Cohen is also an executive producer of the network's popular and expansive "Real Housewives" empire, hosts and produces pop-culture nostalgia series "Andy Cohen's Then & Now," and is set to host the upcoming revival of "Love Connection."
"I think the thing that's always gotten me to the next level is passion and excitement that's genuine and authentic for whatever I'm doing," Cohen told Business Insider. He says that positivity and passion for a brand or a job can translate into confidence without stinking of arrogance and unseemly self-assuredness.
Following is a transcript of the video.
ANDY COHEN: I think, for me, the thing that's always gotten me to the next level is passion and excitement that's genuine and authentic for whatever I'm doing. And I think that that can be infectious and appealing to people, if you really are excited and confident about your brand or your job or your organization or what you're doing.
And I think that that's — I think that positivity and passion kind of translates sometimes into confidence and having your s--- together, even though you may not. And that's a good thing.
How do you be persistent without being annoying? I don't know if I know the answer to that, because you're dealing also with someone else's mood, and you can't control that.
Because if you keep coming at someone and they want no part of it, then ... but if they see something in you that they want to help, then they will.
I think there might be some charm that goes in there and some pluck and some luck. Which is why you just also have to keep trying.
Bravo released a new trailer for the second season of "The Real Housewives of Dallas."
It returns on Monday, August 14 at 10 p.m.
Two new housewives join this season: D'Andra Simmons and Kameron Westcott.
"The Real Housewives of Dallas" is set to return this summer for a second season filled with broken glass, hot dog jokes, feuding socialites, and even flesh-eating diseases.
Cary Deuber, Stephanie Hollman, LeeAnne Locken and Brandi Redmond open up their lives for us once again and are joined by two new housewives.
D'Andra Simmons, a wealthy Dallas native who seeks to take control over her family's company. Then there's Kameron Westcott, a Dallas organic dog food developer who uses her blonde bombshell looks as a weapon. Some of the housewives even refer to her as the "real life Elle Woods" from "Legally Blonde."
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
As usual, there's no shortage of drama. It's especially fiery between former best friends Brandi Redmond and Stephanie Hollman who haven't talked in months, causing a rift within their group of friends. Leanne Locken is working hard on repairing her reputation in Dallas and facing her anger management issues head on. Meanwhile, Cary Deuber is trying figure out the balance between being a mom to her daughter Zuri and working at the office with her husband Mark.
"The Real Housewives of Dallas" returns Monday, August 14 at 10:00 p.m. on Bravo.
Watch the drama unfold in the new season two trailer:
Lydia McLaughlin says that the time was right for her to return to Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Orange County."
"It was actually really hard to decide to leave," McLaughlin told INSIDER of quitting the show after just one season in 2013. "I think a lot of people thought I was crazy. One of the producers actually said, 'It’s lightning in a bottle and it doesn’t happen twice,' because I told them maybe I’ll just take a break. I just felt like my kids were really young and I wanted to have another kid close in age to them. And so it was the right decision for my family, but it was hard."
Four years later, McLaughlin and her husband, Doug, have added on to her family with a third son and they've created a new high-end men's magazine called "Nobleman." With that, McLaughlin decided to end her break and continue her story on the 12th season of Bravo's longest-running "Real Housewives" show.
"I think that’s a really interesting kind of story to follow, the two of us really going out, and taking a risk, and starting a magazine, working together, just the two of us to fulfill our dreams," the 36-year-old said.
"And then obviously having the new baby being two years old, I felt like he was old enough where he literally isn’t attached to me nursing anymore, so I can be more involved and kind of have something on my own," she continued. "Those six months of taping 'Real Housewives' were great, it was much better even than last time."Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
After the first time around, McLaughlin said she learned some important lessons about trust that she brought with her to this season.
"Last time, I was really nervous about editing or sharing something, for example, my faith is really important to me and sacred in my life, and I was nervous a lot times when I was filming and talking about that," she said. "I was scared about the way it would be portrayed or how it might be edited. And this time around, I was just more free with it. I think if you do a reality show, you really have to trust the production and trust that your story will get told."
Although she was more prepared for the rigors of production, McLaughlin was somewhat blindsided by the level of feuding between her cast mates. She hasn't caught up on the show after she left – referring to seeing what was happening on the show and with her cast mates without her as "bittersweet," so she didn't have an accurate idea of where the women's relationships stood.
