20 of our favorite reality TV pot stirrers

Janelle Pierzina is a Big Brother legend who competed in four seasons — known for her winning capabilities and love for conflict. She may never compete on a full-length season of BB again; however, fans can catch her in Season 2 of The Traitors when it airs on Peacock. 

Even though Tami Roman has given up reality TV in place of scripted television, she’s still dearly missed on VH1’s Basketball Wives and The Real World franchise. While on reality TV, Roman was responsible for several explosive moments in locations like Miami and Portugal. 

Basketball Wives was full of over-the-top characters who were unafraid to mince words, and Jennifer Williams is a prime example. Not only did she provoke commotion with her then-husband and foes, but she also had passionate arguments with her best friend, Evelyn.  

Whitney is the resident pot stirrer on Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. Not only is she unafraid to call a spade a spade, but she’s also willing to hold her co-stars accountable. 

Shereè has starred on The Real Housewives of Atlanta since the series began in 2008. Consequently, she knows all about stirring the pot to make a great show.

Phaedra is primarily known for her shade-throwing ability on The Real Housewives of Atlanta, but we can’t forget she’s a pro at adding fuel to the fire. Even though she’s no longer on RHOA, she’s the newest cast member on Bravo’s Married to Medicine, and it’s safe to say even after a few years off the air, she’s still got it.

She’s no longer on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, but Lisa Vanderpump’s ability to create an exciting storyline was fascinating. She was so strategic that her co-stars said being friends with her was like playing chess with Bobby Fischer. 

After years of being a recurring cast member who doubled as the group’s biggest fashionista on RHOA, Marlo has transitioned into the new role of chief instigator among her co-stars Sanya, Drew, Kandi, and Kenya — and she does it flawlessly.   

Martell isn’t the nicest guy on the block, especially if you ask his ex-wife, but he knows how to make an entertaining reality show. He’s kept the chaos going on Love & Marriage: Huntsville for the last six seasons with issues of infidelity, baby rumors, and one messy divorce. 

When it comes to Summer and Winter House, the one thing you can count on is this Bravo beauty will be there to disrupt the peace. Whether it's between couples, friends, or guests, Danielle Olivera is committed to keeping this show’s drama carousel spinning. 

Bobby Lytes is known for his Love & Hip Hop appearances; however, his House of Villains stint has been far more entertaining.  

Despite only a three-season run, Meghan King certainly left a mark on The Real Housewives of Orange County. During her first season, she went head-to-head with reality TV giant Vicki Gunvalson and her then-boyfriend over a fraudulent cancer diagnosis. Along the way, she uncovered a surprising truth. 

Garcelle asks the tough questions, says what everybody else is thinking, and does it all with pride. Can we admit she’s one of the best additions to The Real Housewives this franchise has ever seen? 

Sutton is still a newer cast member on RHOBH, but in just four seasons, she’s quickly become one of the show’s most vital cast members, provoking several of the group’s most explosive fights. 

Pauly D flies under the radar as a reality TV pot stirrer, but we see him. He’s continued to shift house dynamics for years on Jersey Shore and now their rebooted project, Family Vacation.   

If you’ve ever watched a fight on Keeping Up with the Kardashians, you know things can heat up any minute between sisters Khloé, Kourtney, and Kim. However, the latter can take things to an extraordinary dimension if you rub her the wrong way — and every Kardashians cast member has been around to bear witness. 

As disturbing as it sounds, reality TV always needs a character who will share the group’s secrets with each other — and that person on The Real Housewives of Potomac is Ashley Darby. Since Season 1, she’s asked hard-hitting questions, brought up the most uncomfortable topics, and has owned her commitment to being this group’s troublemaker-in-chief.   

She’s not the fan-favorite during the latest season of The Real Housewives of Miami, but the good thing is that Larsa Pippen is completely unbothered by public perception. She’s leaned into her villainous role for the last three seasons and never wavers.   

Although Kyle has been at the center of drama on Summer House since Season 1, his appearance on The Traitors is what earned our respect. He understood the assignment and attacked it full-throttle, ultimately providing viewers with scenes of intense gameplay and conflict, which is precisely what we wanted. 

He’s a Charleston bachelor who always finds himself in trouble with the ladies of Southern Charm, Summer House, and Winter House; however, it’s still not enough for him to change his ways. The good thing for us is we like him as the villain.