Why has Meili Workman been absent from RHOSLC?

THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF SALT LAKE CITY -- Season:5 -- Pictured: Meili Workman -- (Photo by: Koury Angelo/Bravo)
THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF SALT LAKE CITY -- Season:5 -- Pictured: Meili Workman -- (Photo by: Koury Angelo/Bravo) /
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The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City added three new housewives for season 5, but it seems like one of the new friends has been missing from this season. What happened to Meili Workman and why hasn't she been seen in most of the season?

Season 5's major casting change

Fans of RHOSLC will remember that the show went through a casting change after season 4 -- Monica Garcia was removed from the show after only one season and she was replaced with three newbies in the form of two friends of the housewives and one new snowflake holder.

The show added Bronwyn Newport, friend of Lisa Barlow and fashion influencer, as a main cast member along with Britani Bateman, an actress and singer who is a friend of Heather Gay, and Meili Workman, a model who is a friend of Whitney Rose, as the two new friends of the housewives.

Although Bronwyn's clashing with Lisa has been a major feature of this season and Britani has been in quite a bit of the show, the other friend has been notably missing since the first episode of the season -- and it doesn't seem like it's just because she was only cast as a friend.

Was Meili Workman edited out of season 5 of RHOSLC?

Prior to Meili being cast on The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, there was already some major drama with the casting choice. And it wasn't the usual type of reality TV drama that viewers are used to, either.

Bravo fans noticed that it seemed like Meili had some controversial views, according to Facebook comments that were saved and re-posted by fans on Reddit. Following her comments being brought to light, the comments were pretty torn on whether or not they thought a housewive's personal opinions mattered as long as they were bringing interesting drama to the show, but it looks like there must have been enough backlash for Bravo to walk back on having her on the show.

Although Meili appeared in the first episode of the new season, she hasn't had any scenes in later episodes and it seems like she's been purposely cut and edited out of the scenes she was present for filming.

Even though Meili is only a friend of the housewives, fellow friend Britani has been more present throughout the season than Meili. Though Bravo hasn't specifically commented on Meili's absence from the season, it seems pretty obvious that she's been cut from the subsequent episodes, likely because of the backlash from her social media comments.