"I hadn’t watched it, so I was assuming that they don’t like each other right now, but they just need to talk and it’ll be fine," the self-titled "Friendship Whisperer" told us.
"And then I quickly realized it’s not something that talking is necessarily going to help, it might make it worse. These ladies have really hurt each other and there’s a lot of pain there, so maybe they’re not ready to move on. You know, a cup of coffee and a lunch date isn’t going to help. So I kind of had to reevaluate my plan and try to figure out what the best thing is for everybody."
"The Real Housewives of Orange County" returns Monday at 9 p.m. on Bravo.
TV personality Heather Dubrow has an unbelievable, 500-square-foot closet.
In a recent episode of "Bonkers Closets," Dubrow took INSIDER into her luxurious space.
She shared her impressive collection of designer items.
Highlights include nearly 50 Chanel handbags and over 200 pairs of designer shoes.
She also has a Champagne doorbell and a floor-to-ceiling selfie mirror.
Heather Dubrow spent five seasons on "The Real Housewives of Orange County," and now she stars in her own YouTube channel, Heather's Closet.
The actress often takes viewers behind the scenes of her impressive space, but she shared exclusive details about her closet and her most prized possessions in a recent episode of INSIDER's "Bonkers Closets."
Dubrow's closet is 500-square-feet of sparkling silk floors.
Walk a few steps into her closet, and you'll see two large chandeliers, black sparkling carpet made from silk, and a luminous, full-length mirror.
INSIDER's senior correspondent Aly Weisman told us that the "custom-made, three panel, floor-to-ceiling mirror with built in selfie lighting" was the most mind-blowing part of her wardrobe. To put it in perspective, Weisman told us that Dubrow said the Kardashians have something similar, but it's not as big as the one in her closet.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
But beyond the incredible decor that makes her space look like a high-end lounge, Dubrow has shelves upon shelves of designer bags, shoes, and clothing.
Dubrow owns just under 50 Chanel purses, some of which are incredibly special. In the video, the television personality notes one of her favorites, a sparkling ombré Chanel bag which, as you can see below, is dripping in crystals.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Dubrow also pulled out one of her first Chanel purchases — a black and gold quilted chain belt with a mini purse attached to the front. She bought the $1,750 accessory after earning her first paycheck for an acting job when she was just 16 years old, she said in the "Bonkers Closets" episode.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Her purses are impressive, but she has an even larger selection of shoes.
When it comes to footwear, Dubrow has over 200 pairs of designer shoes. This collection includes multiple pairs of fancy Valentino Rockstuds, which range from $995 to $1745 each. But her go-to, everyday shoes are her flat espadrilles. She owns many pairs by Chanel, and they start at $600 each.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
What really puts this star's closet over the top is her infamous Champagne doorbell.
In the video, she explains that the concept was inspired by Instagram pictures that said "press for Champagne." When she decided to have the Champagne button made for her closet, she wanted it to actually function. One touch and the button rings down to the kitchen for the sparkling beverage.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
But beyond the glamour, Dubrow's most coveted items are really sentimental.
In her collection of Hermès scarves, she treasures one that was passed down to her from her grandmother. She also wanted to highlight a handmade brooch in her collection of designer ones. "It was sweet that Heather said a brooch made by her young daughter was her most prized possession," Weisman said.
When it comes to material possessions, it seems that Dubrow's favorite Coco Chanel quote rings true: "The best things in life are free. The second best are very expensive."
To get the full tour of Dubrow's unbelievable closet, watch the "Bonkers Closets" video below.
Sign up here to get INSIDER's favorite stories straight to your inbox.
Bethenny Frankel is a reality TV star and a successful businesswoman.
She stars on the show "Real Housewives of New York," and has been in other Bravo series.
Her exact net worth is unknown. But in 2011, she sold Skinnygirl Cocktails for a reported $100 million. Since then, she's expanded Skinnygirl into a global lifestyle brand.
Frankel is currently in the news because of the sudden death of her on-again, off-again boyfriend Dennis Shields.
On Friday, Bethenny Frankel's on-again-off-again-boyfriend, Dennis Shields, was found dead in his apartment, of a suspected overdose.
Shields had made multiple appearances on "The Real Housewives of New York," the reality TV show in which Frankel stars. Frankel had said of their relationship, "It's like a partnership where if we're not being teammates and it's not working and one man is down, then the other man is down."
A self-professed "hustler," Frankel is best known for her starring role on the reality-TV show "Real Housewives of New York;" for founding Skinnygirl Cocktails and selling it for a reported $100 million; and for writing bestselling books. She's also mother to an eight-year-old girl.
