‘Real Housewives of Orange County’ Star Emily Simpson on Alexis Bellino’s ‘Disaster’ Return, the ‘Public Humiliation’ of Shannon Beador — and Being the Voice of Reason During This Shocking Season

So far, a total of 164 “Real Housewives” have starred in Bravo’s flagship franchise. And that’s not including the women from the near-endless number of international versions, which next year will add the recently announced Hayu-produced “Real Housewives of London” to its roster. Of the Housewives from the American shows, we have an increasingly small number of  OGs: including “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Kyle Richards and “The Real Housewives of New Jersey’s” Teresa Giudice, who have been there from the very beginning of their respective shows. And at the opposite end of the spectrum, we have the “one and done” club: a less exclusive group of women who, to put it impolitely, either totally flopped with fans or fell out with their co-stars so badly that even a reality TV “friendship” was untenable after just one season. (See: Monica Garcia of Season 4 of “Salt Lake City” as a legendary example of the latter group.)

Emily Simpson fits into neither of these extremes. She joined “The Real Housewives of Orange County” — the show that kickstarted Bravo’s “Real Housewives” franchise in 2006  — for its 13th season in 2018. Simpson and Gina Kirschenheiter (her best friend on the cast, who joined the same season) were not immediately embraced by fans. But despite the initial indifference from the audience, both women are now in the relatively small group of Housewives who have filmed six consecutive seasons without ever being axed entirely or relegated to a “friend” role — a notable achievement in a franchise that often closely represents “Survivor”-style contest, where precariously employed and fame-hungry women are at a constant risk of being fired. Even more unusually, Simpson has never been at the very center of the drama. After six end-of-season reunions, she has never occupied the “center chair” next to executive producer and host Andy Cohen. (A sign that is universally understood to put you in the literal “hot seat.”) And truthfully, you would be hard pressed to argue that she has ever been a “fan favorite,” either.

But the latter characterization  changed this year. During one of the most drama-filled and darkest seasons of “Orange County” ever, Simpson has emerged as the voice of reason. Much of the season has revolved around Shannon Beador — a cast member who joined the show’s ninth season in 2014 and has since shared with viewers a tumultuous decade of her life, including her husband’s infidelity, her subsequent divorce, weight gain and now a breakup with a boyfriend. This season, Beador has been reeling from the aftermath of being arrested for crashing her car into a stranger’s home while under the influence of alcohol in September 2023. Not only that, but her ex-boyfriend, John Janssen, is now dating Alexis Bellino, who starred on “Orange County” from 2009 to 2013. Soon after the duo publicly confirmed their relationship, it was announced that Bellino would be joining the Season 18 cast in a “friend” role. If that weren’t messy enough, it then transpired that Janssen was suing Beador for $75,000, which he claims he loaned her for cosmetic surgery procedures while they were together. (She denies the money was a loan.) As the legal drama unfolded, Beador was pushed to the edge (again). And this was only made worse when Bellino claimed that Janssen was in possession of embarrassing video footage of her, allegedly taken while she was drunk and behaving badly.

These conflicts have been among Bravo’s most compelling storylines in recent years, and they’ve divided the show’s cast as fans have been riveted. On the show, several of Beador’s castmates, including veteran Housewife Tamra Judge, have publicly berated her and branded her a “drunk,” so she has instead formed friendships with Simpson and Kirschenheiter — two women she had previously feuded with.

Simpson has had some fiery moments on the show, but in the aftermath of a confrontation, she is generally level-headed and has an honesty that makes her feel like a reliable narrator. When we talk, we discuss the Season 18 finale, where even her young children were somewhat underhandedly brought into the drama, and the strange circumstance of the gambling scandal involving Dodger superstar Shoheh Otani’s translator, intersecting with “The Real Housewives of Orange County” through Jennifer Pedranti’s fiancé, Ryan Boyajian. Our conversation unpacked the dramatically shifting alliances among the cast, Simpson’s slow-burn popularity, whether we’re seeing the “real” Heather Dubrow, and how she feels about some of her castmates digging up dirt on each other. Oh, and she delves into the real reason why she didn’t call out Bellino more quickly.

“Real Housewives” is a conflict-driven show. This season, it felt like everyone was fighting around you, but you seem to have emerged without any major beef with anyone. How did you manage that?

Honestly? I don’t think I’m one of those people that actually gets into huge feuds. If you look across the six years I’ve been on this show, I have some explosive moments, for sure, because I would say I have a very reactionary personality. I’m like that with Shane, too, where something festers for a while, and then he’ll leave his towel on the floor and I just lose my mind! That’s how I am on the show. I have my tolerance and then I’ll lose it sometimes — like when I lost it on Alexis. I’m the kind of girl that gets pissed about something and says what I think, but then I can move on. I’ve never had an ongoing feud with someone, like Shannon and Tamra, that just never ends. I can’t even fathom living like that.

