Andy Cohen backs a transgender 'Real Housewife' — if she's friends

Andy Cohen said he would be open to casting a transgender 'Real Housewife' so long as she was already friends with other women on the cast. "I think if there was a trans 'Housewife' who was friends with other 'Housewives' that would be the way," he said during an appearance at the Newport Beach TV Fest, adding he would not want the decision treated as a stunt: "You wouldn’t want it to be like, 'Let’s cast into this.' If someone was friends with that person, then that would be great." The Watch What Happens Live host, 58, acknowledged he had "no idea what franchise that would be." He also recalled that production had "flirted with the idea" of casting Jaime Laurita during the early seasons of Real Housewives of New Jersey, and commented on the show's focus: "I mean, look, I think that in terms of casting a gay guy on the show — this is a show about women and celebrating women.

So I’d think we’d leave it there." Since the franchise began in 2006, several full-time cast members have been openly LGBTQIA+.

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