Mary Fitzgerald backed up Chrishell Stause’s claim that Christine Quinn lied about having COVID-19 to get out of the “Selling Sunset” reunion.
When a TMZ photographer asked Fitzgerald outside the Oppenheim Group office Wednesday whether she believed her co-star had actually tested positive, she responded, “No. I mean, me personally? No, because we all tested on Tuesday and then again on Friday.”
Fitzgerald claimed Quinn’s results came back negative both times, so she should have been in the clear for the taping Sunday.
Fitzgerald, 41, went on to speculate that Quinn, 33, did not want to discuss all of the drama she stirred up in Seasons 4 and 5 of the Netflix series.
“Probably because she didn’t want to face everything she’s done,” Fitzgerald replied when asked why she thought Quinn may have lied about having a positive test.
“I mean, that would be my guess, but it’s sad because we all showed up,” she continued. “We didn’t want to have to talk to her about her actions, and I’m sure she didn’t want to have answers for her actions. So, we didn’t want to be there talking about it either, but it’s our job. We’re doing it.”
As for whether the show can survive without Quinn, whose absence sparked rumors she is leaving, Fitzgerald rolled her eyes and said, “I think it will be fine without her.”
But Fitzgerald thinks keeping Quinn at the brokerage would be good for ratings, conceding she is not sure that firing her would be the right move.
“Thankfully it’s not my job. I don’t want to have to make that decision,” she said about giving Quinn the boot. “I think Christine is great for the show. I just don’t think she’s good for the office. But she’s good for the show, so I’ll let that be Jason [Oppenheim] and Netflix’s decision.”
Fitzgerald also offered up some advice on how Quinn could start to redeem herself.
“Stop the crazy behavior,” she suggested, adding that if Quinn were to apologize over faking COVID, that simply would not “cut it.”
“She needs to stop doing all the messed up things she does, and she needs to apologize first and stop doing it,” she added. “And that’s the thing, she apologizes all the time, but she never stops doing it. Actions speak louder than words.”
A rep for Quinn told Page Six Tuesday that the “How to Be a Boss Bitch” author had tested positive for the coronavirus and skipped the reunion taping “out of an abundance of caution for the cast and crew.”
But when asked about why Quinn did not join via Zoom, as cast member Amanza Smith had to do due to her own COVID diagnosis, Quinn’s rep did not get back to us.
Quinn has notably stirred the pot throughout the reality show’s five seasons and likely would have been in the hot seat at the first-ever reunion.
Stause, who has feuded with Quinn since day one of filming, claims Quinn is a bully.
Their co-star Emma Hernan, meanwhile, has alleged that Quinn tried to bribe her longtime client with $5,000 to never work with the vegan empanadas queen again.
When Fitzgerald brought the bribery claims to Jason, the real estate firm’s co-founder, he started to weigh whether Quinn should be fired for her actions in the show’s season finale.
Jason, 45, has stayed mum about his thoughts on Quinn’s COVID claim, telling TMZ, “It’s not worth my time speculating. I don’t know.” He added that Quinn not showing up for the taping was a “production issue” not a “brokerage issue,” so Netflix can deal with the situation.
Jason also said he understands that Quinn is “going through some things” and it would be hard for her to show face, but he would “appreciate everybody there.”