A lot of fans took a long time — years, in fact —  to embrace you and Gina. But in the last couple of seasons, and especially this year, it feels like there has been a shift. Have you noticed that? Why do you think that is? 

I have noticed that. And I’ve actually analyzed it. First of all, Gina and I have always been authentic from day one. We’ve never done things to create a story, or to be dramatic, or to self-produce. We’ve never been like that. There are a lot of people that come on in their first season that have watched “Housewives” for years and years and years. They think they know what you’re supposed to do. So they come on and, right out of the gate, they’re really explosive or really dramatic. But at the end of the day, it’s slow and steady that wins the race. And I think Gina and I are the example of slow and steady. We’re being ourselves, being authentic, not self-producing, not trying to pick fights with somebody. I also think the second part is that, when Gina and I came on in Season 13, the show was very good. But then I think there were about three or four years where casting wasn’t great and the show wasn’t as strong as it could be. There was a lot of turnover, and so I think Gina and I got the backlash because the show wasn’t as great as it could be.

Sometimes Housewives castmates can descend into warfare, where each “team” will have each other’s backs no matter what. But this season, it’s been quite refreshing to see you taking most of the issues on a case-by-case basis. How do you not get drawn into all that?

Well, I’m very analytical. It’s the attorney in me. And I am also a team player. To me, the show is the most important thing, so I don’t want to see us end up somewhere like “New Jersey,” where you have a very divisive cast and people aren’t filming together. I’ve had people say: “Why didn’t you back up Shannon even more? Or why didn’t you tell Tamra off?” I’m going to tell Tamra what I think, but I’m not going to hate her and refuse to film with her. That way, I feel like there’s always a bridge and that we’re always a cast, as opposed to three people over here and three people over here who won’t be in the same room together. That’s when the show is dead.

Speaking of “New Jersey,” some of what happened toward the end of the season — I’m talking about the background checks on Jenn Pedranti’s partner Ryan, and different cast members digging up information on each other before reunions — felt like it was getting close to that territory. Does that worry you?

I think that you have to draw the line somewhere. I’ve heard a lot of stories about Ryan, too, so I wasn’t really surprised. I’ve googled him myself, because when there’s all these accusations flying around about someone, and I don’t like to speak to things unless I know what I’m talking about. I don’t just throw out accusations, I actually do the research on things. On one hand, you do want to know who you’re filming with and who you’re associated with. Especially as an attorney, there were times where I was like: “I don’t know if I want to be connected to people that are involved in certain things.” So for me, that’s a gray area.

And what about Tamra revealing that Shannon went digging to find information about Gina and Travis before last year’s reunion? Did that cross the line?

100%. There is a distinction between Ryan, and trying to find something about Gina that’s going to make her look bad at a reunion. Then to reveal it in a way where it’s shocking, or like it’s a huge bombshell, so she looks bad and it’s bad for her relationship with Travis and her family? That’s vile. That’s what we shouldn’t be doing.

It seems like there is a lot in the vault between Shannon and Tamra. Where do you think that will lead?

These women have been friends for 10 years. There’s a decade’s worth of texts between these two! I can’t even imagine all their conversations and attachments and screenshots. And now we’re at this point where their vitriol for each other is so deep and so out of control, that they’re just going to go through their phone and find things to throw back and forth at each other. And that’s scary when you’re everyone else at the table.

Ahead of filming this season, the “big event” was Shannon’s arrest for drunk driving. What is it like going into filming when something seismic has already happened? Did some of the cast struggle with how to respond to it?

I think some of the cast maybe felt like the viewers were going to chastise Shannon because of the DUI and be really hard on her. And they felt like maybe that’s what they should do — but it ended up being too much. If someone messes up and makes a bad choice, but they apologize and talk about it openly, then what else can you do besides take their word for it and move forward? You can’t continue to berate them for four months, and bully them.

Based on previous seasons of the show, you and Gina are unexpected allies of Shannon this season. Did the level of compassion you felt toward her surprise you? 

Honestly, coming into this season, I would say I wasn’t the biggest Shannon fan. I didn’t really have a relationship with her, and I had lots of ups and downs with her. We weren’t necessarily close. And I didn’t like the way that she reacted toward Gina at the last reunion, where just took zero accountability for anything and told her to her face she didn’t like her. The fact that Gina and I had genuine sympathy for what she was going through, I think, is really telling as to how deeply she was hurting. And not just the DUI — I felt so badly that the woman couldn’t even move on from the DUI before she got sued, and then she couldn’t even settle the case because he wouldn’t settle it. Not only are you dealing with active litigation while you’re filming a TV show, but your ex’s new girlfriend is in your face and friends with the people that you used to be friends with. I can’t even imagine dealing with all those things all at one time.

