Beloved RHONY Star Exits Bravo After Two Seasons — What Happened?

Jenna Lyons is out at The Real Housewives of New York City. After two seasons of making Bravo look a little chicer than usual, she announced on Nov. 21 via Instagram that she will not be back. It tracks with where her storyline has been headed, but still feels like a loss for the reboot.

What she said

The rumors are true... after thinking it through, I have made the difficult decision not to return to the show.

In her post, Lyons explained that production had asked her to come back for Season 16 in a reduced capacity as a 'friend of' — a setup she said made sense given that her personal life was not going to be available for filming. After mulling it over, she chose to step away entirely. She also pointed to one practical reality she did not want to shape the group: she would be the oldest and the only openly gay woman on the cast, and she felt it was an opportunity for a different dynamic to take root without her. She thanked her castmates and the Bravo team by name and gave a big nod to fans for the support.

The privacy line was always there

If you watched her seasons, this exit reasoning checks out. Lyons was open about keeping certain parts of her life off camera after having had a lot of public exposure earlier in her career. She notably kept her partner, photographer Cass Bird, off the show. That boundary became a point of tension on screen: at one point, costar Sai De Silva voiced that she wanted more transparency from Lyons about her relationship and hoped she would lower her guard. Translation: the show wanted more personal access; Lyons set limits and stuck to them.

Fans are bummed, but they get it

Reaction in the comments was a mix of disappointment and respect. A common theme: people think she deserves her own series, and more than a few called her an icon while wishing her well on the way out.

Quick recap

• Nov. 21: Lyons announces on Instagram she is leaving RHONY after two seasons.
• She says she was invited back for Season 16 as a 'friend of' because her personal life would remain off-limits to cameras.
• After considering it, she decided not to return at all.
• She notes she would be the oldest and only openly gay woman on the cast and sees room for a new dynamic without her.
• Thanks the cast, Bravo, and fans by name in her post.
• Context: Lyons previously kept partner Cass Bird off the show; that boundary sparked on-screen friction with castmates who wanted more openness.
• Fan response: sad to see her go, but supportive, with calls for her to headline something of her own.

Bottom line: Lyons made a clear, grown-up call that fits the way she handled reality TV from day one. RHONY loses a singular presence, and she leaves with her boundaries intact — which, frankly, is rarer on Bravo than a calm reunion taping.