Below, take a look at Frankel’s path to success, as well as a peek into her personal life.
Bethenny Frankel, 47, isn't just a reality TV star — she's also a successful businesswoman.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Frankel was born in 1970. Her late father was a horse trainer; he left the family when she was four. Frankel has described her childhood as dysfunctional, citing "gambling, drinking, drugs, eating disorders, and physical abuse."
Joe Giudice will be deported to Italy after finishing his prison sentence for fraud next year, a judge ruled.
Joe is a legal permanent resident who has lived in the US since he was a toddler, but he never obtained citizenship.
After being released in March, he is expected to be transferred into ICE custody and has 30 days to appeal his case.
The husband of "Real Housewives of New Jersey" star Teresa Giudice has been ordered to be deported to Italy after finishing his prison sentence for fraud next year.
Joe, a legal permanent resident whose real name is Giuseppe Giudice, started a three-year federal prison sentence in March 2016 after being indicted on charges of fraud alongside Teresa.
On Wednesday, a Pennsylvania immigration court judge ordered Joe be deported from the United States when he is released from prison in March of 2019, according to Page Six.
Joe is expected to be transferred into ICE custody upon his release and has 30 days to appeal his case, E! News reported.
The 46-year-old is an Italian citizen who moved to the United States as a toddler.
Though all of his siblings and parents became citizens of the US, Joe never went through the process and lives in the states as a "Lawful Permanent Resident of the United States,"Forbes previously reported.
And despite living legally in the US for more than 40 years, Joe can now be deported because of his felony conviction.
He is currently serving his 41-month sentence at FCI Allenwood in Pennsylvania and was previously at FCI Fort Dix, where he complained he was not able to participate in an alcohol abuse program.
Joe married Teresa in 1999 and the couple have four daughters together: Gia, 17, Gabriella, 14, Milania, 12, and Audriana, 9.
In 2014, the couple pleaded guilty to 41 counts of fraud.
Teresa, who spent 15 months in prison for the crimes, said earlier this year that she planned to move to Italy if Joe was deported.
“I mean, Italy’s a beautiful place to live,” she said. “I wouldn’t mind, you know, I’m just saying. Listen, whatever God has planned for me, that’s what’s going to happen. I will embrace it the best I can.”
The "Real Housewives" franchise make up some of Bravo's most popular shows, spanning from New York to Beverly Hills and beyond.
What goes on behind the scenes may be even more dramatic than what you see on television.
These are 17 things you probably didn't know about the "Real Housewives" franchise.
From the outside, Bravo's "Real Housewives" appears ultra-glam. There are luxurious trips, fancy cars, and designer clothes, all appearing among drama-packed feuds as well as silly, meme-worthy moments.
Sometimes, it's hard to know what exactly is real about the popular reality show. Are those phone calls happening in real time? Is the drama organic?
These 17 strange, little-known facts prove that sometimes the truth behind the glamorous world of reality television is much stranger than fiction – and the lines between the two are often blurry.
The "Real Housewives" franchise isn't limited just to the United States.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Though the show has seen hundreds of wives in its iterations across the country, spanning from Beverly Hills and Orange County to New York and New Jersey, those aren't the only wives on TV screens.
International versions of the show, including "Real Housewives of Vancouver,""Real Housewives of Athens," and "Real Housewives of Israel," are broadcast in their respective countries.
Vicki Gunvalson is the first (and longest-running) housewife in the original franchises.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Gunvalson was a member of the original "Real Housewives of Orange County" cast, which made up the very first version of the show.
Over nearly 13 years, fans have seen Gunvalson in just about any and every situation, from screaming about "never having been with multiple partners" on a ski slope to screaming about being forced to ride in a "family van" to the airport.
"Real Housewives of Atlanta" scores the highest ratings most consistently.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
The wives of Atlanta tend to garner the most consistent ratings. Nene Leakes was, at one point, considered the "highest rated" castmate in the franchise. At its peak, "RHOA" captured an audience of nearly 4 million live viewers.
Recently, though, "Real Housewives of Orange County" came out on top in terms of ratings. Currently, it's the most-watched version of the series.
Joe Giudice, the husband of "Real Housewives of New Jersey" star Teresa Giudice, was released from a federal prison and is now being held at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility as he waits to see if he'll be deported back to Italy.
