Real Housewives of Salt Lake City‘s Angie Katsanevas testified in front of Congress as to the importance of the franchising business model.
Angie had fans in the (court) house!
Nina Heller from Roll Call wrote, “Entering the hearing through a hallway lined with onlookers and posing for photos with dozens of congressional staffers, Katsanevas’ presence filled up a normally nondescript corner of the Rayburn Building.
“A fellow housewife, who happens to have a brand partnership with a quick-service restaurant brand, questioned whether I was a ‘real’ business owner because I franchise. In that moment, I responded with, ‘You do French fries. I do franchise.’ And the clip blew up online.”
The RHOSLC star testified, “We sought to build a culture where someone could walk in as an assistant or a hairdresser, and if they worked hard and learned the craft, they could eventually own their own business,” she explained in the hearing.
Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Mich. has our vote! She told the court, “The franchise system can be incredibly confusing.” She quipped – at Lisa Barlow’s expense – “More confusing than Lisa Barlow trying to explain how she knows Ben Affleck.”
Angie K. spoke in support of “no tax on tips,” a provision that was included in Republicans’ recent tax and domestic policy law known as the One Big Beautiful Bill.
“You lose sleep, you lose money, you lose hair,” Angie lamented about the challenges of owning a small business.
The bit played on:
Rep. Daniel Meuser, R-Pa. entered the chat. “Ok if I call you Miss Angie K? She said all of America does, so I want to be part of all of America.”
Before the hearing, Republicans released a tagline-inspired video in the style of the Real Housewives franchise at the start of every episode.
Rep. Beth Van Duyne, R-Texas, presented her tagline. “They say everything is bigger in Texas, including our commitment to small businesses.”
Rep. Gil Cisneros, D-Calif. has watched Vanderpump Rules and Below Deck, but currently only watches Real Housewives of Orange County. After today, though, he said, that may change.
Angie brought the bit full circle. “Housewives is a franchise, just so you know. You’re just watching the wrong ones.”
