Vicki Gunvalson Talks Finding Out Mom’s Death On Camera

Vicki Gunvalson is reopening old wounds, revealing how Bravo kept her in the dark for an hour after her mother died in 2015, only for her to learn the devastating news while filming.

This painful memory comes nearly a decade after the “Real Housewives Of Orange County“star honored her mom’s memory with a heartfelt Instagram tribute in 2016, promising to keep her spirit alive. 

Vicki Gunvalson clarifies, “I will never forgive Bravo” for that moment, showing how deeply it continues to impact her.

Gunvalson is revealing a dark chapter in her life—and how it was intensified by Bravo’s handling of her mother’s passing.

Nearly ten years later, she is sharing her anger, stating that production kept her in the dark about her mother’s death for a full hour, choosing to capture her reaction on camera rather than break the news offscreen. 

“They were out of line, and I think they should have taken me aside and said, ‘Your mom has passed. Talk to your daughter off-camera.’ If I was a producer, that’s what I would’ve done,” the 62-year-old explained. 

For Gunvalson, the memory remains deeply painful, a raw wound that time has not healed. The hurt runs so deep that, as she clearly stated: “I will never forgive Bravo for that.”

“Let me scream and cry on my own,” she noted, emphasizing how blindsided she felt by the producers’ decision. 

In an emotional preview from PEOPLE for the upcoming episode of “Vice’s The Dark Side of Reality TV,”  Gunvalson recalled how she learned of her mother’s death while filming a game night at Shannon Beador’s house. 

Amid a casual round of Bunko, her family was in a frantic attempt to reach her with the devastating news that would change her life forever. As the reality TV star remained unaware, her daughter Brianna was desperately trying to get through to her, pleading with production to facilitate a call. 

Instead of interrupting the filming to deliver the tragic news, production opted to create a staged environment, transforming a room in Beador’s home into a setup for capturing Gunvalson’s raw reaction. 

In a devastating moment that played out on camera, the mother-of-two collapsed to the floor, tears streaming down her face as she processed the loss. “Oh, my God. I don’t want to believe this. I just talked to her this morning,” she cried out. The pain was palpable as Gunvalson continued:

“I just want my mom back. I want my mom. I have to go see my mom right now. I want to be with my mom. I need her every day. I need her so bad. Who’s going to worry about me? I don’t have parents now. I need my parents. I need my mom.”

One year after the heartbreaking loss of her mother, Gunvalson paid a moving tribute to her late mom on Instagram, ensuring her spirit continued to shine brightly in her life. 

Accompanying a poignant image of a rose, which also held heartbreaking words, the TV personality poured out her emotions in the caption.

Capturing the essence of her late mother’s personality, she wrote, “1 year ago today, our family lost our amazing, fun, beautiful, classy, talented mother and Nana.” 

She continued, “There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t miss her & I hope she hears me when I speak to her in heaven. I lift our family up in prayer today as we mourn our beautiful Joanne. Life is not the same without you.”

In a touching moment of remembrance, Gunvalson also acknowledged her friend Shannon Beador in her heartfelt message. “To @shannonbeador, you hold a special place in my heart because I was at your home when I received that awful news,” she shared.

In the wake of Gunvalson’s poignant tribute to her late mother, fans rallied around her with messages of love and support. “Praying for you and your family. Praying for peace, healing, and strength,” one follower wrote.

Others chimed in with their own words of encouragement, with one netizen stating, “I feel you. Hang in there,” while another added, “Hugs Vicki! Your mom is always with you…look in the mirror!”

The emotional support continued as fans reminded her of the everlasting bond between mother and child. “A mother’s love is never-ending. She is with you at all times. Be strong,” one commenter encouraged. 

Many expressed their solidarity. “You are in my thoughts and prayers today. We love you,” another fan shared. “Thinking of you and your family, Vicki,” another wrote.

The emotions were summed up perfectly by one fan, who remarked, “Beautiful sentiments, Vicki. Can’t believe it’s been one year.” 

Since the tragic passing of her mother, Gunvalson’s life has been a whirlwind of events. The Blast reported that the “RHOC” star opened up about a terrifying health scare during an episode of “My Friend, My Soulmate, My Podcast.”

Gunvalson described a disorienting episode in which she experienced a gap in her memory. “There seems to have been about an hour or two that I was missing, and I don’t know where I was,” she recalled, adding that she began speaking incoherently to a client. 

Fortunately, the client—a retired doctor—recognized the symptoms and alerted Olivia, the daughter of her boyfriend, Michael Smith.

After a hospital visit, she faced a misdiagnosis of a sinus infection. Later, her neurologist revealed the severity of her condition, stating she had only a “10 to 20 percent [chance of survival].”

While the pain of Bravo’s actions lingers, Vicki Gunvalson’s ability to share her story highlights her resilience.