Real Housewives

6:25 PM PT -- The O.C. Sheriff's Department tells us the officer Alexa names in her lawsuit, Deputy Epson ... is not one of their employees. Nor has he ever been. However, a Sheriff rep tells us they take the allegations seriously and they are investigating.

The daughter of 'Real Housewives' star Lynne Curtin says an O.C. Sheriff's deputy raped her after a bizarre traffic stop and search of her vehicle ... and now she wants the county to pay.

Alexa Curtin says she was leaving her boyfriend's Dana Point home in April 2014 when she got pulled over by a man she believes to be an O.C. deputy. In a lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, Curtin says the deputy searched her car and found underwear. She says he grilled her, saying things like ... how many pairs of underwear she had and why she needed them.

Alexa, who used to make frequent appearances on 'Real Housewives of Orange County,' never says why he pulled her over in the first place.

After the search, she says the deputy abruptly announced he had to tend to another call, but told her to stay put on the side of the road -- only to return 20 minutes later in his personal vehicle, and in plain clothes.

Curtin says he jumped in the passenger seat of her car and said, "Since you are still here, I am going to f**k the s**t out of you." She says he groped her, digitally penetrated her and then told her to straddle him. She describes the encounter as "nonconsensual sexual intercourse."

She says he ejaculated inside her and on her seat.

In the suit, Curtin says she was afraid to report the alleged rape to authorities out of fear the deputy would harm her again. She's suing Orange County for violating her civil rights and for an illegal search and seizure.

The O.C. Sheriff's Department had no comment.

3:04 PM PT -- Kelly Meza-Dodd tells TMZ, "I am truly embarrassed. There is no excuse for bad behavior or comments that offend anyone. That video does not represent who I really am and I apologize for acting irresponsibly."

'Real Housewives of Orange County' star Heather Dubrow is drawing a line -- she will NOT hang with rumored new cast member Kelly Meza-Dodd after some racist comments Kelly made on camera.

We caught Heather at LAX and showed her Kelly's racist rant Tuesday night outside The Nice Guy. For those who missed it, Kelly -- who seemed like she'd knocked back one too many -- told a camera guy point blank she didn't like black guys.

Dubrow has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to racism.

'Real Housewives of Atlanta' star Apollo Nida can't get the feds off his back -- due to a more than $1 million tab -- and now they're targeting another one of his prized possessions.

Court docs show the government wants him to put his 1964 Buick Skylark on the auction block to help pay down the nearly $1.94 million in restitution he owes.

Nida -- who is in the can serving 8 years for money laundering and bank fraud -- already got his 2014 Ducati and Yamaha Raptor ATV seized.

A '64 Skylark in mint condition fetches $25k ... which is barely a dent in that debt.

'Real Housewives of Atlanta' star Cynthia Bailey is desperately trying to save her marriage ... or she's completely given up hope -- depending on your take of this video.

Cynthia arrived solo at LAX over the weekend. We broke the story ... she and husband Peter Thomas are now living in separate cities. When we asked about the split, she insisted there's more to it than 'RHOA' drama or story lines.

'Real Housewives of Atlanta' producers let a giant skeleton out of Porsha Williams' closet at the final reunion show taping ... raw footage of her dark alley assault on pal Jami Ziegler.

We broke the story ... Porsha allegedly attacked Jami at a party in December while being filmed ... all because she didn't like the person Jami brought as her plus one.

Producers told the ladies the cameras didn't capture the fight ... since Jami ran out of the house and down a dark alley where the beatdown occurred ... but turns out it wasn't true.

Our sources say the whole thing was captured on a camera ... notably Porsha throwing some pretty mean punches, and the footage will air in April.

We're told several women on the show want her kicked off since it was her third fight with castmates ... Cynthia, Kenya and now Jami, if you're keeping score.

Cynthia Bailey and Peter Thomas' marriage has been torn apart by 'RHOA' ... at least that's how Peter sees it, now that he's moved out of their Atlanta home.

TMZ has learned the 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' stars are now living in separate states -- CB's in their ATL home, while Peter's in their Charlotte crib.

We're told it's been this way for months, because Peter decided he doesn't want to do 'Housewives' anymore. He thinks the show drama -- which has focused on their marital issues -- is making it too hard to patch things up when cameras are off.

Despite promos for the upcoming reunion that mention cheating rumors ... we're told Cynthia doesn't think Peter's stepping out on her. No one's filed separation or divorce docs yet, but we're told it's just a matter of time.

Teresa Giudice has a ton of lonely nights and days ahead, and kicked off her ME time with a pensive, solo walk.

The 'Real Housewives' star took the stroll Thursday near her home in NJ ... no doubt, thinking about the next 3 plus years. Hubby, Joe Giudice, shipped off to prison on Wednesday to begin his 41 month sentence.

It won't be a walk in the park for her, and definitely NOT for Joe.

