Liz McGraw Exits RHORI After 1 Season as Bravo Prepares Season 2

Q: Why is Rhode Island's 'Cannabis Queen' really leaving the hit show after just one season?

Liz McGraw says she is leaving *The Real Housewives of Rhode Island* by choice, not because Bravo pushed her out. In her July 1 Instagram statement, she said she is stepping away after one season to focus on “my family, my work and my passions” as Season 2 filming begins. That public explanation is also consistent with reporting around the show. An insider said Bravo wanted McGraw back and had invited her to return, suggesting the exit was her decision. McGraw, 56, became one of the breakout figures of RHORI’s hit first season, known as Rhode Island’s “Cannabis Queen” because she owns the state’s largest dispensary. Still, her departure comes after a turbulent season that likely added pressure. McGraw was at the center of major feuds with castmates Alicia Carmody and Jo-Ellen Tiberi, including heated on-camera confrontations. She also faced rumors about her friendship with Dino Guilmette, which she denied, and that issue has drawn extra scrutiny because Guilmette is now facing felony drug, conspiracy and fraud charges after rejecting a plea deal. There is no evidence from McGraw or Bravo that those controversies directly forced her exit. But they form the backdrop to her decision to step back just as the show, one of Bravo’s biggest recent launches, heads into Season 2. Based on what is publicly known, the clearest answer is that McGraw chose to leave to prioritize her personal life and business, amid a season marked by conflict and outside distractions.

3 articles · Updated · Deadline · Jul 1

Liz McGraw said she will not return for Season 2 of The Real Housewives of Rhode Island, ending her run after one season as filming ramps up.
Instagram was where McGraw confirmed the exit, saying she chose to step back to focus on her family, work and personal passions.
RHORI launched earlier this year with strong momentum: its April 2 premiere drew 2.7 million viewers across platforms in seven days, Bravo’s biggest multiplatform series premiere since 2024.
Peacock also gave the franchise a strong start, with RHORI becoming Bravo’s most-watched original series or season premiere there in its first seven days; Episode 4 later posted an 11% audience lift.