Dorinda Medley is stepping into Palm Beach drama.

E!’s Real Housewives of New York spinoff, The Golden Life, officially added the 61-year-old alum to its cast this week.

"Well, the rumors are true! I will be joining the women on The Golden Life in Palm Beach," Medley said in a statement on Feb. 17, adding that after "decades of friendship, and navigating life’s ups and downs together, it will be nice to reconnect with my 'sisters.' I am so excited to celebrate and share the next chapter of our lives!" 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by E! News (@enews)

The casting update comes after a shake-up. Original star Jill Zarin was removed from the project following controversial public remarks about Bad Bunny’s 2026 Super Bowl halftime show. Blink49 Studios confirmed they would not move forward with Zarin’s involvement "in light of recent public comments," saying the decision aligns with the studio’s "company standards and values."

Remaining RHONY alums attached to the project include Luann de Lesseps, Ramona Singer, Kelly Bensimon and Sonja Morgan, setting the stage for a reunion-heavy ensemble.

Reaction among Bravoholics has been immediate and emphatic. Across social feeds, fans argued Medley's late-entry actually boosts the show’s odds.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Blink49 Studios (@blink49studios)

"This will be much better anyway she’s entertaining," one Instagram fan wrote, a sentiment echoed in comment threads that predict the series will recapture the glamour and tension viewers wanted from earlier Palm Beach concepts. Many are even calling The Golden Life the show Members Only Palm Beach should have been. 

Why Dorinda Medley? For many viewers, this reality star brings a ready-made mix of candor, humor and emotional openness that can shift tone and tempo. She’s known for mixing vulnerability with a knack for stirring conversation – a combination producers often look for when sculpting a cast around both conflict and chemistry. With prominent RHONY personalities already onboard, her presence promises to deepen preexisting relationships and likely provide connective tissue between established rivalries and new storylines.

Photo Credit: @dorindamedley on Instagram.