Crystal Kung Minkoff Cast on ‘RHOBH’ As First-Ever Asian Housewife

By Greta Bjornson @greatbjornson
Published Oct. 26, 2020, 3:44 p.m. ET

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Meet your newest Housewife, Crystal Kung Minkoff. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills announced its latest addition today, and People reports that Minkoff is joining the cast of Bravo‘s reality series for upcoming Season 11. According to Variety, Minkoff marks the first-ever Asian cast member in the history of the Real Housewives franchise, and her casting comes not long after Bravo also added Eboni K. Williams to The Real Housewives of New York City, marking the first Black cast member on the show.

Minkoff will join current Beverly Hills Housewives Kyle Richards, Erika Girardi, Lisa Rinna, Garcelle Beauvais and Dorit Kemsley next season. The newest Housewife is an entrepreneur who founded Real Coco, a company that sells coconut products and operates a few stores around California. Minkoff is married to The Lion King director Rob Minkoff, who also directed the Stuart Little films and Haunted Mansion with Eddie Murphy. The couple, who have been married for 13 years, have two children, Max and Zoe.

Today’s casting news was revealed after Bravo let go of two Beverly Hills cast members this summer, saying goodbye to both Denise Richards and Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave, who will not be returning for Season 11. Mellencamp Arroyave, who starred on the show for three seasons, confirmed her departure on Instagram last month.

“Of course I could give you the standard response of, ‘Oh we both came to the decision that it would be best.’ Nah, I’m not going to do that — that’s not who I am,” she said. “Of course when I got the news I was sad. It feels like a breakup, almost. Because you develop such strong relationships with the cast, with the crew. And you get to do incredible things that you probably never get to experience without the show.”

Richards opened up about her exit on The Real, telling former costar Beauvais why she left the show, per Us Weekly. “I had a great first season,” Richards said. “The second season was challenging. I just thought it was the right time for me to go and to just keep focusing on the other projects that I have. I had a great time. I will always be a fan and I will continue to support the show.”

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills wrapped up Season 10 last month, and we don’t have a premiere date for Season 11 just yet.

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