Monica Garcia might have only appeared in one season of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, but the drama she wrought and the tears she caused will go down in history.
Though the Housewives franchise has birthed countless viral moments and hilarious memes, 2023 was chaotic, to say the least as the RHOSLC stars discovered that one of their own had been running a troll account for years. That person was Monica Garcia, who admittedly had a more difficult life than many of her castmates.
Join us as we take you back to 2023, where Monica was in her prime wreaking havoc amongst the Housewives of Salt Lake City.
Reality Von Tease Instagram was the final nail in Monica’s Bravo coffin
The biggest story of RHOSLC season four was undoubtedly the shocking revelation that Monica Garcia was running the infamous Reality Von Tease Instagram account.
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The gossip page had tormented the cast for three years, posting exclusive scoops and nasty rumors that caused the likes of Heather Gay and Whitney Rose a great deal of hurt.
After sleuthing for some time, Heather was told the heartbreaking truth during the cast’s trip to Bermuda. She informed the other women, to their shock, with all of them challenging Monica’s narrative during dinner.
Of course, this was when Heather said the iconic line: “Receipts, proof, timeline, screenshots — f*****g everything! — that proves that you are a f*****g bully and a f*****g troll.”
During the reunion, Monica claimed the account was originally intended to target jailed star Jen Shah, who Monica had worked for and was friends with for some time. Still, the women weren’t buying it.
Monica Garcia had an affair with her brother-in-law
Perhaps the most shocking revelation, besides Reality Von Tease, was the realization that Monica had cheated on her then-husband, Mike Fowler, with her brother-in-law. As a result, she was shunned from the Mormon Church.
The affair with Jared Taylor, who was married to her husband’s sister, lasted a staggering 18 months. While she was essentially kicked from her place of worship, fire chief Jared was left practically unscathed by the scandal.
Monica has since moved past the “hardest” time of her life, penning on Instagram: “Your past doesn’t define you and NOBODY gets to use it against you and they will try. When you accept and forgive yourself, the good and the bad, you take the weapon right outta their hands. We ALL have a past and I own ALL of mine. I have said that from day one.”
Her relationship with her mother was less than stellar
Monica Garcia’s relationship with her mother, Linda Darnell, was a running theme throughout much of season 4, but sadly, not in a good way.
Monica admitted more than once that they had a tumultuous relationship, leading many to question why she would bring her on the show in the first place.
Several fights and cutting words eventually culminated in a showdown at Angie Katsanevas’ Greek Easter celebration where Monica accused her mother of caring more about fitting in with her castmates. That rhetoric was repeated by fans online, many of which said that Linda wanted her time in the spotlight – even if she had to trample over Monica to get there.
Following the finale, Monica told The Viall Files podcast: “My mom and I are done. We’re done. I will never speak to her again.”
“You no longer have a mother and I no longer have a daughter,” Linda reportedly told her.
Monica might have to change her name to Pinocchio
Despite only remaining in the Bravo family for the same amount of time as forgettable housewives, Monica’s time on the show cemented her as one of the most memorable cast members of all time.
Unfortunately, much of that time was wrapped in lies, deceit, and a lack of accountability that left cast members like Heather raging.
Fans accused Monica of lying about her family in Bermuda, something she passionately denied when the cast ventured to the sunny islands for a cast trip. Her so-called family canceled last minute as Monica had a panic attack.
Former friend Tenesha Luckett was a firm Monica critic throughout and after the show, even accusing the reality TV star of owning multiple burner phones and faking a car accident to garner her attention.
Though most fans were pleased to see Monica leave the show, she has since claimed that producers asked her to return.
Nonetheless, if you still want a hit of the chaotic Monica Garcia, she is set to join the cast of House of Villains season two in October.