Wendy Osefo Confident 'RHOP' Will Remain A 'Strong' Show Without Karen Huger In The Group

"The Real Housewives of Potomac" star Karen Huger has officially begun her year-long prison sentence for driving under the influence.

Consequently, the reality star won't be filming the upcoming season with her group of friends. However, that doesn't mean they're concerned about the show's future without her.

During an interview, Karen Huger's co-star, Wendy Osefo, shared her thoughts about her castmate's sentencing and also hinted that she and the rest of the "RHOP" crew would remain "strong" despite Huger's absence.

In March 2024, Huger was involved in a single-vehicle collision when the reality star slammed her car into a tree.

According to officers on the scene and police body camera footage, Huger appeared intoxicated as she slurred her words and swayed back and forth.

After a two-day trial in December, a jury found Huger guilty of several driving offenses, such as driving under the influence and negligent driving.

On February 26, 2025, Huger received a two-year prison sentence with one suspended. She was taken into custody immediately.

During a conversation with PEOPLE, Osefo shared her reaction when she learned of Huger's sentencing, saying she found the news hard to process.

“My jaw dropped,” she said. “I couldn't believe it. At the end of the day, we may have our differences, but I always wish her well, and I'm just keeping her in prayer 100 [percent]."

Huger's prison sentence comes at the end of the ninth season of "Real Housewives of Potomac."

She joined the series during its first year in 2017 and has since become a mainstay, creating iconic moments with fellow housewives such as Gizelle Bryant and Ashley Darby.

Her absence in the upcoming season will be noticed; however, based on Osefo's words, she's confident their group will be okay without her there.

"With this group, we have found a way to navigate with her presence and without her presence,” Osefo said. “I definitely wish her well.”

Osefo, who joined the Bravo family in 2020, also pointed to the season 9 reunion, which Huger decided to skip moments before filming occurred in New York City in January 2025.

"Looking at the reunion, I think that we maneuvered in a positive way as a collective, as a unit," she said. “I wish her the best, but I think that the Potomac brand still is strong.”

Osefo isn't the only one who felt emotional when Huger's prison sentence was announced.

Her co-star, Darby, revealed on "The Tamron Hall Show" that she, too, had a tough time digesting the information.

"I really care about her," the mother of two said. "And I learned this on the train coming here today, and I cried like a baby, I did."

Darby continued and asked the audience and watchers at home to keep "Karen in your prayers."

In early January 2025, news broke that Huger was skipping the season 9 "RHOP" reunion to attend an in-patient recovery program to address her drinking. Her team revealed she was "fully supported in this choice."

During part one of the three-part special, Bravo played a surprising video from Huger. In it, the Maryland-based reality star shared her plans to enter recovery before thanking most of her castmates for their support.

Fans, however, were quick to point out that Huger glazed over Osefo, who had been supportive of her throughout the years.

"Nothing for Wendy?!" someone asked. "D-mn, that's cold."

"Karen hates Wendy," another person commented.

A third user clearly agreed, saying Huger's move was a "low blow."

"Karen was dead wrong [for] how she treated Wendy," a fourth user said.

Lastly, a fifth user wrote, "Wendy deserved more."

During the legal process, Maryland prosecutors slammed Huger for taking zero accountability for her behavior until it was too late.

They also blasted the reality star for her previous driving offenses, which occurred between 2006 and 2011.

"The fact that Ms. Huger has repeatedly been given the benefit of another chance on three separate occasions demonstrates that she has not learned anything from her prior arrests," the prosecution said. "In fact, it appears as if she has been emboldened."