Joe is an Italian citizen and legal permanent resident of the US. While he has lived in the country for decades, he could be deported due to his felony conviction.
Joe and Teresa Giudice pleaded guilty in 2014 to charges of bankruptcy fraud. He was sentenced to 41 months in prison.
The husband of "Real Housewives of New Jersey" star Teresa Giudice is officially out of the slammer, and is now being held at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in Pennsylvania as he waits to see if he'll be deported back to Italy.
Joe Giudice, a legal permanent resident in the US, was sentenced to 41 months in prison after pleading guilty in 2014 to charges of bankruptcy fraud, alongside his wife. He submitted false loan applications to access millions of dollars in mortgages and construction loans, and he also admitted to not paying about $200,000 in income taxes, according to The Associated Press. His federal sentence coincided with an 18-month sentence for unlawful use of an ID and impersonation.
A judge in Pennsylvania ruled in October that Giudice, an Italian citizen who moved to the US as a toddler, would be deported from the United States after his release from prison. While his siblings and parents did become US citizens, Joe opted not to go through the process. He said through his attorneys that he wasn't aware he wasn't an American citizen.
Teresa Giudice served around a year in prison before being released in December 2015, later returning to the "Real Housewives of New Jersey" franchise. She told Andy Cohen that her husband "has tremendous guilt, but he's very positive, very strong." Despite that, she said she likely wouldn't move to Italy with her children if he was ultimately deported.
Giudice has filed an appeal to fight the deportation order.
A post shared by Gia Giudice (@_giagiudice) on Oct 14, 2018 at 6:14pm PDT on
The couple's oldest daughter, 18-year-old Gia Giudice, sent her dad positive wishes after his release last week, writing in an Instagram story that she was "sending you my love and strength today,"according to Page Six. In October, she wrote that "my father is no threat to society he is one of the most warm hearted people I know... my father belongs with us and his entire family."
Andy Cohen is one of television's most ubiquitous celebrities, appearing on television, online, and even on the radio.
After starting his career in broadcast journalism, Cohen turned his love for television into a career that's brought him gigs alongside "Housewives," in pageants, and even on game shows.
See how Andy Cohen went from being an intern to eventually taking over popular media.
Andrew Joseph Cohen was born in St. Louis, Missouri on June 2, 1968.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
He attended Missouri's Clayton High School before going to Boston University, where he studied broadcast journalism in the school's College of Communication and graduated in 1990.
During his last summer in college, Cohen interned at CBS News, where he interviewed actress Susan Lucci, an opportunity Cohen has since said "changed my life."
In addition to keeping up a daily blog about the network, Cohen began to move to on-camera opportunities.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
After hosting a web-show companion to "Top Chef," Cohen first hosted a reunion in 2007 that featured the "Real Housewives of Orange County" cast, the first of the Housewives franchise.
"It was a real big deal,"Cohen later told People of the gig. "I was really nervous, and you can see it on how my lips are. If you ever see the show, I am trying to be comfortable, and my face is a little tense. I'm trying to be relaxed — I'm, like, pretending to be a TV host."
After his first hosting gigs, "Watch What Happens: Live" debuted in 2009, making Cohen the unique combination of a high-level executive and on-air host.
Cohen also made waves as reports called him the first openly gay late-night host.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
The executive-turned public personality had spoken openly about being gay as early as 2007, at the beginning of his rise at Bravo.
Cohen published his first book in May 2012, titled "Most Talkative: Stories from the Front Lines of Pop Culture."
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Cohen's star power reached new heights in 2014, when WWHL took over five nights a week and he stepped down from his day job.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Cohen hosted figures from all corners of television and popular media in his new full-time role.
That same year, Cohen published his second book, titled "The Andy Cohen Diaries: A Deep Look at a Shallow Year."
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Published in November 2014, the book was modeled after Andy Warhol's published collection of near-daily diaries that captured his life among celebrities and personalities in New York City.
Cohen's book and public image prominently feature the beagle-foxhound mix named Wacha that he adopted in November 2013.
Cohen became a celebrity in his own right as he was often spotted alongside fellow television and media personalities.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
He has appeared at some of the most exclusive events, accompanying his good friend, actress Sarah Jessica Parker to the invite-only Met Gala multiple times.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Cohen made a heavenly cameo in Lady Gaga's music video for her song "G.U.Y.," which debuted in March 2014.
