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Lisa Rinna is ‘grateful’ as she announces her exit from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills after 8 seasons

January 6, 2023

BRAVOCON – BravoCon 2022 red carpet from the Javits Center in New York on Friday, October 14, 2022 – Photo: Lisa Rinna – (Photo by: Cindy Ord/Bravo via Getty Images)

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Lisa Rinna says goodbye to The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

After eight seasons of delivering sassy one-liners, drama-filled moments, the mess of social media, and self-deprecating lip humor, Rinna is leaving the beloved franchise, PEOPLE can exclusively confirm.

“This is the longest job I’ve had in my 35-year career and I’m grateful to everyone at Bravo and everyone involved with the show,” Rinna, 59, said in a statement. communicated. “It’s been a fun eight year run and I’m excited for what’s to come!”

The decision came as Rinna’s contract expired at the end of last season. After weighing her options and her professional obligations, she and Bravo mutually decided that she would not return to RHOBA.

Rinna joined the franchise in its fifth season, which premiered in 2014. In its first season, the actress was involved in one of the most memorable fights of the series when she threw a glass of wine at then-co-star Kim Richards, who had hinted that Rinna didn’t want anything out of her husband Harry Hamlin.

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RELATED: Denise Richards Says She’s Open to Returning to RHOBA — Even if Lisa Rinna remains

The days of our lives alum also became known for her catchphrase, “Own it, baby,” which is a mentality she’s subscribed to throughout her run.

But Rinna’s exit probably comes as no surprise to RHOBA Fans. Although she compared herself to a “cockroach” that you “can’t get rid of,” she dropped major hints of possibility throughout Season 8.

Publish a pre-Housewives Throwback photo on her Instagram Story, Rinna wrote, “I was Lisa F—ing Rinna before HW and I’ll be Lisa F—ing Rinna After.” She then followed that up with lyrics of “Roxie” alongside an image of Renée Zellweger in 2002. Chicagowhich is a role that Rinna also performed on Broadway in 2007.

“I’m a star! And the public loves me! And I love them. And they love me to love them. And I love them to love me. And we love each other. And that’s because none of We didn’t get enough love in our childhood. And that’s showbiz, kid,” the image read.

Following the November 2021 death of her mother Lois, Rinna said her “grief” was the cause of her numerous online rants, including against some The Real Housewives of Dubai cast members.

“I went through a very difficult time, I think you saw how much it hit me,” she wrote in July in a since-deleted Instagram post. I’m sorry if I raged at you, about you – it really has nothing to do with any of you.”

THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF BEVERLY HILLS -- Season:12 -- Pictured: (lr) Diana Jenkins, Crystal Minkoff, Erika Girardi, Kyle Richards, Garcelle Beauvais, Dorit Kemsley, Lisa Rinna, Sutton Stracke — THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF BEVERLY HILLS — Season:12 — Pictured: (lr) Diana Jenkins, Crystal Minkoff, Erika Girardi, Kyle Richards, Garcelle Beauvais, Dorit Kemsley, Lisa Rinna, Sutton Stracke

Tommy Garcia/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty The cast of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills season 12

She then criticized RHOBA for not properly commemorating Lois, instead focusing on a trivial drama from the previous season that resurfaced. “I had a grace episode. That’s it,” Rinna wrote. “Lois deserved and deserves so much more. Shame on everyone.”

On the last season of RHOBAthe Rinna Beauty founder repeatedly raised her voice to Sutton Stracke after her co-star claimed she never received a thank you for buying Rinna and husband Harry Hamlin’s tickets to the annual charity benefit ‘Elton John.

Later fans – and current RHOBA stars – took issue with how Rinna continued to take advantage of Kathy Hilton’s alleged meltdown during the cast’s trip to Aspen.

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For her part, Rinna seemed unfazed by the fan backlash — even when she received loud boos from the crowd at BravoCon 2022.

“I got booed! It was fabulous,” Rinna told PEOPLE exclusively. “I’m like a wrestler. Wrestlers get booed. The most famous wrestlers in the world get booed. The Rock [Dwayne Johnson] was booed for god’s sake. I liked it. I’ve been in this business for 32 years.”

Rinna also said at the time that she was happy “to have the number one show on cable on Bravo du Housewives“, and noted that she was not fazed by RHOBA fans who called her a hypocrite for her on-screen behavior.

“It’s a TV show, for God’s sake,” she shared. “Call me what you want, believe what you want, I tell the truth. I always have. Back to that.”