Vicki Gunvalson Discusses Painful 2013, Hopes 2014 Will Be Better
Vicki Gunvalson experienced a lot of hardship during 2013. From being sued over her Vodka line, Vicki’s Vodka, to her on-again, off-again romance with Brooks Ayers, the Real Housewives of Orange County star has been put through the ringer. However, she’s staying positive and is hopeful that 2014 will be a better year.
“2014 is a new start for me,” Gunvalson said during a business tour in Milwaukee. “Last year was one of pain and drama.”
The majority of that pain occurred when her business partner, Robert Williamson III, sued her and Ayers for $250k, claiming that Gunvalson gifted a portion of the company to Ayers without Williamson’s knowledge and sold it back to him for a reported $50,000. According to Williamson’s suit, Gunvalson was accused of "breached contract, committed fraud, failed to live up to good faith dealings, misrepresented herself and conspired to unjustly enrich herself and partner Ayers."
Although she was later dismissed from the suit, Gunvalson’s failure to reach a settlement with Williamson resulted in her being brought back in months later. Currently, Gunvalson is still dealing with the suit.
“I used to say independence as women depended on our knowledge of our own finances. There’s more to me now,” Gunvalson continued. "Through great pain of last year, I know now that through this pain comes a clearer vision of who we are and where we are going. I have a team of strong professionals now. I didn’t before and I paid the price. I let others talk me into ventures that were not right for me — not right for my brand. That is behind me now.”
In addition to the lawsuit, Gunvalson has also been dealing with the ups and downs of her relationship with Ayers. Following the filing of the lawsuit in spring 2013, Gunvalson and Ayers parted ways, but by the time filming on The Real Housewives of Orange County began, Ayers was in the picture yet again, and appears to be someone who is still in Gunvalson’s life.
For the last few months, Gunvalson has reportedly been hard at work with Bravo, creating the ninth season of The Real Housewives of Orange County, which will feature two new wives and premiere later this year.
Also exciting for Gunvalson in 2014 is the addition of another grandson. Weeks ago, Gunvalson’s daughter, Briana Culberson, announced that she and her husband Ryan were expecting their second child.