In September 2015, Sirius XM announced Cohen would be developing his brand in another medium.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
The company announced Cohen would curate a channel of his own name featuring shows hosted by figures including himself, Sandra Bernhard, and Dan Rather.
In June 2016, it was announced that Cohen was launching his own imprint ahead of publishing his third book.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Andy Cohen Books, an imprint of Henry Holt and Co., was launched in the spirit of Cohen's "unique ability to discover compelling personal narratives."
The sequel to his best-selling "Diaries,""Superficial: More Adventures From the Andy Cohen Diaries" was later published on November 15, 2016.
Cohen replaced Kathy Griffin to join his good friend, CNN anchor Anderson Cooper as a "New Years Live" co-host and has been a fixture on the show since 2017.
"We show videos — things we never show on TV — and try to surprise each other with new material because we know each other's stories so well," Cooper said. "We like to top each other: 'What stories can I get Andy to tell, and how far can he go?'"
Cohen hosted Fox game show revival "Love Connection" for two seasons before it was scrapped by the network.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
The dating show's second season saw disappointing viewership before Cohen announced the cancellation on Howard Stern's radio show in the summer of 2018.
In December 2018, Cohen revealed he was expecting a baby with a surrogate. He shared his newborn's face for the first time in a February 2019 People magazine cover.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Cohen started making the media rounds with his son, Benjamin Allen, in mid-February, and said though he knew it "wasn't easy" to raise a baby without a partner, it was "a dream."
"It's not that easy for a single guy to do this on his own. It takes a village, as they say,"Cohen said on the "Today" show. "So I really wanted him and the fact that he's here and he's so perfect and he's in wonderful health — I have great gratitude for my surrogate and all the people who helped me get to this place. I'm just thrilled. It's truly a dream."
Cohen has an active philanthropic record and was honored in May 2019 with the Vito Russo Award at the GLAAD Media Awards, which marks significant achievements for the LGBTQ community.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
"To be gay today is something that I am so thankful for, but it's a fight that's not over and it's a fight that I'm committed to even more so now that I'm a father,"Cohen said while accepting the award.
"When Benjamin was born three months ago, I looked into his eyes and I saw there was no hate, no bias, no bigotry, just love. That's how we come into this world, and that is how hopefully one day we will all live in it."
"I was like, 'Listen. Later, in like 20 years, 30 years, what do you think of me going on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills?' I'm like, 'Just for like, a year.' He was like… 'I would kill you,'" she said.
She later played the game, "Make Love, Marry, Murder," with her choices all being from the "RHOBH" cast.
Andrea Savage invited Mila Kunis to be a guest on her "A Grown-Up Woman" podcast, and the actress revealed that her husband doesn't want her to join the reality show's cast.
"I was like, 'Listen. Later, in like 20 years, 30 years, what do you think of me going on 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills?' I'm like, 'Just for like, a year," Kunis recalled asking Kutcher.
"He was like… 'I would kill you,'" she said.
Since the "Black Swan" star loves "RHOBH," Savage prepared a game called "Make Love, Marry, Murder," with the choices being husbands from the show.
Her options were Dorit Kemsley's husband Paul Kemsley, Lisa Rinna's husband Harry Hamlin, and Kyle Richards' husband Mauricio Umansky.
When it came time to choose, Kunis decided to "make love" to Hamlin, "marry" Umansky, and "murder" Kemsley.
She clarified that she didn't want to "offend" anyone, and that she thought the Kemsleys made a "lovely" couple.
"But like in this game… he's dead. But hopefully like a painless death," the Bad Moms star said. "Like, instant death. So no suffering."
They then played the game again, but with the housewives as the three options.
Kunis decided she would kill off Dorit Kemsley, explaining that "she seems very high maintenance and she would be really expensive to get married to." She chose to tie the knot with Richards, and "have fun" with Rinna.
The "Friends With Benefits" star has admitted to being a "RHOBH" fan in the past.
In August 2018, she appeared on ABC's "Live with Kelly and Ryan" during an episode in which Rinna filled in for Kelly Ripa.
When Ryan Seacrest told the reality star that Kunis was "obsessed" with her show, Kunis responded, "Obsessed is a harsh word. I just have seen every episode."
She elaborated: "Here's the thing. I love "The Real Housewives." It didn't matter to me if it was Atlanta, Orange County, Jersey, Potomac, I was obsessed with it... and then Beverly Hills hit."
