Liz McGraw Thriving Post-"RHORI": Alicia Carmody Weighs In On Friend's Surprising Exit

In an exclusive chat with Page Six's "Virtual Reali-Tea," Alicia Carmody, longtime friend and co-star of Liz McGraw on "The Real Housewives of Rhode Island (RHORI)," shared her thoughts on McGraw's surprising exit from the show after just one season. Carmody, 41, expressed joy for McGraw's apparent success, commenting, "She's thriving, I hear. It takes a lot to put your family out there, and I'm sure she felt the internet backlash." The budding entrepreneur is currently promoting her partnership with Ziploc's Lunch Confessions campaign. When asked about the possibility of McGraw, 56, returning to RHORI in the future, Carmody echoed executive producer Andy Cohen's sentiments that "the doors are open" should McGraw wish to return. However, she emphasized that she was giving her friend some space during this transition. "I love Liz from afar," Carmody shared, adding, "We started this [show] together, but I definitely miss her for certain things. She had to do what she had to do." McGraw announced her departure from RHORI last month, citing a need to focus on family, work, and passions. While the specific reasons behind McGraw's decision to leave the show remain unclear, Tamra Judge of "The Real Housewives of Orange County" hinted that social media backlash may have played a role. A significant portion of the criticism stemmed from McGraw's clashes with Carmody during RHORI's debut season, particularly regarding Carmody's claims about her childhood homelessness. Contrary to the show's portrayal, Carmody clarified that she and McGraw were not as close as it may have appeared. "No, we weren't like sisters," Carmody said, adding, "I grew up best friends with McGraw's niece because her sister and my mom were extremely close." "The Real Housewives of Rhode Island" Season 1 is currently streaming on Peacock. Stay tuned for more updates from the world of celebrity entertainment!