Sutton Stracke Addresses Firing of Assistant, Fallout with Cast on ‘Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’
A surprising professional split has ignited drama amongst the cast of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, as Sutton Stracke details her decision to part ways with longtime assistant Avi Gabay and the unexpected end to their friendship. The fallout, revealed on the December 4th episode of the RHOBH: After Show, has extended to tensions with fellow cast member Garcelle Beauvais.
Stracke, 54, explained the decision was ultimately a business one, stemming from a shift in her personal life. “We had a great run. But things come to an end. It was just a business decision for me,” she stated. “I was coming to a point in my life where no children were going to be in my house, I didn’t have a storefront that needed tending to. So, it was just time. And you know, we had run our course.” She further emphasized the commonality of such staffing changes, questioning the level of attention the situation has received.
However, the professional separation quickly evolved into a personal one. “I don’t talk to Avi… I think I was surprised that in letting him go, that it was going to terminate the friendship as well. That was a surprise for me,” Stracke admitted. This unexpected outcome resonated with other cast members, including Kyle Richards, 56, who expressed surprise at the severed ties.
“I knew that they were very close and they had this sort of funny dynamic together,” Richards reasoned. “I could see that she could be a little challenging at times. But he seemed to know how to respond to her in a sort of funny way and brush it off, so I was surprised.”
Other cast members echoed this sentiment, with Bozoma Saint John, 48, suggesting Gabay’s integral role in Stracke’s daily life made the split particularly shocking. “Avi seemed like such an integral part of her day-to-day life, and so I couldn’t even imagine that she would be able to operate without him,” Saint John said. Jennifer Tilly, 67, attributed the fan interest to the pair’s entertaining dynamic. “You two were so funny together and I think that the fans liked to see the two of you laughing and dancing, so maybe they perhaps thought of Avi more as a member of the family as opposed to a staff member,” she explained.
The situation took another turn when Beauvais, 59, appeared with Gabay at the premiere of her new Lifetime series, Taken at a Truck Stop: A Black Girl Missing Movie. The pairing drew immediate reaction from the RHOBH cast. Dorit Kemsley, 49, reportedly exclaimed, “Oh, you gotta be kidding. Oh sh*t.”
Richards perceived the appearance as calculated, alleging an “agenda” behind the photo opportunity. “It seemed like there was an absolute agenda. They both, Garcelle and Avi, knew that taking that photo together, it would go everywhere and it would spark questions and commentary,” she noted. Stracke herself expressed surprise at the extent of Beauvais and Gabay’s friendship, stating, “I had no idea that Garcelle liked Avi so much… But apparently they have a good long-term friendship.” Tilly also acknowledged the deliberate nature of the appearance, saying, “Obviously, Garcelle can invite whoever she wants to her premiere, but it did seem a little bit deliberate.”
The unfolding drama promises further exploration as The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills season 15 continues to air Thursdays at 8/7c on Bravo.
