Anjali Rao quits Real Housewives of Melbourne

Anjali Rao has doubled down on her stinging criticism of Real Housewives of Melbourne after calling it quits on the show.

Real Housewives of Melbourne quitter Anjali Rao has doubled down on her decision to leave the show.

Rao’s shock exit played out on Sunday night with the former CNN broadcaster standing by the move.

“RIP to me,’’ Rao began an Instagram post.

“I leave behind a trail of seemingly unintelligible words, a truckload of sequins, and six widows.

“Tune in for the next episode when @cherrydipietrantonio and @thechampagnedame go shopping for a ouija board as they attempt to conjure up my tortured spirit.”

Rao said to the camera “you don’t deserve my explanations”, saying it was her decision alone. Then the screen went black to confirm her departure with the words: “After lengthy discussions with producers, Anjali decided to leave the show.”

Her departure, with three episodes left, overshadowed news at Jackie Gillies’ baby shower that she was having twin boys.

Rao now has her eye on other reality shows after sensationally quitting the show and going out swinging.

She blasted her fellow housewives on Friday saying the show was not the uplifting experience she was promised and she had to remove herself from “sadistic” people who were out to destroy her.

“Everyone did think I would come back and kept waiting for me to walk through the door like ‘surprise’,’’ Rao said.

“Other people are absolutely hellbent on destroying my reputation and I’m afraid I can’t let that happen because it’s my only currency.

“Kyla (Kirkpatrick) was like, ‘come back, defend yourself’ … Why? Defend myself against what? Against complete crap someone states and the only way to defend myself is to get into their gutter with them.

Anjali Rao walks away from Real Housewives of Melbourne. Picture: Wayne Taylor

Rao refused to return for the group’s publicity events even before episode one aired.

“And I don’t care how much Dolce & Gabbana you put on a sewer rat, it’s still a sewer rat and I will not get into their sewer with them. I’ve got to protect my professional reputation and that’s exactly where it was.”

Rao’s blunt assessments haven’t gone down well with the other Housewives and sources say production made all efforts to appease the situation.

During the week Rao went on the front foot against trolls after copping some abusive messages and is bracing for backlash despite “98 per cent” of the comments being favourable.

She said it upset her seeing her friends Kirkpatrick and Cherry Dipietrantonio being treated poorly and the final straw came when she was bombarded with abusive text messages.

“Watching people who matter to me being torn to pieces over nothing, total lies, I thought this is not what I was told it was going to be and I had to make my decision,’’ Rao said.

“Things got particularly dark when I was at home with my son trying to take care of him and had a very severe chest infection and I was getting an absolute torrent of vile text abuse.

The newcomer said she had to leave to protect her professional reputation.

Real Housewives of Melbourne stars Simone Elliott, Kyla Kirkpatrick, Jackie Gillies, Janet Roach, Gamble Breaux and Rao.

“It was so abusive and disgusting and this is what was happening off camera. We weren’t even shooting that day and it was so rough, I’ve never been spoken to like that and I thought this is really where we’re at.

“It was meant to be smart and uplifting, moments of drama, sure, but I didn’t know. It’s sadistic and that’s not something that I’m about. That started it all.”

Despite her first stint on reality TV not going to plan, Rao is keen to explore more, saying she’d be up for doing I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! or SAS Australia.

“My agent says because you’re so polished I’m a Celeb is coming for you,’’ she said.

“It makes me laugh when people say that. I absolutely would not shut the door to that because reality TV is where it’s at these days.”

Real Housewives of Melbourne airs 8.30pm Sundays on Foxtel