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Alex McCord, Kelly Bensimon, Jill Zarin & Cindy Barshop Axed From Real Housewives of NYC

by Sierra Marquina Sat., Sep. 17, 2011 6:22 PM PDT

Jill Zarin, Alex McCord, Kelly Bensimon, Real Housewives of New York

Joe Pugliese/Bravo

It's official—Alex McCord, Kelly Bensimon, Jill Zarin & Cindy Barshop will not be returning to Bravo's Real Housewives of New York City confirms Bravo spokesperson to E!

But what about the rest of them?

Here's the deal: "Ramona Singer, Sonja Morgan and LuAnn DeLesseps will be returning for season five of The Real Housewives of New York City," says the spokesperson, who adds that "we've had a fabulous run with all the ladies and appreciate them sharing their lives with our viewers. It is a friendly departure among the other ladies and we continue to have on-going discussions with them."

Although Alex, Kelly, Jill, and Cindy won't be returning for season five, our Bravo source says they won't necessarily be extinct: "They may be seen on the series at various times during the upcoming season."

MORE: Real Housewife Sonja Morgan to Lose Her $6 Million New York City Manse

Or they could pull a Bethenny Frankel and snag their own shows? Crazier things have happened.

—Reporting by Claudia Cagan

CHECK OUT: Before They Were Housewives