Paige DeSorbo Explains Why She Really Left Summer House

Paige DeSorbo is sharing more about what led her to say goodbye to Summer House.

Three months after she announced that she was leaving the Bravo series, DeSorbo, 32, told Byrdie that she had a gut feeling her time on the show had come to an end. She first joined in 2019 and remained a main cast member for seven seasons.

“I just had this overwhelming sense that I couldn’t go back,” she revealed. “I know I would’ve been doing a disservice to [the show]. They accept a certain level of showing up, and I couldn’t give them that.”

She and fellow Summer House alum Hannah Berner are best friends, co-hosts of their Giggly Squad podcast and Byrdie’s cover stars this month. While the pair started the popular reality series together, Berner, 34, left in 2021 after a falling out with several of their castmates.

“We’ve had people [from Summer House] verbatim say to us, ‘We don’t want to focus on your friendship this season,’” DeSorbo alleged. “That was why we started Giggly Squad, because we were like, ‘We have more things to say, and no one is listening to us.’”

Berner chimed in: “I think we say more on the pod because we know how it’s going to be put out. Whereas when you’re on TV, you can say something personal, but you don’t know how it’s going to be framed and in what context.”

In her most recent and final season, viewers watched as DeSorbo struggled in her relationship with Southern Charm’s Craig Conover. The couple ultimately broke up, and the fashion influencer noted that was a storyline that was difficult to share.

“Being on reality TV, there’s a level — this is a harsh word — of, like, brainwashing,” she explained. “That’s not real life. You’re not stopping people on the street and being like, ‘I just had a thought that I hate my boyfriend.’”

“It’s very interesting to have been in [reality TV] and out of it, and be able to have those two perspectives. We just hate being put in a box,” Berner added. “The truth is that on reality TV, if you stay in your own bed, you can’t fight with people.”

DeSorbo also said that it is scary to enter a new chapter in her life after so much time in one job, admitting that she “definitely had to get over” fears that leaving the show meant “my career would be over.”

“There’s an element of thinking you need that show and network, and Hannah was reminding me they’re not in charge of where you are in your career,” she said. “I am assimilating back into society. I’m like, what do people do on a Saturday night in the summer?”

In July, DeSorbo announced her departure from Summer House on her Instagram Stories.

“I have a little life update for you: I’ve made the decision not to return to Summer House,” she wrote.

“Being part of this show has been one of the most rewarding chapters of my life — the friendships, the drama, the giggles, all unforgettable,” she continued. “You’ve seen me grow up over these last 7 summers. I’ll always be beyond grateful for the memories, the community, and the opportunities this wild ride has brought me. But like all good things (and some bad decisions), it’s time for this chapter to close.”

She concluded, “To my castmates, the fans, and my NBCU family: thank you. I never could’ve imagined what this journey would turn into — and how many of you would be along for the ride. And you haven’t seen the last of me, I promise. So much more to do together, but for now you know you can always find me and Daphne in my bed.”

Shortly after, DeSorbo opened up to PEOPLE about whether she’d ever return to reality TV, saying: “I would never say never, but I think coming off of it after seven years, I would love a break.”

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Summer House is streaming now on Peacock.