When Andy Cohen was asked if he'd ever cast a transgender woman on Bravo's Real Housewives television franchise, his answer was something more fitting for his "You or False" segment on Watch What Happens Live.
"I think if there was a trans housewife who was friends with other housewives, that would be the way," Cohen told the audience at the Newport Beach TV Fest, according to Daily Mail. "If someone was friends with that person, and that would be great. I have no idea what franchise that would be."
In 20 years of The Real Housewives, a transgender woman hasn't been cast as a full-time cast member. However, trans and queer representation has always had a heavy presence on Bravo.
In fact, Carmen Carrera made a recent guest appearances on The Real Housewives of Miami. Also, trailblazing and transgender model Emira D'Spain stars on Next Gen NYC alongside other Bravo kids. She's best friends with Brooks Marks, who is the son of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City's Meredith Marks.
Cohen even opened up on the idea of casting a gay man on The Real Housewives in the past. Production "flirted" with the idea of casting Jaime Laurita, a gay man who is the brother of RHONJ stars Caroline and Dina Manzo.
"In an early season of Jersey, there was a conversation. Caroline and Dina have a gay brother. There was a moment where we were flirting with that idea. I think that in terms of casting a gay guy on the show, this is a show about women and celebrating women, so I think we’ll leave it there."
To clarify, Cohen told Out, through the Bravo spokesperson, he was not conflating the potential casting of a trans woman with that of casting a gay man. While there are no trans people in any current cast of the Housewives franchise, Cohen's comments leave the door open to one.
