Dolores Catania is setting the record straight on the viral speculation that Liz McGraw is filming for The Real Housewives of Rhode Island season 2 after announcing her departure.
“That is a fake news rumor,” Dolores, 55, stated on the Thursday, August 20, episode of iHeartRadio’s “Two Ts in a Pod” podcast. “She is not filming this year.”
Earlier this week, social media footage surfaced of what looked like Liz, 56, with one of her costars amid production for season 2.
Liz, who has not addressed the speculation, announced her exit from the show last month after just one season.
“I’m full of gratitude for the amazing opportunity to appear on this show,” Liz wrote in an Instagram statement shared in July. “As filming for season 2 begins, I have made the decision to take a step back and focus on my family, my work and my passions. The RHORI cast is an amazing group of women who have created something special.”
Liz was among the Bravo show’s original cast when it premiered earlier this year, alongside Jo-Ellen Tiberi, Rulla Pontarelli, Alicia Carmody, Kelsey Swanson, Rosie DiMare and Ashley Iaconetti. Dolores, Liz’s longtime pal, appeared in a “friend of” role. (The season 2 cast has not been officially revealed.)
While announcing her exit, Liz stressed that she would still be cheering for the other Bravo ladies.
“I’ll be watching next season, rooting for the continued success of this franchise,” Liz concluded last month. “For now, I look forward to enjoying this little corner of the world from the other side of the camera.”
Hours later, Liz shut down rumors about her reason for walking away from Bravo.
“It’s fascinating to me how everyone assumes my reason for leaving involves being afraid of ‘skeletons’ …’jail,’ etc,” she wrote via her Instagram Stories at the time. “This is not new gossip … it has been the local slander for YEARS. If there were even an ounce of validity to it, I’d not have ever gone on a show!”
She continued, “I realize that for some, it feels good to speculate, hate and defame my character, but I have never been investigated, nor involved in ANY criminal case. It’s preposterous and people should know how utterly ridiculous it sounds. Sorry to disappoint. It’s wild to me how people feel at liberty to openly state such absurd claims as facts.”
Liz’s close friend Dino Guilmette, who made a cameo on RHORI season 1, was arrested in 2022 on drug trafficking, conspiracy and financial fraud charges. Dino has maintained his innocence ahead of trial.
The Real Housewives of Rhode Island is available to stream on Peacock.
