Karen Huger has officially returned to social media after making her first public appearance since her release from prison at BravoCon 2025 this weekend.
“Thank you @nbcuniversal and @bravotv for the incredibly warm and welcoming energy. My heart is full,” Karen, 62, wrote via Instagram on Sunday, November 16, marking her first post since returning from prison in September following her drunk driving conviction.
The Real Housewives of Potomac star shared ‘heartfelt thank you’ to her team and ‘new favorite person’ Harbison Studio creator Charles Elliott Harbison who “carefully designed” her first look for BravoCon.
“He understood my vision, honored my light, and helped shape a moment that was both fresh and deeply aligned,” Karen exclaimed, referring to her white peplum gown with white and black floral appliqués. “I’m truly grateful that his artistry and brand will be a part of my new chapter.”
Karen’s return to social media follows her return to the Bravo universe as part of the star-studded lineup featured at the annual three-day BravoCon event in Las Vegas, which kicked off Friday, November 14.
Even though Karen was noticeably absent from the Rope on Friday, she surprised fans later in the evening by presenting the top prize at “The Bravos” event. When she took the stage, Karen received a standing ovation.
The warm welcome arrived two months later Us every week confirmed on September 2 that Karen had been released from the Montgomery County, Maryland, detention center six months earlier.
Karen was sentenced to two years in prison – with one year suspended – after being charged and convicted of DUI and DWI for her involvement in a March 2024 car crash in Potomac, Maryland.
“Thank you everyone for your prayers and well wishes during this very scary experience. I am still in shock from last night’s incident but grateful to be alive today. With the passing of my beloved mother, grief comes and goes in waves, and as Mother’s Day approaches, it feels more like a tsunami,” Karen said. TMZ in a statement at the time.
She explained her state of mind during the accident, saying: “Last night I met a girlfriend for dinner, we talked and discussed some very emotionally sensitive topics. I was crying on the way home and saw a car heading straight towards me. I swerved to avoid the head-on collision, hit the partition and then a tree. I’m hurt, a little bruised, but I’m so grateful to be alive! I received quotes, one of which was unrelated to the incident, which is understandable, but the most surprising thing is that the car that almost hit me left!
Karen added: “I would like to emphasize that it is important to understand your emotional state when driving and that it can remind everyone to use their seat belt. My mother may be my guardian angel, but the seat belt saved my life.”
At the time of the accident, TMZ reported that Karen was driving her 2017 Maserati “aggressively” when she struck a crosswalk sign and a parking sign.
In December 2024, Karen was convicted of the charges of DUI, DWI, negligent and reckless operation of a vehicle endangering property, life and persons, failure to control vehicle speed on the highway to avoid a collision, operating a vehicle beyond a reasonable and prudent speed on the highway, operating a vehicle on the highway with a suspended registration and failure to notify the administration of a change of address in the 30 days. She began serving her one-year sentence behind bars in February.
In prison, season 10 of Rope began filming without Karen. On Friday, during the BravoCon “Potomac Takes Vegas” panel, the network released the midseason trailer, featuring Karen’s return.
“Here we are”, producer Andy Cohen said in the preview, showing Karen in her first interview after her release. “You are a free woman.”
Karen responds, “It’s time to talk about my addiction. »
The Real Housewives of Potomac airs on Bravo Sundays at 8 p.m. ET. Stream old episodes anytime on Peacock.
