Quick Read
- RHOSLC star Britani Bateman appeared on “American Idol” with her niece, Carmen, on Feb. 2, 2026.
- Bateman’s attention-seeking behavior during the audition drew widespread criticism from viewers.
- The full cast of “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” debuted on “Below Deck Down Under” Season 4 on Feb. 2, 2026.
- This marks the first time an entire “Real Housewives” cast has chartered a yacht on the “Below Deck” franchise.
- The “Below Deck Down Under” premiere featured a crew emergency before the RHOSLC guests boarded.
NEW YORK (Azat TV) – Members of Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” (RHOSLC) franchise captured significant attention this week, with one star drawing widespread criticism for her appearance on “American Idol,” while the entire cast made a historic crossover debut on “Below Deck Down Under” Season 4. Both events unfolded on Monday, February 2, 2026, marking a busy and dramatic start to the week for the Salt Lake City housewives.
Britani Bateman’s Polarizing “American Idol” Audition Drama
RHOSLC star Britani Bateman, known from Seasons 5 and 6 of the reality series, stirred controversy during her appearance on “American Idol” this past Monday night. Bateman, 54, accompanied her niece, Carmen, for an audition before judges Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, and Luke Bryan.
From the outset, Bateman sought to command the spotlight. She made a dramatic entrance, clinking a wine glass with a butter knife to demand the judges’ attention. “I have an announcement to make,” she declared, before introducing her niece by singing her nickname, “Carmelita.” Bateman then pivoted, asking the celebrity panel if they recognized her. When met with silence, she revealed her full name, only to be greeted by continued blank stares from the judges.
Carmen attempted to clarify, explaining that her aunt was on RHOSLC, but the revelation seemed to have little impact on the panel. Despite claiming, “But this is not about me,” Bateman continued to interject, even holding the butter knife teasingly in the judges’ direction after Carrie Underwood joked about its potential use if they disliked Carmen’s performance. Luke Bryan eventually directed Bateman to stand aside, asking her to “give away the spotlight” to her niece. However, Bateman stalled again, asking if the judges wanted the knife and wine glass before finally handing them to Lionel Richie.
Carmen’s audition, a rendition of “Thought It Was Love” by Ty Myers, eventually began, with Bateman visibly emotional beside her. After positive feedback, Carmen revealed she and her aunt had prepared a duet. With the judges’ approval, Bateman joined her niece for “Let Me Be Your Star” from SMASH, belting out high notes. Ultimately, Carmen’s voice won over the judges, earning her a golden ticket to Hollywood.
Despite Carmen’s success, viewers swiftly took to social media, mocking Bateman’s involvement. Fans on X and Reddit called her appearance “unnecessary,” “annoying af,” and “cringey.” One person wrote, “That Real Housewife of Salt Lake City aunt was annoying af. She wanted so bad to be on Idol and promote herself (more than her niece). Disgusting. Made herself look foolish.” Another commented, “The Real Housewife segment might be the most cringey thing ABC Idol has done, and that’s saying something.”
RHOSLC Cast Makes History on “Below Deck Down Under”
In a separate and unprecedented development for the Bravo universe, the full cast of “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” made a “franchise-first” appearance as charter guests on the Season 4 premiere of “Below Deck Down Under.” The new season debuted on Monday, February 2, at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo.
The premiere episode saw Captain Jason Chambers reunite with his all-star heads of department, including Chef Ben, Daisy, and Joao, as they set sail in the exclusive Caribbean hideaway of Canouan. The charter with the RHOSLC cast was anticipated to be high-pressure, with the housewives described as some of the most demanding guests in “Below Deck” history. Adding to the drama, the season’s opening charter was rattled by a sudden crew emergency even before the guests boarded the yacht.
For viewers without cable or those affected by the NBCUniversal blackout on FuboTV, streaming options for “Below Deck Down Under” include DIRECTV, which offers a 5-day free trial to new users, as well as Sling TV and Peacock, both of which have promotional offers available.
The simultaneous high-profile appearances of “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” stars on two distinct reality television shows highlight the increasing cross-pollination within the Bravo universe and the broader entertainment landscape, demonstrating the network’s strategy to maximize viewer engagement by leveraging popular personalities across its diverse programming.