The friendship dynamics among the Beverly Hills Housewives are so compelling that they were nominated for an MTV Movie & TV Award. It appears that Garcelle Beauvais and Sutton Stracke will support one another throughout the course of the upcoming season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
Fans will recall that Sutton assisted Garcelle in being forced into purchasing her first Birkin bag in the Season 12 finale when they saw the stunning pair giggling about horses and Birkin bags in the RHOBH Season 13 First Look. Since Season 10, viewers have had a front-row seat to the sisterly antics of Garcelle and Sutton, whether they were giggling like schoolgirls or standing up for one another.
“Garcelle and I have bonded over being divorced, single mothers who share custody with our ex-husbands, and you just kind of want somebody to talk to because we don’t have men,” Sutton told RHOBH producers in Season 12, Episode 12. “And that’s what we respect in one another.” Here is a timeline of the RHOBH ladies’ friendship over the years.
Garcelle and Sutton’s Friendship in Season 10
When the stars of RHOBH attended New York Fashion Week in Season 10, actress and model Garcelle made her big-screen debut. The Georgia-born socialite Sutton, who had been friends with Lisa Rinna for years, also made her RHOBH debut at that time, though she would continue to be a fan of the show before joining as an official Housewife.
Although they frequently crossed paths and rubbed elbows, their friendship didn’t really begin to take shape until Season 10, Episode 11, when they went out for drinks to get to know one another a bit better. Sutton would later refer to this meeting as her “favorite moment.” Sutton’s knowledge of the term “the kitchen” for the hair on the nape of the neck astounded Garcelle.
“That gave her a little cool factor just then,” Garcelle told producers.
The friendship only blossomed after the Housewives went to Rome in the latter part of the season, and Sutton invited Garcelle to attend mass at St. Peter’s Basilica.
The friendship would evolve as the months went on and became more of a focal point in RHOBH Season 11, when Sutton joined the group as an official Housewife.
Garcelle is Team Sutton
The COVID-19 lockdown affected Season 11 filming, though it didn’t hamper Garcelle and Sutton’s sisterly bond. After all, hilariously chasing vitality shots for your immune system with Fireball liquor sounds like something that could only be shared between people who really trust one another.
“In the last year, Sutton and I have spent a lot of time together,” Garcelle said. “She doesn’t seem like she’s holding anything back.”
During the break between seasons, the pair enjoyed meals and trips to the beach, but they took things full-speed when Garcelle joined Sutton to shop for a Bentley.
“Sutton is fun,” Garcelle said in a previous episode. “She’s a little odd, she’s a little kooky, but I like that.”
Their friendship withstood the drama of Season 11, and a lot of it had to do with tensions with the other castmates. Garcelle defended Sutton when newcomer Crystal Kung Minkoff — also appearing in the upcoming Season 13 — accused Sutton of being “manic.” Garcelle defended Sutton another time when things got especially heated with Erika Jayne.
Garcelle said to Crystal and Erika, “I’ve gotten close to her, and I feel like she’s quirky, she’s funny.” “I believe she is beginning to speak,” Garcelle subsequently admitted to producers that she was “Team Sutton,” which was clear when she took on the role of “resident nurse” for Sutton after she suffered a serious ankle sprain during the girls’ trip to Del Mar. Garcelle assisted in escorting Sutton in a wheelchair around the opulent Fairmont Grand Del Mar and to a sound bath. When Erika “red-handed” them talking negatively about her behind her back, they both had a nice laugh on the balcony (don’t worry, it was mostly good).
Sutton convinced Garcelle to stay on RHOBH
In another interview during Season 11, Bravo’s The Daily Dish asked the ladies to spill it all about their friendship.
“I love Garcelle with all my heart because she’s such a special person,” said Sutton. She called Garcelle a “forthcoming” and “solid friend” and someone with whom she could connect on a “deep” and “spiritual” level.
Of Sutton, Garcelle said, “We have a lot of fun,” adding, “We also have real conversations.” In an interview with ET Online, Garcelle admitted she was on the fence about returning to the Housewives franchise for another season. She said she liked being a part of the series but that filming could be “really tough” when factoring in family and self.
“I really thought about it,” she confessed. “Sutton really twisted my arm.”
By the time RHOBH Season 12 came around, Garcelle and Sutton’s friendship was on solid ground. In the season premiere, both were in Miami Beach when Garcelle was honored at the Angels for Humanity event and awarded the Distinguished Humanitarian Award. While there, Sutton even shared a meal with Garcelle’s sisters, Gladys and Chantal. Garcelle went up to bat for Sutton on several occasions throughout the turbulent season, including for the Elton John gala drama between Sutton and Lisa, in addition to Diana Jenkins.
Is their friendship still strong ahead of Season 13?
In spite of internet rumors that surfaced when a social media influencer referred to the friendship as a fraud, the sisterhood is still present as RHOBH Season 13 approaches. Fortunately, both women addressed the unfounded rumors and assured followers that their relationship remained solid.
“Garcelle and I communicate frequently through text, phone calls, and in-person visits. In a June 2023 interview with Hollywood Life, Sutton stated, “We’re going on vacation this summer. “I really love her, and we love our families together and everything. We’re really the best of friends.”
On X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Garcelle also addressed the rumor, stating, “This couldn’t be more wrong, but I don’t have to prove anything.” Sutton responded to Garcelle’s post by calling the friendship the “best thing that’s happened to me in a decade.” Both women were nominated for Best Reality On-Screen Team at the 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards, though it was the women of Vanderpump Rules for the win. The RHOBH was also nominated for Best Docu-Reality Series.
In recent weeks, Garcelle and Sutton attended a Dodgers game and (separately) gave all Friday feels at the Beverly Hills Hotel. On September 20, 2023, Garcelle posted an adorable slideshow for her “beautiful friend’s” birthday, stating: “I adore you and our friendship.” We’re excited to see their friendship evolve in Season 13 of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, premiering Wednesday, October 25 at 8/7c on Bravo.