Nicole Young from Selling Sunset Asserts She’s Still Employed at Oppenheim Group
Selling Sunset fans witnessed Nicole Young being let go from The Oppenheim Group, but she now insists that she wasn’t actually fired.
In an Instagram Q&A on Friday, October 31, Nicole, age 39, responded to a question about her current workplace by stating, “I still work at The Oppenheim Group. Getting ‘fired’ was just a dramatic story line.”
Nicole mentioned she was unaware of how her filming hiatus would be portrayed. “I wasn’t privy to it until I watched the episode where the cast was informed that I was let go,” she explained.
Chrishell Stause echoed similar sentiments after the premiere of season 9.
“I’m sure Jason [Oppenheim] is also influenced by production because they want the show to remain light-hearted, and she consistently drags it into darker territory. I wasn’t surprised, as I understood the production’s stance. They checked in with me afterward and assured me we wouldn’t face a negative season,” she remarked to Variety on Friday. “She was let go from the show. They had her participate in interviews and at the reunion, but she stopped attending group dinners and open houses. She’s not included in the cast sheet anymore. Technically, she’s an independent contractor, so she can still maintain her license and work in real estate. If it comes to her moving or not moving, that’s something you’d need to verify with her. I have no clue what’s happening under that wild wig.”
The tension between the two initially surfaced during season 6 when Nicole accused Chrishell of receiving real estate listings due to favoritism from boss (and ex) Jason Oppenheim. In retaliation, Chrishell accused Nicole of drug use at a group dinner, a claim that Nicole denied, but the discord persisted off-camera.
“The thirst for camera time during season 6 was palpable. It was madness, yet so transparent. Get your 15 minutes of fame, girl, but keep my business out of it 🤡,” Chrishell expressed on Instagram at that time. “Screenshots are saved for this very occasion. Of course, you have a big issue with me now — not before — with a film crew present. I loathe inauthenticity. If you crave camera time — JUST SAY THAT. I could have helped you find the right angle. But don’t attack my loved ones or my business when I supported your growth.”
Despite Chrishell’s efforts to resolve their differences in season 7, Nicole declined to apologize. The rift deepened when Nicole mentioned rumors during season 8 that Chrishell’s close friend Emma Hernan was allegedly involved with a married man. Emma refuted the claims, and Nicole later extended an apology.
Nicole’s tenure on the show came to an end in season 9 after she faced backlash for referencing Chrishell’s deceased parents on camera. The situation escalated when Chrishell again accused Nicole of drug use, to which Nicole replied, “Honey, you’re confusing me with your parents, OK? You seem to be obsessed with drugs.”
Nicole was later asked to refrain from attending The Oppenheim Group events and chose to relocate to Nashville.
“I spoke with production two days ago, and they informed me that I haven’t been fired from the cast. Instead, they decided to pause my filming schedule until next week to shield me from situations on set that had become very contentious,” Nicole told Us Weekly in a statement when news broke about her absence from filming. “I’m still contemplating whether I want to continue filming in this sort of environment, especially with the frustrating double standards.”
Nicole shared: “Selling Sunset has been an amazing opportunity and a whirlwind journey, but it doesn’t define my life or identity. I lead a big, beautiful life outside of the show… and thankfully, in the real world, my life and personality can’t be manipulated or misrepresented to fit a manufactured storyline.”
Chrishell initially broke her silence shortly after Netflix released new episodes.
“The buildup had to be significantly condensed. I didn’t bring up the ridiculous drug allegations, but defended not lying, and it spiraled from there. A cast member provided me with information that I brought up in a heated moment that I shouldn’t have,” she stated on Instagram. “I would gladly freebase off my desk if I never had to discuss this again.”
She added: “I want to dedicate this season to my parents. Due to the discussions, they come up in every interview I do. They were such incredible people and would be very proud of me. (Yes, even after this dinner). My mom would have had some strong words for a few people, and we would have laughed about it. Thinking of that brings me joy, and I just want to contribute a positive memory to the conversation if they will be mentioned.”
Selling Sunset is currently available for streaming on Netflix.
