Can Netflix’s best reality TV show really survive its biggest crisis yet?

The cast of Selling Sunset might have been taking aim at each other for years, but the latest drama could spark a mass exodus.

The Netflix series first hit screens in 2019 and follows a group of real estate agents working at the high-end brokerage firm, the Oppenheim Group.

Followed by cameras while trying to sell some of Los Angeles’ most expensive homes, the female agents also share intimate details of their personal lives, leaving no stone unturned.

From the collapse of Chrishell Stause’s marriage to actor Justin Hartley and her subsequent romance with boss Jason Oppenheim before finding love with Australian musician G-Flip to Christine Quinn’s multiple feuds and eventual exit and Bre Tiesi coming under fire for her open relationship with Nick Cannon, Selling Sunset viewers have seen it all.

There’s been no shortage of drama but in the days before the eighth season is released, Chrishell has lashed out – not just at her cast mates, but to the producers and creators behind Selling Sunset too.

It comes after the cast learned agent Nicole Young secretly spread a rumour that her colleague Emma Hernan had an affair with a married man. Subsequently, it all kicked off over the weekend when the cast were given screeners for the new episodes, with Chrishell, 43, sharing Emma, 33, was left ‘blindsided’ by the ‘categorically false’ claim.

In a string of posts, Chrishell threatened to quit the reality show after Nicole ‘spewed a disgusting lie about a bestie’.

Tagging the production company, Done and Done, Chrishell slammed it for not giving Emma a chance to ‘defend herself with the truth’.

She also said she would ‘never work on a show’ with Nicole ever again even if she faced being ‘sued’.

Meanwhile Chelsea Lazkani shared posts tagging Nicole, calling her ‘the most diabolical piece of trash’ she had ever met.

She also questioned the production company’s ‘moral ground and integrity’ and said it was ‘spreading lies for views’.

In another post, Chelsea went on to call out co-stars Bre Tiesi and Mary Bonnet, writing: ‘You lie, placate and steal.’

Addressing the drama playing out on social media, Nicole doubled down and wrote in her own post: ‘As a married woman, I strongly and confidently stand for the sanctity of all marriages.’

She added: ‘Instead of attacking me and accusing me of lying, I think you ladies need to ask your bestie some tough questions… even still, I stated this info as a rumor.’

She then went on to claim Emma was ‘directly confronted on camera’ at the season 7 finale by the wife’s best friend.

‘Even still, I stated this info as a rumor. And given both of you have been the victim of extramarital affairs, I would think you too would stand for the sanctity of all marriages,’ she added.

Emma is yet to publicly address the claims, however, she posted a photo with Chrishell and Chelsea on Monday, simply captioning it with a love heart emoji.

Although many viewers originally flocked to the series to get a glimpse into the properties of the rich and famous, the trials and tribulations of the agents also became an addictive part of tuning in.

However, after years of poor behaviour and women being pitted against each other, could the latest spat spell the end?

Although Selling Sunset has proved to be the ultimate guilty pleasure watch for many, the constant cattiness has become exhausting to witness.

Many expressed their frustration at the latest blow-up.

‘I love Selling Sunset. That said, I can already tell with the social media drama that this season is going to BOIL my blood and I don’t like that. Producers need to realize we want fun, small drama, and seeing these crazy houses/trips/lives. NOT this serious, annoying bulls***,’ user Emily posted on X.

‘These Selling Sunset cast members are out here trying to promote their show with online drama. Can we please just bring back Selling the OC that show is better!’ Bernie shared.

‘The thing I hate about Selling Sunset, Buying London and the rest of them is for shows supposedly about real estate, there is very little of the houses seen. I don’t care about your drama. Show the stairs w/ marble balustrade; show me the bedrooms for God’s sake,’ another added.

Others said the constant drama was now ‘boring’ them and not even the jaw-dropping property porn was enough to save the series.

Although her exit did make for calmer conditions in the O Group, the absence of self-declared villain Christine made the office politics significantly more appropriate, but also considerably boring compared to what viewers had become accustomed too.

Instead, whatever drama the ‘unscripted’ show pushed felt bland and repetitive.

Despite being one of the stars of the series, earlier this year Chrishell also struggled to drum up enough support to sell out a one-night event at the Palladium, which saw her share the story of her tough childhood to becoming a hugely successful agent and reality star.

However the latest scandal to affect the personal lives of the agents is set to be a focus of the upcoming season, which will document the breakdown of Chelsea’s marriage to Jeff Lazkani.

A trailer released last month showed Chelsea in tears after Bre was told by a newcomer that they had heard ‘something’ about Jeff.

The agent recently filed for divorce in after seven years of marriage, citing ‘irreconcilable differences.’

Days after, her estranged husband accused her of being ‘physically aggressive’.

Despite facing the loss of several stars, the series seems to be able to maintain a loyal fan base.

In its first week after release last year, Selling Sunset season 7 picked up 4.7 million views.

However, when season 6 hit screens, it had less viewers in its first three days than the previous season.

The release of Selling the O.C., which follows O Group agents in Orange County, has also left some viewers declaring that spin-off is actually the future of the franchise, calling it ‘so much better’ than Selling Sunset.

It hasn’t helped that many stars who have left the series have been less than glowing.

After quitting, Christine predicted the show was set to ‘bomb’, comparing the changing cast to a ‘watered down’ version of the original stars.

‘I think that people tune in to see the original characters that were a part of the show, and that was the five girls from season one. Throughout the seasons, they started adding and adding and adding, and by that, it dilutes the recipe. Now they have the sauce, but the recipe is not the same, you know?’ she said.

Heather Rae El Moussa, who appeared on the first six seasons, revealed earlier this year she’d been dropped from Selling Sunset after going on maternity leave.

She then went on to describe the working environment as ‘very toxic’ and said while she got on with most of the women, they were chasing fame.

‘You’re around a bunch of women [who all want] to be stars on the show, you know, number one. And they’ll kind of do anything.’

Now, with Chrishell looking to leave too after slamming the series, there’s a very real possibility one of the glitziest shows on screens starting to lose its shine.

Metro.co.uk has contacted Netflix, Done and Done Productions and representatives for Chrishell Stause, Chelsea Lazkani, Emma Hernan and Nicole Young for comment.