Dr. Nicole Martin addressed a claim she was ‘replaced’ by newbie Stephanie Shojaee, the alleged ex of her husband Anthony Lopez, as Nicole shared why she thinks Stephanie was brought on. The Real Housewives of Miami alum also hinted at if she believes she’ll ever return, and she claimed the show can be “toxic.”
Back in September, Nicole said she left the show due to postpartum anxiety following the birth of her second child. She made the announcement right as the cast began filming the latest season.
On her Instagram Stories, via fan account @queensofbravo, Nicole addressed a viewer who asked how it feels to be “replaced” by Stephanie, who, according to the fan account, is the alleged ex of her husband Anthony.
“I’ve never met Steph and don’t know her. But [I] can totally see why they wanted her on the show,” wrote Nicole over a photo where she’s closing a clapperboard. “She brings alot to RHOM – successful business, marriage, lifestyle.”
Nicole also hinted that Stephanie brings “opulence” and has “ties to the cast.”
“Seems reasonable to me,” she added.
In another post, Nicole was asked if she believes she’ll ever return to the franchise.
“Not sure,” she said. “I keep in touch with some of the girls and miss aspects of filming (my friends, the crew, production, the glam etc.”
“But it can also be a very toxic environment at times,” she explained. “Right now – my peace of mind and family are top priority.”
As for how she feels about her decision to leave, Nicole said she’s as “happy” as her newborn.
“I’ve loved having more time to prioritize my health & family,” she wrote.
On September 13, Nicole confirmed her exit from the show.
“After [my] pregnancy, I started to suffer from significant postpartum anxiety—something new that I did not experience with my previous pregnancy. It all started about a week after giving birth when I found myself having an overwhelming sense of worry and fear out of nowhere. It felt like my mind was constantly on high alert, panicked and worrying endlessly about the health of my baby, myself, and my family,” she wrote on Instagram at the time. “Given where I am right now, I have decided not to return to RHOM. Prioritizing my health and my family is something I need to do at this moment. It’s a step towards healing and finding balance, and I hope you can understand and support this choice.”
Season seven of The Real Housewives of Miami is expected to air later this year or early 2025 on Bravo.
