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Liz McGraw is clapping back at recent rumors, which have claimed that she left The Real Housewives of Rhode Island in an effort to avoid her “skeletons” being exposed — or potential jail time.
Hours after confirming her departure in an Instagram Story message to her fans and followers, Liz, 56, refuted the idea that she was quitting for any other reason than to “focus on [her] family, [her] work and [her] passions,” as her statement suggested.
“It’s fascinating to me how everyone assumes my reason for leaving involves being afraid of ‘skeletons’ .. ‘jail,’ etc. This is not new gossip .. it has been the local slander for YEARS,” she stated on July 1. “If there were even an ounce of validity to it, I’d not have ever gone on a show! 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.”
“Now that I have time on my hands, I will start the process of holding those originating and spreading such fiction accountable,” she concluded.
Before her exit announcement, Liz’s friend, Dino Guilmette, rejected a plea deal that would have resulted in no jail time. He is now facing 88 years in prison for multiple drug-related offenses, including the smuggling of cocaine.
As fans of RHORI may have seen, Andy Cohen, 58, spoke out about Liz’s exit from the show shortly after her announcement was posted, telling the former Bravolebrity that she was welcome to return to the series for a future season.
“The door is always open … Just sayin’!” he wrote.
The Real Housewives of Rhode Island season two is expected to be filmed this summer.
