Brandi Glanville has broken down in tears while discussing a GoFundMe campaign set up to help cover her medical bills amid ongoing facial swelling and disfigurement.
The 53-year-old former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star said she was embarrassed to accept financial help, but had been unable to work for two years as her health problems depleted her savings.
Speaking on her Brandi Glanville Unfiltered podcast, she told co-host James Maas that her treatment was costing $7,000 (£5,200) a week even with insurance.
“I’m embarrassed, honestly, ’cause I don’t like to ask for help,” Glanville said. “And I never thought I would do this and she’s, like, ‘You have no choice.’”
Her friend Gina Rodriguez started the fundraising page on Tuesday. Glanville said she had paid half of what she owed but was struggling to meet the remaining costs, adding that she feared she would not receive medication if she stopped paying.
“I’m just spent, like, in every way,” she said. “And I don’t want anyone to see it. But I don’t know what to do.”
Maas reassured her that seeking support was not embarrassing, saying: “What’s embarrassing is the whole medical system.” He also referred to the depression and dark thoughts Glanville has previously discussed during her prolonged medical crisis.
Glanville said her children had been checking on her, as had Maas. The podcast co-host also contributed $100 to the campaign.
Several of Glanville’s fellow reality television personalities have donated, including Kyle Richards, who pledged $500, and Claudia Jordan, who gave $100.
Glanville’s ongoing health problems
Glanville first began discussing changes to her face and facial swelling in July 2023, after an incident while filming The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip.
She later said she suspected a parasite was causing pain, swelling and disfigurement. In an Instagram video posted on Tuesday, she claimed the problem had spread from her face down her right arm.
Fighting back tears, Glanville pointed to what she described as a large fungal ball in her face. “It’s hard as a rock, and it curves like this,” she said. “I’m so sick [of it] I just want to cut it out of my face.”
In the same post, she said she had been diagnosed with highly resistant ESBL Klebsiella and Enterobacter with biofilm, Coccidioidomycosis, also known as Valley Fever, Demodex dermatitis and mononucleosis.
Glanville also revealed that she had undergone surgery in February to remove breast implants that she said had ruptured and leaked silicone into her lymph nodes. Smaller implants were placed during the same operation.
“I’m not able to work right now other than my podcast and I honestly don’t know how I’m going to do this mentally or financially,” she said. “I want my health back. I want my life back. I want to feel like me again.”
