Before Kathy officially departed the Bravo series, she was demoted from a full-time role to a "friend" position in 2014's Season 6. At the time, Kathy released a statement about how the more limited role was a better fit for her lifestyle.

"I'm so happy to be part of the Bravo family. I have enjoyed being a RHONJ Housewife and have now agreed to terms that give me the opportunity to film the show in a way which better suits my lifestyle," she said in a statement to E! News. "I've been able to get to know the new girls on my terms while remaining free to focus on other great things, including the expansion of my businesses."

Though friends can be promoted, it's rare for a housewife to return to a full-time role after being demoted (unless the housewife requested the demotion to deal with a personal matter, like RHOM's Alexia Echevarria).

After two seasons as a friend, Kathy officially departed from the Bravo series — and she hasn't been on since.

Page Six first reported the news of Kathy's firing in March of 2017, and a source told the outlet that she was "disappointed" to not be asked back.

It does not appear as if Bravo has ever officially confirmed why Kathy did not return to the show following Season 7 (the network usually doesn't, unless the cast member has been implicated in a scandal).

Her exit could have been, in part, because of her long-simmering issues with Teresa. The mom of four has long insisted that her sister-in-law and her cousin joined the show without telling her, which led to a fracture in their family.

As the highest-paid lead star and the only remaining original housewife, Teresa could have had some sway in the casting decision, though this has never been corroborated.

Plus, Melissa and Teresa were continuing to mend fences in Season 7, which could have further pushed Kathy out. Without strong connections to the rest of the remaining 'wives — especially since her ally, Jacqueline Laurita, also left in Season 7 — Kathy's time on the series wrapped up.