It’s a brand new day for “Real Housewives of Potomac” star Karen Huger! She’s finally returning home after unfortunately spending some time away behind bars and the internet is having a ball with her release.
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For context, in December 2024, Huger — known affectionally as the “Grande Dame” — was officially found guilty of a DUI and other crimes. Her charges included driving under the influence, negligent driving, failing to control her vehicle’s speed to avoid a collision and failing to notify authorities of a change of address and more. As a result, Huger was sentenced to two years in prison with one year suspended and five years of probation as this wasn’t the first time she faced driving violations.
However, around late August, it was publicized that Huger would be getting an early release with the expected date to be near the top of September. Well, those reports were correct as the Grande Dame walked out of the Montgomery County Detention Center on Tuesday (Sept. 2).
While she didn’t stop to speak to reporters — who were camped outside the facility, along with cameras from BRAVO — video footage captured by the latter team showed Huger leaving in a black SUV where she rolled the window down just enough to show her smiling face and waved to everyone.
Once footage of her release began to make the rounds on social media, many users had plenty to say with sentiments ranging from jokes about her impending return back to the “Housewives” franchise to more serious ones about her hopefully never going back to jail.
“Karen getting released is truly an event!!! Who else you know make a release party out of getting out of prison!!! There is only ONE Grande Dame of Potomac and her name is Karen Huger!!!! She’s back, make way,” wrote one user on X/Twitter.
“They freed Karen yet?? I have my champagne ready lmao!” one other user said.
“Me outside of the jail house when karen huger is released today,” said another, accompanied by a video of singer Ashanti scream-singing.
“I can hear Karen now acting like she spent 10 years in the pen lol….’Gizelle, unlike you I have paid my debt to society!’” another user wrote, hilariously forecasting an eventual conversation between Huger and her frenemy and fellow costar Gizelle Bryant.
But, for some people, Huger’s return to civilian life was no laughing matter.
“Honestly, as a human, I was actually happy that she did get jail time because it was her fourth DUI. And that’s very serious and very scary, and someone could’ve been hurt. So, unlike a lot of her fans, I thought the sentence was correct for what she did,” said one fan to a local news station outside the jail.
Added another on Instagram: “I’m just so glad she didn’t hurt anyone. Prayerfully, this will be the lesson that she needed.”
One other user wrote in part, “I don’t think it was long enough. I hope she learned something and don’t be on the same bullshiiiiit.”
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