For the week rumors have been swirling that major castmembers on The Real Housewives of New York City had gotten fired from the show and today we learn that those rumors are TRUE! Bravo TV has confirmed that original castmembers Jill Zarin and Alex McCord, along with newer castmember Kelly Bensimone and brand new castmember Cindy Barshop have been FIRED from RHONYC. As I understand it, filming has already begun on the upcoming season … and none of these 4 women have been asked to return. Now that we know their axing is true, we also know that their contracts have NOT been picked up again. Jill, Alex, Kelly and Cindy are DUNZO!

The Real Housewives of New York City is officially down four familiar faces. Jill Zarin, Alex McCord, Kelly Bensimon and Cindy Barshop, the newest addition to the popular Bravo show, were not asked back for season 5. “Ramona Singer, Sonja Morgan and LuAnn DeLesseps will be returning for season 5 of The Real Housewives of New York City,” a network spokesperson tells PEOPLE. “We’ve had a fabulous run with all the ladies and appreciate them sharing their lives with our viewers. It is a friendly departure among the other ladies and we continue to have on-going discussions with them.” In response, McCord told PEOPLE via email: “Of course Simon and I are sad not to continue with RHONY but it’s a friendly decision and discussions with Bravo are ongoing for other projects.” Zarin also weighed in, via her rep, who told PEOPLE in a statement: “Jill is humbled by the extraordinary amount of media interest in her response and looks forward to personally opening up about all of this very soon and announcing some exciting new projects.” Rumors about the casting changes began earlier in the week after the Huffington Post, citing sources in the network, announced that Zarin, McCord and Bensimon were fired from the show. At the time, however, their reps – as well as Bravo – said nothing was official. Zarin, meanwhile, said through a rep that she was still negotiating her contract. When season 5 airs, Countess LuAnn de Lesseps and Ramona Singer will be the only original castmembers returning. Sonja Morgan joined the show in season 3.

Wow!! Heads rolled, indeed. To be honest, considering how many folks Bravo decided to axe, I’m surprised Sonja Morgan made the cut. But I guess considering her financial hardship lately, Bravo didn’t want to take away her only source of new income. Season 5 is going to be VERY interesting. I bet Ramona Singer is ecstatic that all of her foes have been booted from the show … and I KNOW Jill is inconsolable over this news. To be honest, I won’t miss any of the fired ladies. Each of them was entertaining for a bit (well, except for Cindy … I’m sorry but she was just terrible from the start) but they’ve all run their course. Out with the old, in the with the new. I can’t wait to meet the new NYC Housewives. I hope Bravo goes for the cream of the crop because it’s be a shame to sweep out the old cast for a newer boring cast. What do y’all think of this news? Are you happy or bummed about these axings?

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