Jill Zarin's Replacement Unveiled After Axed TV Return
By Afouda Bamidele on February 13, 2026 at 11:45 AM EST
Jill Zarin is off the "Real Housewives of NewYork" reboot show, and E! has announced her replacement.
The reality star's swift firing from the project was ignited by her comment about Bad Bunny's performance during the Super Bowl halftime show. She faced criticism from the media for her opinion, and the cherry on top was the production company's decision to kick her off the spin-off show.
Several notable people also shared Jill Zarin's thoughts about Bad Bunny's performance and have also been faced with negative media attention for expressing them. This kick-off does not mark the first for the OG Houswife; she was previously fired ahead of season 5 of "RHONY" in September 2011.
Who Is Replacing Jill Zarin On The 'RHONY' Set?
E! has announced that Zarin would not be returning to the screens for the network's reboot of the "Real Housewives of New York." Taking her place is Dorinda Medley, who is not a new face before the cameras.
"The Golden Life" was set to feature the original cast of "RHONY," Zarin, Sonja Morgan, Luann de Lesseps, and Ramona Singer. Still, with the new development, Medley is stepping up from her role as a spare cast member.
Medley has starred on the show for six seasons and has long been expected to return. Page Six shared that the network initially intended to announce her role closer to the show's premiere because they wanted to draw out the publicity for the show a little longer.
Zarin was booted off the show due to her statement about Bad Bunny's halftime show performance. She described it as the worst halftime show ever, comparing it to a political statement. The show's producers released their statement shortly after Zarin's, which read:
"In light of recent public comments made by Jill Zarin, [production company] Blink49 Studios has decided not to move forward with her involvement in "The Golden Life." We remain committed to delivering the series in line with our company standards and values."
What Did The Reality TV Star Say?
Zarin, in a now-deleted video, shared her views on the Puerto Rican singer's performance. She complained that his performance featured no white peopl,e and the use of Spanish was foul.
"We all agree — it was the worst halftime show ever. It's 250 years that we're celebrating right now in the United States, and I just don't think it was appropriate to have it in Spanish," the media personality said.
She stressed that she could not understand a word of what he sang. She added that the performance "looked like a political statement, because there were literally no white people in the entirething," emphasising that she would have loved to enjoy the show with an artist who sang in a language she understood.
The "RHONY" alum did not hold back in her analysis of Bad Bunny's performance. She expressed that she found it inappropriate that the rapper kept grabbing his crotch during his performance.
Amid The Criticism, The Entertainer Found Some Support
After the news of her firing came to light, many fans took to her side, supporting that Zarin only said what many people were thinking but afraid to voice. Brandi Glanville also shared her opinions on the matter via her social media platform.
Glanville insisted that although she did not agree with her pal's stance, everyone is entitled to have and share their opinion. "Opinions aren't wrong, they're subjective," the former Bravostar shared in a post on X, which began with declaring her love for Bad Bunning, writing that she wanted to become "his Mrs. Robinson."
The Blast shared that Glanville admitted that she enjoyed Bad Bunny's performance, and the fact that Zarin didn't wasn't reason enough to punish her by kicking her off the show.
According to the Bravo alum Zarin's firing would do more harm than good, as more people might become afraid to share their thoughts publicly. Glanville's statement created a mix in her comments as some took her side supporting her friend, while others stressed that actions have consequences.
The 62-Year-Old's Reaction To Her 'The Golden Life' Axing
While Glanville wishes to watch her pal on TV explain herself and hopefully learn something, her wish remains far from reality. The news of her firing hit Zarin hard as she expressed that E! did not give her the chance to rectify the situation.
"I took it down right away. People make mistakes. I'm human," she said, explaining that the video was now off her digital footprints. Despite this, the production company has not gone back on its word about replacing her with Medley.
Their decision to ultimately kick her off the show before the cameras start rolling has also faced a great deal of criticism.
The Blast reported that, according to an insider, the show does not air for nine months, so they could have given Zarin a chance to let the raised dust settle. Others also cited that the reality TV star was not the only one who had particular views about the rapper's performance.
Another 'Real Housewives' Star Echoed Similar Opinions As Jill Zarin
Taylor Armstrong, whose face is no stranger to the "Real Housewives" screen, sparked media fire after she made a statement about Bad Bunny's halftime performance. Although Armstrong later issued an apology, the flames of the controversy flare on.
The former Bravo star posted an image to her Instagram stories with the words "Were you entertained?? I am embarrassed for the @NFL and Apple for the Super Bowl half time show totally in Spanish with a Cuban flag," boldly written below.
Her statement did not sit right with fans, as many called her out, claiming she was racist. Armstrong then made a post apologizing generally and explaining that her statement carried no ill for Bunny and his culture. She stressed that she respects different backgrounds, promising to learn from this in the future.
Will Jill Zarin get another chance at a TV comeback?
