Overview

• In a Sept. 16 Byrdie interview, DeSorbo said she had an overwhelming sense she “couldn’t go back” and believed staying would be a disservice to the show.
• She described pressures of reality TV as a kind of “brainwashing,” saying the format pushes cast members to voice thoughts that don’t reflect real life.
• DeSorbo admitted she worried leaving might end her career, but cohost Hannah Berner reminded her the network doesn’t determine her path.
• She said producers and cast discouraged showcasing her friendship with Berner, which motivated them to launch the Giggly Squad podcast to control their narrative.
• Skipping filming this summer, she focused on her Daphne brand and Giggly Squad tour, and made appearances including the US Open, Love Island USA and The Tonight Show.