in the fourth season returned for the fifth instalment. This was one of the biggest cast changes for The Real Housewives franchise, with four women departing the series. It was revealed that Jill Zarin, Alex McCord, Kelly Killoren Bensimon and Cindy Barshop had all been fired. Upon the firing, Bravo had revealed the departure of the four women was friendly saying "it is a friendly departure among the other ladies and we continue to have ongoing discussions with them." Andy Cohen spoke out on the decision of letting the four women go saying the reason was due to listening to the fans' desires as well as the need for new story-lines and a major change in direction for the series. The four wives who were fired have since spoken about the series. Soon after Barshop's departure from season four, she revealed that the firing was due to several cast members genuinely not getting along saying "following the reunion it was clear that the women genuinely didn't like each other anymore." In September 2011, McCord spoke out on her firing on Good Morning America in her first on-screen interview since her firing. McCord spoke negatively of her former cast members and of the series, describing it as toxic as well as questioning the series saying "If people continue to behave in a way that's shocking, then how can it do anything but get darker?" On January 16, 2012, McCord spoke to Page Six labeling the series a "train wreck" and "faux reality show." In May 2012, Bensimon revealed she was expecting to be let go from the series saying "by season four I didn't want to play the game but Bravo was amazing." Despite departing the series prior to season five, Bensimon has continued to guest star throughout the series. Zarin has been the most vocal since departing the series. In September 2011, Zarin appeared on Good Morning America revealing when the production company called, she said very little. Zarin also describing the feeling at time saying "It was a little jolting. I'll be honest... It didn't feel good." Zarin went on to say the show was toxic and not a good environment for her. During a segment on HuffPost Live in January 2013, Zarin spoke of the series and a possible return saying she would consider returning for a million dollars. In February 2014, during a segment on Oprah: Where