9 times the ‘Real Housewives’ husbands were super-sexist

Josh Taekman

When Kristen Taekman first came onto The Real Housewives of New York City, she fit right in with the other ladies. She definitely was no stranger to drama, mainly because of how her husband, Josh Taekman, acted around her.

Not only did Josh (on more than one occasion) treat Kristen with complete disrespect, but the way he spoke to her was awful. Firstly, he always expected her to have dinner waiting on the table for him. Secondly, he seemed to think it was OK for him to be at work 24/7, because she was meant to be in the home, taking care of their kids.

Finally, there was also one time Kristen was filming a workout video and Josh decided it was best to oversee it and then criticize her (scroll to the 26-minute mark to see it for your own eyes) because, you know, that’s what a supportive husband does.

Joe Gorga

Ugh. Joe Gorga… where to even begin? Ever since he first appeared on The Real Housewives of New Jersey, he made it very clear to viewers and to his wife, Melissa Gorga, that he believed in “traditions” and wanted his wife to stay home, cook for him and take care of his kids. Well, he was in for a rude awakening when, in Season 7, Melissa opened up her own boutique and told Joe he would need to share in the duties of raising their kids and taking care of the home.

Do you think that went over well? Hell no. Since Season 7, Episode 1, Joe voiced how much he did not want Melissa dedicating 100 percent of herself to her career. Then, in Episode 4, he really showed his sexist side when he complained that Melissa was only “dealing with clothes” compared to his expensive and important job.

This was only the tip of Joe’s sexism.

Joe Gorga, part 2

Yes, Joe needs two slides because he’s that sexist. In Season 7, Episode 10, Joe hit his breaking point with Melissa working and sat her down to have a little talk with her. He explained how he “wasn’t brought up to do this” and that he brings in “cake” compared to her “crumbs.”

If you think that’s bad, Joe even said what she’s doing is a “joke.” Don’t worry, because Melissa put him in his place and told him to never speak to her that way or demean her success.

Jim Marchese

In Season 6 of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, Amber and Jim Marchese joined the show. They quickly made a bad name for themselves, but especially Jim for how he spoke to the other women. On more than one occasion he was criticized for his sexist ways, but don’t worry, because, as he said during the reunion, most people are sexist on the show.

According to Jim, because women are his equal, he only speaks to them exactly how he would talk to any man. During an October 2014 appearance on Watch What Happens Live, he also said about his treatment of women, “I don’t think I talk down to women at all. Here’s the issue, Andy. We live in a society where men and women are equal, and when a woman engages me in a specific manner and uses specific language, she’s behaving how you or I or another gentleman would behave. If you’re going to call a man a dick, a vagina… you’re no longer a lady to me. You’re one of the guys, and if you want to behave like a guy, I’m going to give you the respect and treat you just like you treated me. So I’m actually the only nonsexist in the group, because I treat everyone equally.”

Jim Bellino

Alexis Bellino was one Housewife on The Real Housewives of Orange County that you either loved or you didn’t. When it came to her husband, Jim Bellino, many hated him — a lot — and due to his sexist ways.

Remember when Alexis got a gig with a Fox News station? She was trying to expand her horizons and pursue other things, which was great. Well, Jim didn’t think so. She once told him that she’d like to hire an acting coach to help her on-camera skills, to which Jim responded (via The Stir), “I just don’t see how this fits in to being a wife and mother.”

Yes, because a woman is only good for being a wife and a mother, right?

David Foster

As supportive as David Foster was most of the time to Yolanda Hadid on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, there were times when he demonstrated sexism. 

For example, in Season 6, Yolanda decided to remove her breast implants as part of her ongoing battle with Lyme disease. Well, David made one comment that was not OK. He said to Lisa Vanderpump about Yolanda’s decision, “Let’s just say this, Ken has better tits than her now.”

Did he mean it as a joke? Probably, but that doesn’t give him a pass. It could very well be something that didn’t bother Yolanda either, but there’s no getting around the fact that his remark was really unsupportive of her choice and at a time that was and continues to be difficult for Yolanda. Also, a woman is so much more than her body and physical attributes. 

Kordell Stewart

Before getting divorced in 2014, Kordell Stewart was known for his “controlling” ways of Porsha Williams during his time on The Real Housewives of Atlanta. 

As NeNe Leakes detailed in a March 2013 Bravo blog, in Las Vegas, Porsha clearly stated that Kordell would not be happy with her for going to a strip club. NeNe continued that Porsha even said that “he had already let her go from Cali to LA!” The emphasis on “let” is NeNe’s way of saying that Porsha can make her own decisions and should. It was never Kordell’s right to tell her what she could and couldn’t do, in addition to what he expected of her during their marriage.

Based on Porsha’s actions in recent seasons of RHOA, she’s truly a different person and is living life 100 percent for herself.

Travis Hollman

During The Real Housewives of Dallas Season 1, Stephanie Hollman’s husband, Travis Hollman, left a bad taste in viewers’ mouths with his treatment of his wife.

The fact that Travis left her a “chore list” was not a huge selling point for Travis. He was all about leaving her lists of things she needed to get done around the house, which is ridiculous. It’s kind of like Travis treated her like a child, right?

Fortunately Stephanie confronted him and told him “no more lists.” She even said that he needed to trust her more. In her May 2016 Bravo blog, Stephanie wrote, “The decision to talk with Travis about his micromanaging the house was a difficult but good decision. I know how hard it will be for him, but do love that he heard me and is willing to change. Communication is important to both of us but sometimes I hold back and don’t ask for what I want or need. I recognize that I cannot expect change if I don’t ask for it. We were raised very differently and it has been a struggle at times to understand each other’s styles and ways of thinking. However, marriage is about balance of giving and taking, striving to understand differences and celebrating successes. This was a success.”

Simon Barney

Throughout his marriage to Tamra Judge and time on The Real Housewives of Orange County, Simon Barney was repeatedly called out for being “controlling.” It’s actually something he addressed in a December 2009 Bravo blog, where he defended himself after becoming known as “Simon the controlling evil husband.”

In his blog, he wrote, “I have been presented over and over as being controlling. Yes, it’s true! I admit it again. I am controlling! Controlling the damage and protecting my family. If you have seen my wife in the last few seasons, you know that if I was controlling I must suck at it. Or on the other hand if I am controlling, can you just imagine what she would be like if I wasn’t?”

Part of his defense may not make fans look at him any differently, especially when he opened his post by saying this, “According to Tamra, on both trips there was one housewife whose behavior as a married woman was inappropriate. So no! I don’t approve of my wife going on a girls trip with that housewives anymore.” 

Take note that Barney used the word “approve” when talking about what he thought was best for Tamra at the time.