Karen Huger reflected on her DUI conviction and admitted that she failed to recognize her addiction before the 2024 incident. The RHOP star, who was sentenced to two years in prison with one year mandatory, called the experience “a call to wake up.”
Karen Huger says she failed to recognize her addiction before her DUI
Huger crashed her vehicle in Potomac, Maryland, in March 2024, leading to her arrest. A court later convicted her on seven charges related to the DUI in December 2024. In February 2025, a judge sentenced her to two years in jail, with one year suspended. The judge also ordered her to pay $2,900 in fines and complete five years of probation.
The Real Housewives of Potomac star secured an early release from jail last September. However, fans continued to react to the case after authorities released body camera footage, with some expressing disappointment over her comments.
As she looked back on the past two years, Huger told USA Today that the release of the DUI footage was “a reckoning” that prompted her to change her life. The 63-year-old said, “I didn’t recognize addiction. You don’t recognize yourself when you see yourself in that addictive mode. It was a call to wake up.”
Huger said she feels grateful that she saw the footage when she looks back on the incident. She believes it helped her become a healthier version of herself. She said she has found peace and now enjoys spending time with her family. Huger also expressed gratitude that the accident did not hurt anyone else.
She added that addiction does not happen overnight. Instead, it progresses over time. She said that night marked the moment when everything finally collapsed.
Reflecting on her first night in a jail cell, Huger, who is married to Ray Huger, said she felt “a lot of gratitude to be inside.” She said the experience gave her peace and time to reflect on her life. It also gave her an opportunity to face her struggles, take accountability, and begin healing, which she described as a gift. She said, “I think for me, the hardest thing was the pain I took my family through, not being able to be there for them, and also facing what had happened.”
RHOP Season 11 premieres on Bravo on October 11. The trailer shows Huger navigating the fallout from her DUI. It also highlights challenges in her relationship with Ray. Bravo confirms that Huger is returning as a full-time cast member for the new season.