You filmed a cameo scene with Alexis on the show in 2019, but what was your reaction when you heard she was re-joining the show as a “friend”?

I’ve known Alexis for years, just in a very social setting. Orange County is a small world, and we have friends who are friends and I’ve been in social situations with her. When I started to hear that she was coming back on the show, I honestly did not have a problem with it. And I didn’t have a problem with her dating John Janssen, either. Shannon and Alexis were never friends, and they never filmed together, so it wasn’t like Alexis was breaking any kind of “girl code” or anything like that. Was it a little strange? Yes. Do I think she probably was at The Quiet Woman and knew who John was and approached him? Probably yes. But like I said earlier, I’m always a team player, and the show comes first. When I heard Alexis was coming on, I remember thinking: “Well, that’s good TV. Shannon ‘activated’ is good TV.” But at the time, I didn’t know that the plan was a total takedown of Shannon and public humiliation. I anticipated that it was nothing more than a superficial, petty “I’m dating your boyfriend now!” moment, that we would all move past that quickly. That’s not what happened.

Watching the show, I was disappointed that the cast seemed quite tentative to call-out Alexis for bringing up the allegedly compromising videos of Shannon. You were the first to confront Alexis about that, but do you wish you had spoken out sooner?

I’m going to tell you something — and I don’t know, [Bravo] might tell me to cut it out. When the videos first came up, I filmed a scene with Katie at the candy store and I was literally blown away by it. I honestly didn’t really know what to say at that moment, because I’m very analytical. I had to step away from it. Then I received a call from our executive producer that told me not to talk about it, because Bravo was dealing with it. So I left it there, because I thought: “This was blackmail. This sounds like extortion. This is disgusting. I don’t want anything to do with this. If it’s going that route, then I’m going to do what I’m told to do, because it’s being handled by the legal department.” And that is why I don’t say anything again. Then, when we’re in Sonoma and we’re in the spa, Gina brings it up. That’s why my face is literally like [jaw drops, opens mouth wide]. I assumed when I got that phone call, that everybody got that phone call. So when Gina brought it up, I didn’t know what to do. I was so confused at that moment. I wondered whether I was the only one to get the call, or whether she was the only one not to get the call. I’m just speculating, but I think maybe, because I’m an attorney, maybe I got the call because they didn’t want me to reach out to Shannon? I don’t know.

Alexis ended up becoming John Janssen’s unofficial spokesperson on the show — in part, because John wouldn’t appear himself. Was that frustrating?

Oh, it was so annoying — and it was obnoxious. I didn’t even film with her as much as some of the other girls, because after I had it out with her at Jenn’s pool party, I didn’t see her again until the finale, which was fine by me. I think she did herself a complete disservice by constantly being his mouthpiece, and constantly bringing up the lawsuit at any possibility she could. Even when she wasn’t invited to London, her response had to do with the lawsuit and John, not herself. And I think it was a disaster that she was never her own person. It was just John, John, John, John, John.

One skill I’ve noticed you have is that you’re good at giving a genuine apology. Some of your co-stars — like Tamra and sometimes Heather, too — seem to struggle with that. Why do you think that is?

When I apologize to someone — in real life or on the show — I think it’s very important that you recognize what you did wrong. Not just “I’m sorry you feel that way,” but an actual in-depth apology. And I probably have a lot of practice, too, because I have to apologize to Shane all the time! With Tamra, I don’t know if it’s just because she’s always so dramatic that she never thinks how the other person feels, and puts herself in their shoes. And with Heather, she just has this constant need for perfection, so a genuine apology would mean that she did something wrong. And I don’t think that she’s the type of person that likes to ever admit that she’s done anything wrong — ever. You could even see it, when she pulls Terry to the side, and I guess she forgets that they have a mic on? And she is not happy about him admonishing her. But I think apologizing just makes you more likable, because no one’s perfect.

That reminds me of the situation where you did the fashion show and were upset about the clothes that Heather gave you. It felt like she was too busy defending herself to listen to what actually upset you.

I agree. To this day, I don’t think she ever got where I was coming from. I didn’t want an apology. I didn’t think she did anything intentional or malicious, but I did feel like the conversation was necessary, because if we’re going to really be friends and have real, genuine friendships, then it’s important that we understand each other. Heather is very clear about how she’s sensitive about certain things — she doesn’t like to be called out in a group setting, or talk about certain things. If she can say that, then I’m allowed to say when something is sensitive for me. All I wanted was: “You know what? I’ve never thought of it that way. I can see your point of view.”

On the show, you’ve alluded to Heather having a barrier up and needing to be seen as perfect all the time. It seems like you think she needs to control the situation, or self-produce. Is that where the tension between you comes from?

