Karen Huger has officially returned to social media after making her first public appearance since her prison release at BravoCon 2025 over the 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 home from jail in September following her DUI conviction.
The Real Housewives of Potomac star shared “a heartfelt thank you” to her team and “new favorite person” Harbison Studio creator Charles Elliott Harbison who “thoughtfully crafted” her first look for BravoCon.
“He understood my vision, honored my light, and helped shape a moment that feels both fresh and deeply aligned,” Karen gushed, referring to her white peplum dress with white and black floral appliqués. “I’m truly grateful to have his artistry and his brand part of my new chapter.”
Karen’s social media comeback follows her foray back into the Bravo universe as part of the star-studded lineup featured during the annual BravoCon three-day event in Las Vegas, which kicked off on Friday, November 14.
Although Karen was noticeably absent from the RHOP panel on Friday, she surprised fans later that evening by presenting the first award at “The Bravos” event. When she took the stage, Karen received a standing ovation.
The warm reception came two months after Us Weekly confirmed on September 2 that Karen was released from the Montgomery County Detention Center in Maryland six months early.
Karen was sentenced two years in jail — with one year suspended — after she was charged and found guilty of a DUI and DWI for her involvement in a March 2024 car accident in Potomac, Maryland.
“Thank you all for your prayers and well wishes during this very frightening 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 with Mother’s Day approaching it has felt more like a tsunami,” Karen told 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 brought up some very emotionally sensitive topics. I was crying on my way home and saw a car heading right for me. I swerved to avoid the head-on collision, banger the divider and then a tree. I’m hurt, bruised up a bit, but so grateful I am alive! I did receive citations, one of which was unrelated to the incident which is understandable, but what was most surprising is that the car that almost banger me just drove away!”
Karen added, “I would like to stress, it’s important to understand your emotional state when driving and may this be a reminder to all to use their seatbelts. My mother may be my guardian angel, but the seatbelt saved my life.”
At the time of the accident, TMZ reported that Karen was driving her 2017 Maserati in an “aggressive manner” when she banger a crosswalk sign and a parking sign.
In December 2024, Karen was found guilty on charges of DUI, DWI, negligently driving a vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner endangering property, life and person, failure to control vehicle speed on the highway to avoid a collision, driving a vehicle in excess of reasonable and prudent speed on the highway, driving a vehicle on the highway with suspended registration and failure to notify administration of change of address within 30 days. She began serving her one-year behind bars in February.
While in jail, season 10 of RHOP began filming without Karen. During the “Potomac Takes Vegas” BravoCon panel on Friday, the network dropped the midseason trailer, featuring Karen’s return.
“Here we are,” producer Andy Cohen says in the preview, showing Karen in her first sit-down interview following her release. “You are a free woman.”
Karen replies, “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.
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