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We Need To Talk About Karen Huger

By Emma Chance | TV | January 20, 2025 |

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Header Image Source: YouTube

I’ve been avoiding writing about Karen Huger, the “Grande Dame” of The Real Housewives of Potomac, in the wake of her recent DUI arrest, conviction, absence from RHOP season nine reunion taping, and voluntary entrance into rehab, because it’s all very tragic and, frankly, not that remarkable. Alcohol abuse unfortunately runs rampant within the franchise of Housewives shows, and little is ever made of it except to credit it as a symptom of a stressful life and/or relationship. Shannon Beador’s (Orange County) very public DUI, for example, became cannon fodder to be used against her ex in a bitter legal battle. Dorit Kemsley (Beverly Hills) blames her estrangement from her husband on his newfound sobriety to anyone who will listen while ordering her signature drink, a Belvedere soda with the juice of three lemons squeezed into it—“carcass out”—in a short glass. It has often felt that alcoholism and addiction are the dark undercurrents of Housewives shows, and yet not the subject.

The case of Karen Huger, though, is different. An original cast member of Potomac, Karen is famous for being the stoic, often judgemental, elder diva of her cast. Her “Grande Dame” title was originally bestowed upon her by Andy Cohen, who executive produces Potomac. She’s like your mom’s friend whom you refer to as an Aunt; she’s stylish, elegant, and always has a funny little quip in her back pocket.

But Karen is miserable. Her marriage to Raymond Huger has long been the subject of gossip, and her fellow cast members take it as common knowledge and not worth talking about anymore that she maintains relationships with other men outside of her marriage. Any attempts to bring these topics to the show have whimpered and died because Karen is a brick wall. If there is a vulnerable bone in her body, it’s been broken for such a long time that she doesn’t even feel the pain anymore.

Potomac is floundering and has been for a long time. Main characters like Karen are unwilling to show any iota of their real lives, so we’re forced to watch Mia Thornton subject her children to a revolving door of father figures instead. Any opportunity for fun and entertainment—Ashley Darby’s reinvention and exploration of her sexuality after her divorce, Wendy Osefo’s juggling of being a mother and a successful academic—are overshadowed by Karen’s hubris. Every single scene of season nine so far has contained a conversation about Karen and what’s going on with her, whether she’s present for it or not, and yet nothing has been illuminated or resolved. If you’ve ever known or loved an alcoholic, you know that the shame and the secrecy are impenetrable. This does not make for good television.

During filming, Karen was waiting for a trial to determine whether she was or wasn’t guilty of driving under the influence in the spring of 2024. Then, about a month ago, the body cam footage of the police officer who arrested her was released, which makes her impairment abundantly clear.

It’s unclear why she and her legal team thought they could win at trial when footage like this existed, but at least it forced her into rehab. Hopefully, she’ll stay there and never return to Bravo, for her sake and for the sake of the show.