Well, at Jenn’s house, it was clear that she would not talk to me that night, because I went rogue and I blindsided her. When I asked her to talk again, and she said she wasn’t having it, to me it was because she was not prepared to have this conversation. She needed to talk about it. She needed to think about it. She needed to bullet-point it. She needed to have it polished and rehearsed. And then, when she came up to me at the tea party before London, and she said: “Can I talk?,” that’s why I said: “No!” — because I knew what this was. Heather Dubrow went home and figured out the perfect response and put it in a box with a bow and now it’s ready to be delivered. And I just didn’t want to give her that. But I also didn’t want to go into London with any kind of issues. Then, it just ended up being her telling me all the reasons why she wasn’t wrong. She was missing the point.

What did you make of the alliance between Heather and Tamra this year? Last year, they were totally at odds, but this season they seemed to get very close…

I would say that their behavior in London was disappointing. I don’t think it was good for either one of them. Heather has the ability to be a voice of reason with Tamra, but that didn’t happen. And I really didn’t understand Heather — I couldn’t figure out what she was doing, or why she was going after Shannon so hard? When I got back from London, I remember telling Shane, who was like: “Wow, Tamra and Heather together? That’s not a good combination.”

Right at the end of the season, it was pretty odd that your kids — two eight-year-old boys — were brought into the drama on the show. How did you feel about watching that back?

I haven’t seen it, because I don’t watch the episodes, but Shane watches and he always gives me a synopsis of what I need to know. I was really shocked when my children were brought up, because Shane and I had made a pact after Katie’s daughter had spent the weekend with my children. As soon as she left, my boys immediately started asking me about Heather, and saying that Heather was a “mean person” and this and that. And Shane and I just looked at each other, and Shane was like: “She can’t ever babysit again.” And he also said: “This conversation doesn’t leave the room, because it has to do with children, and it just dies here.”  And I was like: “Absolutely.” I didn’t even tell Gina, because anything that involves my children or Katie’s children should just be left right there. When I heard, a couple weeks later, that it was being spun like that, I was just flabbergasted. One, I can’t believe that you thought that was OK to bring up. And two, it’s a lie. So it was shocking to me.

Why don’t you watch the show?

I can be very critical of myself. I don’t know if it’s because I’m just overly analytical, but I watch it and think: “Why did I do that? Why didn’t I say this?” And it kind of puts me into a tailspin. Shannon Beador is always talking about “healthy boundaries,” so I think for me one of those boundaries is I just don’t watch the episodes. I film and I say what I want to say, I do what I do, then I can’t help what is put out there. Whatever it is, I just let it be. And of course I see things on social media — I get tagged in things and Shane watches, too. But actually, if I watch the episodes, everyone would probably be scared when I came to a reunion, because I would probably be like: “In Episode 7, minute three, you said this!” I’d have too many examples.

You should definitely watch the scene where Jenn storms into Tamra’s room…

Oh, I’ve seen that on social media. Poor Tamra, the fact that Jenn came in looking like a supermodel and she had no makeup on? That made it even worse. If someone’s going to come into my room and attack me, can you at least wait for my glam to be done first?!

On that topic, it sometimes feels like Tamra can dish it out but she can’t take it?

Think there’s some truth to that. I do think that Tamra has no problem telling someone what they’re doing wrong, or why she doesn’t like them, or they’re a piece of shit, or whatever it is that she wants to say. Obviously, that means it could come back at her. When I have conversations with her, I do find her to be accountable. Maybe it’s because I approach it in a more conversational way. Anytime someone yells at her, it’s like poking the bear. She’s just going to come back harder. That’s why, when we were in London and Shannon and Tamra kept going at each other, I was like: “This situation isn’t going to diffuse! It’s just going to escalate!” The more Shannon finds stuff, Tamra’s going to find more stuff. Then Shannon is going to go back to her hotel room and find more stuff. It’s like a war of receipts.

It seems like the casting really worked this year. With the obvious exception of Alexis, the fans want to see everyone back. Do you?

I think it’s a really good cast, and it’s very strong. The reason it’s good is because you actually have genuine relationships and that’s what makes a good show. Obviously Gina and I are close. But I’m friends with Heather, and I just talked to her yesterday. I’m friends with Shannon and I talk to her almost every day, or every other day. Tamra and Heather talk to each other. Gina talks to Shannon. There’s a lot of crossover in relationships and that makes for a good cast, because when you start filming, it’s not like you have people who haven’t seen each other for six months and have to all of a sudden make a show.

And what about Jenn and Katie?

Jenn is really coming into her own. I think she’s starting to feel comfortable and she clearly has issues with Tamra that she has no problem bringing up, which is amazing. With Katie, for me I see her differently, because I felt like she didn’t want to get involved and didn’t have a lot of opinions, then it felt like they were trying to rehabilitate her in her confessionals. That’s the way it comes across to me. But at the end of the day, they don’t call me to ask what I think!