9:40 AM PT-- Joe's lawyer, James Leonard, tells TMZ Joe Giudice surrendered himself around noon. He was surrounded by his brother, sister, Teresa and several family members. "It was obviously a very emotional day, but this is a very strong family with a tremendous support system and they will get through this, just as they did when Teresa was away."

Joe and Teresa Giudice said their last goodbyes -- in public -- before Joe headed to the slammer for the next 41 months ... and shared one final kiss on the way out.

Joe got in a car headed to Fort Dix, a low security prison in New Jersey -- where he'll serve time for conspiracy to commit wire and bankruptcy fraud.

Joe Giudice is getting the bum's rush from Bravo as he enters prison ... at least compared to his wife.

Production sources tell TMZ ... the network will not give Joe the same 3-part special Teresa got when she was in the big house. In fact, Bravo's not doing anything special. Joe will be filmed Wednesday as he enters the prison gates, but it'll be for season 7 of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey," which won't air for months.

Joe will essentially disappear from sight during his 41-month stay, unless it affects Teresa and the kids. His story line will only live in her orbit.

Porsha Williams had a medical emergency in the middle of a flight from Atlanta to Miami when she fainted in her seat, prompting that call ... "Is there a doctor on board?"

Sources on the plane tell TMZ ... Porsha was in her first class seat when she got woozy. We're told 3 doctors actually responded to the flight attendant's call.

The 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' cast member was traveling by herself, but we spoke with her sister, Lauren ... who tells us one of the doctors helped PW come to with the aid of a sugar pill. Lauren says Porsha has a low blood sugar issue and has had fainting spells in the past.

Former 'Housewives of Beverly Hills' castmember Marisa Zanuck and her husband Dean are calling it quits after 13 years of marriage.

Marisa filed the divorce docs in L.A. last month, but the writing's been on the wall for at least 3 years or so. Back in season 3 of 'RHOBH' she called Dean "not her type" ... but tried to blow it off, claiming Dean loved her loose lips. Guess not.

Marisa wants she and Dean to have joint legal and physical custody of their two boys, ages 11 and 13.

Kim Richards was called on the courtroom carpet Wednesday for stepping out on a red carpet with high heels.

Kim has not performed her community labor for her public intoxication conviction -- her excuse is that she suffered a foot injury which prevents her from working.

But prosecutors blasted her in court, claiming if she's so injured why are there photos of her on a red carpet with high heels?

Good point, said the judge.

Kim was sentenced to 30 days community labor in her case. The judge has ordered her to come back to court June 1, and either prove she's enrolled in a community labor program or submit a doctor's note explaining why she can't.

We couldn't find the red carpet photo, but we did get this photo of Kim in heels over the holidays.

Joanna Krupa wants so badly to save an animal she thinks is part wolf ... she's willing to sit face-to-face with it ... in the wild.

Krupa tells TMZ she first saw the creature in the Hollywood Hills more than a week ago. She thinks it's part wolf, part dog and noticed it was bleeding -- so she started feeding it daily.

Her plan is to gain the animal's trust and then capture it and take it to a vet for treatment, but that won't be easy. She says dog rescue people have seen her video and think it could be up to 70% wolf ... which would also make it more dangerous to approach.

If it turns out to be domesticated, Joanna says she might adopt it or help it find a safe home through Lockwood Animal Rescue Center in Ventura.

Do NOT try this in your own backyard.

Teresa Giudice says she would have gotten house arrest if she was just Jane Doe, claiming she was sentenced to hard time because she's a celeb.

Teresa will be on "TMZ Live" Thursday, and she's very clear about her belief ... she had a big fat target on her forehead because she's high profile.

The 'Real Housewives of New Jersey' star says her daughter Gia has changed career paths because of the sentence and her mom's harsh treatment behind bars.

Watch 'Live' Thursday ... she also talks about where she stands on the 'Housewives' power rankings.

Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos get all the anchor shine, but news reader Amy Robach snatched the big Teresa Giudice interview away from her GMA colleagues.

TMZ has learned Robach nailed the 'RHONJ' star's first post-prison sit down -- a big get for sweeps, which ABC's news hounds had to be dying to get. It's the kinda thing Barbara Walters and Diane Sawyer used to battle over.

Our sources tell us Amy got the nod based on her history with Giudice -- and in fact, the ex-con laid down the law ... saying it had to be Robach or the interview was off.

Amy first interviewed her in 2014, and we're told Giudice liked that one enough to come back for more. The full interview airs Tuesday morning, but GMA already released a clip of Giudice talking about her finances.

Teresa Giudice is a shoo-in for season 7 of 'Real Housewives of New Jersey' but 3 other women are suddenly unemployed ... TMZ has learned.

Our production sources tell us Dina Manzo and the twins Teresa Aprea and Nicole Napolitano all got the ax.

No word yet on who will fill the vacancies ... we're told Bravo's currently shopping for other housewives.

As of now, Teresa's sister-in-law, Melissa Gorga, and former member cast member Jacqueline Laurita are the only others locked in ... but it's gonna be the Teresa show all the way.