Gizelle Bryant Addresses Karen Huger’s Prison Sentence

The Bravo star, nicknamed “The Grande Dame,” got into trouble with the law last March after crashing her car. She received three charges for the accident: a DUI, a DWI, and reckless driving. However, she was found guilty on only two charges, except for driving recklessly in December 2024.

A month before her sentencing on Wednesday, February 26, Karen Huger made waves for entering an in-treatment recovery program. At the time, she denied being an “alcoholic” and accepted responsibility for the accident. However, her co-stars had a different opinion about her actions.

Bryant addressed her co-star’s recent prison sentence on her “Gizelle 21 Shady Questions Live” event at City Winery on Wednesday, claiming the ruling “shook” her. She expressed worry for Huger’s ability to withstand prison life, saying:

“This just happened today. I do not have her wigs. I am concerned. In all seriousness, I am concerned for her safety. Karen ain’t cut out for jail. I pray that she’s OK and that the Lord is with her.”

Earlier on Wednesday, Huger was sentenced to two years in jail during a hearing. However, she received a one-year suspension, meaning she only had to spend one year behind bars. Bryant’s shock was understandable as her co-star was ordered to report directly to police custody, per US Magazine.

Following Huger’s guilty verdict last December, her attorney, A. Scott Bolden, expressed disappointment over the ruling. The legal rep noted they would respect the jury’s decision but stressed their desire to pursue a desirable outcome, saying:

“We continue to reserve Mrs. Huger’s right to an appeal and intend to fully pursue justice on her behalf. We appreciate your support and prayers for Mrs. Huger and her family at this time.”

During Huger’s sentencing hearing, Bolden doubled down on her innocence in the DUI and DWI charges, claiming the accident was not influenced by alcohol. Instead, he argued that the “overuse of prescription medicine” had caused the traffic incident.

Following her guilty verdict, Huger entered an in-treatment recovery program in January. Her rep addressed her decision in a statement, noting:

“She was fully supported in this choice. We stand behind Karen as she embarks on this meaningful journey and are proud of her for taking such a significant step forward in her personal growth.”

Huger echoed similar sentiments in pre-taped footage to her co-stars during their reunion. “No, I’m not an alcoholic, let’s be clear. This is very frightening, but I accept full responsibility for everything that went on with my car accident,” she stressed, adding:

“I don’t care about me right now. I care about my children, I care about my family. They are so hurt.”

However, her willingness to accept accountability did not resonate with prosecutors, who called her out for being a repeat offender during her sentencing hearing.

The Blast reported that they slammed her for taking zero responsibility for her actions, referencing her previous driving infractions, which occurred between 2006 and 2011.

During their arguments, prosecutors, who recommended a six-month sentence, stated: “The fact that Ms. Huger has repeatedly been given the benefit of another chance on three separate occasions demonstrates that she has not learned anything from her prior arrests.”

“In fact, it appears as if she has been emboldened,” they argued. Their words matched the thoughts of some of Huger’s co-stars, who suspected she was not genuinely taking accountability for her actions.

The Blast covered the drama earlier this month, noting a sneak peek at the reunion show captured the Bravo stars’ reactions to Huger’s rehab. Many seemed suspicious of the timing of her decision and speculated the real reason behind her actions.

During the reunion show, Wendy Osefo, who joined the series in its fifth season, started the conversation about Huger’s rehab. “It’s kind of interesting that she’s doing it before her sentencing,” she began, adding:

“And I’m wondering, ‘Is she doing it because she feels like she needs help, or is she doing it because she feels it will lighten the blow of the sentence?'”

Mia Thornton agreed, noting the timing of Huger’s rehab stint was suspicious. She supported Osefo’s theories, stating their co-star could have entered treatment “because she’s trying to lessen her sentence.”