We knew that 2026 was going to see some real estate reality TV shakeups, but the news that broke last week was surprising to say the least: Selling Sunset Season 10 will see a major cast shakeup, with only four members returning.
What happened
After the Season 9 Selling Sunset reunion, Chrishell Stause announced that she would not be returning for the next season due to a falling out with former bestie Emma Hernan.
On April 10, 2026, Gio Helou, a cast member on Selling the OC, a sister franchise of Selling Sunset, announced on his Instagram that the show is on “indefinite pause,” saying, “I think we can all sort of read in between the lines there.”
The same day, Cosmopolitan reported, “Surprisingly, drama among the cast isn’t the reason for the filming delay. Instead, it’s Selling the OC’s sister-show, Selling Sunset, that’s the problem. Sources say that filming ‘hit a snag’ amid a ‘cast shakeup,’ so Netflix is prioritizing getting it ‘up and running’ again.”
The snag? More than half of the cast isn’t coming back. That includes Chrishell Stause, Nicole Young, Chelsea Lazkani, Emma Hernan, Mary Bonnet, Alanna Gold and Sandra Vergara. Who’s left? Amanza Smith, Bre Tiesi, Brett Oppenheim and Jason Oppenheim. Also returning for the season are Christine Quinn and Heather Rae El Moussa. And there are rumors that Selling the OC‘s Alex Hall will be making the move over to LA.
Mary Bonnet’s take
To get the lowdown on what’s going on, Inman sat down with original cast member Mary Bonnet. What follows is that conversation, edited for length and clarity.
Inman: I’m hearing that you’re not coming back for Season 10. Is that true?
Bonnet: That is true. I’m not in alignment with the show and with production, and not saying that I won’t be back on season 11 if things go well with the new shakeup and everything. But for season 10, I won’t be on. I’m focusing on some other things.
So then, just to put down rumors, was it your choice to step away?
I made the choice, but then production and I are not on the same page, in general, so it was a mutual kind of decision on this one, because [I’m not into] what they were trying to do on the season, but I’m not fired, to make that clear. I’m very much still the vice president of the Oppenheim Group … It’s simply the show, and the vision of it. And I want it to be more women empowerment, and not what it has been.
Returning to the cast are Amanza Smith Bre Tiesi, Brett Oppenheim and Jason Oppenheim. And it’s rumored that Alex Hall from Selling the OC is coming too. Is that true?
I’ve heard that too. I haven’t asked Jason about it. I think it’s true, based on who I’ve heard it from, but I actually didn’t ask Jason. When I talked to him yesterday, he was getting out of a scene, and he was like, ‘Babe, we need you back.’
You’re friends with Heather Rae El Moussa, but Christine Quinn kind of left you on a sour note. What are your thoughts on her return?
I don’t hold anything against Christine … It’s unfortunate that she changed the way that she did from the girl I knew before … She was a Texas girl and didn’t have makeup on. She would cook and stuff, and we would just have a blast.
She was like a normal, fun, great girl, and I think that the fame kind of got its claws in her a little bit. And she stopped seeing people as human beings, and we were characters. And so, it’s just one character doing stuff to another character, and she forgot that we’re humans.
And so that’s where I think things went bad, where I just couldn’t be around it anymore, or defend her anymore … I don’t hold grudges. I think she’s gonna be good for the show, especially with the whole recast … she’s very charismatic and entertaining and funny. I’m all for her coming back to the show.
How do the other cast members feel about her return?
I think [Bre Tiesi] thinks it’s going to be interesting. She knows from stories and from just learning what happened before, but Bre’s Bre, and no one’s gonna intimidate her.
[Heather Rae El Moussa] is a bit more on the fence. She’s a big girl, and she’s toughened up a lot over the last few years with [Tarek El Moussa], and she speaks her mind now. And she’s not the biggest fan of Christine.
We’ll definitely be watching. What’s next for you?
I’m not really as involved with OC or San Diego. I might be though soon, because they are doing way better than LA. LA real estate is horrible right now, so I was thinking about going down to OC for the summer and starting to get business that way. Just like renting my house out and renting the place down there … either that, or like maybe Montecito kind of area to see about opening up an office up there.
Looking back at your time on Selling Sunset — it’s been 9 seasons — is there anything you’ll take with you?
I’m very grateful for the show. I’m grateful for my platform that I have now. I think it has opened up a lot of doors, and it’s given me a voice I would never have had before, and I want to use that for good … I’ve had to toughen up.
I’ve always been very sensitive of criticism and judgment, and yeah, you’ve got to toughen up on that one when you’re in this position, because everyone talks. Everyone says stuff, and they don’t realize that you’re a human being, and you have feelings, and this is your real life and your real reputation. I’ve had to toughen up for sure, which is good, because I’m very sensitive.
Mary Bonnet will be speaking at Inman Luxury Connect on July 27-28.
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