"I was like, 'That's my hood!' You people are crazy," she told Rinna. She added that she's seen every episode, including the reunion episodes and any videos of "unseen footage."
"I love it. Needless to say, this is very exciting for me, I gotta tell you. It's such a treat," she said to Rinna.
2019 produced several popular internet trends and viral memes, including "woman yelling at a cat," which uses side-by-side photos of a woman yelling and an angry white cat sitting at a table.
The cat in the picture is named Smudge, and he's used to getting his own seat at the dinner table, his owner, Miranda Stillabower, told Business Insider. He first appeared on Tumblr in 2018.
The woman in the photo — Taylor Armstrong, a former "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star — told Business Insider that the screenshot of her was from a particularly emotional and stressful time but that she could now look back and "laugh at things and be lighthearted about it."
Even though neither image was posted online this year, the composite of the two photos blew up this year after someone posted them together on Twitter in May.
There's no reason for you to know about a white cat named Smudge who lives in Canada, except that he's the face of one of the most popular memes of 2019.
However, the meme's story doesn't start on May 1, when a Twitter user with the handle @missingegirl shared the first known tweet with these pictures side by side.
The massively viral tweet— which has over 350,000 likes and comments — not only launched the composite image into 2019's mainstream memeosphere, but demonstrated the internet's ability to bring a second life to outdated content that didn't take off the first time around.
The origin story of 'woman yelling at a cat'
It didn't take long for Miranda Stillabower, an Ontario resident, to realize in 2015 that her new cat was an especially anxious guy. He was, like a lot of cats, antisocial when strangers came into their home. But when others weren't around, he would cuddle and beg for pets — as well as demand his own seat at the dinner table.
"He gets upset if he doesn't have his own seat," Stillabower told Business Insider in an email. "Sometimes we have people over and don't have room to fit his chair. As soon as someone gets up from the table, he jumps on the nearest chair."
That's how Smudge found himself — and how the rest of the world would soon see him — in front of a plate of salad. Stillabower says Smudge has a "very expressive" face, and he visibly and vehemently showed his distaste for the vegetables in front of him.
Stillabower posted Smudge's face on her personal Tumblr in June 2018, with the caption "He no like vegetals" and low expectations. She often posted pictures of her pets online; the photo of Smudge was just one of many.
Yet this one was different. It captured the attention of Tumblr users, for whatever reason — perhaps because of the internet-jargon-filled caption, or the unique face Smudge shows. Stillabower says it's because of how adorable he is but admits she may be biased. Her post accrued thousands of notes and reposts, which was nothing compared with the attention Smudge would get less than a year later.
The woman pictured next to Smudge in the meme is a bit further removed from her experience, in a moment that's now immortalized in nearly every part of the internet. Taylor Armstrong was a cast member on "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" in December 2011 and dealing with the fallout of her divorce — in which she accused her husband of domestic abuse— and his death by suicide shortly after. After another housewife started to gossip about the abuse, the shot was born: Armstrong, held back by her fellow cast member Kyle Richards, as she yells at the woman.
However, that TV moment was eight years ago, and Armstrong said she could now look back and "laugh at things and be lighthearted about it."
Armstrong told Business Insider that the emotions she was experiencing in the photo in the meme "have no impact on me at this point, it was so very long ago," adding, "My life is in such a great place now."
But neither Armstrong nor Smudge and his owner anticipated how rapidly and drastically their shared meme would catch on after its debut on Twitter. Stillabower quickly learned how to turn off notifications after the influx made her phone unusable.
"I think people like the meme so much because of how versatile it is," Stillabower told Business Insider. "You can use it for almost any scenario you could think of. Also, Smudge's face is pretty relatable in general."
Just as TikTok did to Lil Nas X, the viral meme turned Smudge into a star. He's become arguably the most popular online feline since Grumpy Cat. His viral fame has earned him 1.4 million Instagram followers and an official "Smudgeposting" Facebook group with 23,000 members who want to share their favorite iterations of the meme with Smudge's owners. Smudge appears on a variety of official merchandise, as well as lots of fan-made home decor and Christmas sweaters found on Etsy and Amazon.
Unfortunately, Smudge and Armstrong have never had the chance to meet each other in person or reenact the meme for the internet's delight. However, Stillabower said she'd exchanged messages with Armstrong and discussed meeting up in the future — if Smudge feels comfortable leaving home.
"If Smudge were able to meet her in person for a photo, I would definitely be interested," Stillabower said. "However, that would be Smudge's call."
