child sex trafficking after being convicted in December 2021. Epstein died by suicide in a federal lockup in August 2019 as he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges.
Radziwill acknowledged in September 2025 that she knew Maxwell “socially” but denied being privy to Epstein’s happenings.
“Sure rich men, creepy people... obvs the men who were involved knew...I'm saying the social party friends especially us girls-- we didn't know. When people are doing bad s*** they hide it well. It's f***ing creepy,” she posted on X, per Newsweek.
The Independent has contacted Radziwill and Bravo for comment.
Being named in the so-called Epstein files or appearing in his contact book does not in itself indicate wrongdoing. Radziwill has not been charged with any crime.
Radziwill, who was married to TV producer Anthony Radziwill until he died in 1999, publicly feuded with Bravo executive Andy Cohen following her departure from RHONY after season 10.
“She and I, as you know, had a big, kind of falling out. She asked me to never speak to her again, and then we kind of went at each other, publicly, for years," Cohen said during an August 2025 episode of his Sirius XM radio show, Andy Cohen Live. Cohen said the two eventually settled their differences via text message and “came to a very positive place.”
Cohen welcomed Radziwill back into the Bravo world that same month when she appeared on his late night show Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, igniting rumors of her potential return to the network. Radziwill then appeared at BravoCon in November 2025, further fueling speculation of her return.
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