Harry Hamlin Believes His Wife Lisa Rinna ‘Elevated’ RHOBH — Praises Her ‘Decision’ To Leave

Harry Hamlin believes that his wife, Lisa Rinna, made “the right decision” to leave The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

The 71-year-old actor weighed in on the news that the actress would not be returning to the Bravo show, during a red-carpet appearance at the 80 For Brady premiere at the Palm Springs International Film Festival. 

“[It was the] correct decision, the right decision to make at this point after eight years,” he told PEOPLE Friday evening. “I think she took it as far as she could take it, and she elevated the show.”

“Now it’s time to move on,” Hamlin added. “Eight years is a long time to do anything, the same thing over and over again. It’s time to move along.”

The former soap opera actress told the outlet Thursday that she was making her exit after being a fixture on the cast for eight seasons. Fans know Rinna mixed it up with Kathy Hilton last season and regularly lands in hot water on social media. 

“This is the longest job I have held in my 35-year career and I am grateful to everyone at Bravo and all those involved in the series,” Rinna, who joined the show in its fifth season, said. “It has been a fun eight-year run and I am excited for what is to come!”

Rinna is pushing the narrative that her departure was a mutual agreement between herself and the network, but fans know that the reality star regularly lands in controversy, not only on the show but in real time on social media. 

In August, Andy Cohen called out the reality star’s behavior during a chat in the Watch What Happens Live clubhouse. 

“I know, and you’ve been making a lot of trouble for yourself. The social media, man…” the Bravo boss said. 

Rinna replied—“I know. I’m such a freaking mess, I’m a freaking mess. Call me whatever you want.” 

Andy complied, calling the Bravo star a “disaster,” and then a “double disaster.”

“Call me that,” Rinna quipped, in response. “I am, it’s true. I have been, Andy I’ve just been a nightmare right now, that’s all I can tell you. I have been a flipping nightmare, I know it, I acknowledge it. I have tried to fix it as much as I can… I’m fully self-aware that I am a mess right now, I’m just a mess. So, let’s hope it gets better.”

“Let’s hope,” Andy said, appearing skeptical. “You know what the funny thing is? It’s all in your hands. It’s all in your control.”

Rinna was also reportedly investigated for allegedly orchestrating a BOT attack on the minor son of her co-star, Garcelle Beauvais. RHOBH fans theorized last season that Rinna orchestrated an online attack on the 14-year-old, in response to Garcelle including the actress’ daughter, Amelia Hamlin, in her memoir. 

Hamlin told PEOPLE two weeks before Rinna announced her departure that it was his wife’s honest approach that got her into trouble. 

“She does her job. Her job is to show up on time, interact with the people on the show in an honest and authentic way,” he said.

“Her hot button issue, I suppose, is injustice or when somebody else is not behaving honestly, she’ll call it out,” Hamlin explained. “And that gets into a lot of trouble. But it also helps the show.”

“I’ve known her for 30 years… She has never once, in all of that time, uttered an untruth,” he added. “And something that wasn’t absolutely and honestly true.”

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills filming season kicks off this month. 

Stay Connected With All About The Tea: Twitter Ι Instagram Ι YouTube Ι Facebook Ι Send Us Tips