Selling Sunset star Bre Tiesi has delivered a scathing reaction to fellow cast member Chrishell Stause's unexpected decision to leave the hit Netflix reality series after nine seasons. The dramatic development follows Stause's candid interview with Bustle magazine earlier this week, where the 44-year-old television personality revealed her departure was primarily due to the show's negative impact on her mental wellbeing.
A History of Conflict
The announcement has ignited fresh tensions between the co-stars, who have previously feuded on the programme. Tiesi, a mother-of-one, told Us Weekly that she felt completely unsurprised by Stause's exit, noting that the real estate agent had threatened to leave multiple times before.
"I'm not surprised because she's threatened it every season," Tiesi stated. "She's been threatening it since I got there. I would be surprised if she actually does go. I don't really care if she's there or not."
In her characteristically blunt manner, Tiesi added that Stause had become "irrelevant to my life," though she expressed hope that her colleague would "find something better for her mental state and she can find some peace and she can move on and not be so miserable."
Stause's Reasons for Leaving
Stause, who first joined Selling Sunset in 2019 as part of the main cast, explained her departure stemmed from reaching a financial position where she no longer needed the show's income. "I've gotten to a place where I don't need the show financially," Stause told Bustle. "I'm lucky to have other forms of employment, because it's no longer good for my mental health."
The reality star acknowledged the significant opportunities the programme had provided but admitted her departure wasn't under ideal circumstances. "The show has given me so many opportunities, and I don't want to be bitter about it, even though I'm leaving not in the way that I would've loved."
Stause revealed she had "vacillated back and forth" about quitting previously, acknowledging the difficulty of turning down such a lucrative opportunity after "having come from nothing." According to the TV personality, Selling Sunset creator Adam DiVello has been attempting to change her mind, reaching out "100 times a day" in hopes of persuading her to return.
Behind-the-Scenes Drama and Feuds
Stause's final season featured several explosive conflicts, including a particularly bitter feud with co-star Nicole Young that turned deeply personal. During a cast dinner, Young made controversial remarks about Stause's late parents, both of whom had passed away from lung cancer after struggling with addiction issues.
"Honey, you're confusing me with your parents, okay? You seem to be obsessed with drugs," Young told Stause during the heated exchange.
Stause also clashed with Emma Hernan during the ninth season, which premiered on Netflix on October 9. The conflict reportedly stemmed from comments made by Hernan's boyfriend, Blake Davis, with Stause claiming he "compared being nonbinary to having a mental illness." Stause is married to Australian singer G-Flip, who identifies as nonbinary.
The departing star expressed frustration with how situations were edited for the show, particularly regarding her conflict with Hernan. "With Emma, I just look like an overbearing friend," Stause explained. "But there are so many things that would've completely vindicated me and my opinion, and they left all of it out."
What Comes Next for Selling Sunset?
Following Stause's departure, Daily Mail has confirmed that Selling Sunset producers plan to replace the star with a major celebrity. Sources revealed that producers had already been searching for new celebrity cast members even before Stause announced her exit.
"They're looking high and low for a big celebrity to join next season," a source disclosed. "Producers don't even care if they've worked in real estate or not. If the person is a big enough name, they'll put you on the show without any real estate experience."
The insider added that potential recruits would need to be "willing to go for their real estate license on the show and be able to show a few homes," but acknowledged that the programme's increasingly dramatic nature might deter some high-profile candidates. "Selling Sunset has become pretty trashy with all the crazy drama between the cast, so it's not like huge stars are clamoring to get on it."
As the curtain falls on Stause's nine-season tenure, the future of Selling Sunset promises more glamour, real estate, and undoubtedly, fresh conflicts when the show returns for its tenth season.
