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Tamra Judge would love to see Alexis Bellino return to The Real Housewives of Orange County in a full-time role for season 19. But after her experience with season 18, she’s not so sure it will happen.
As she reflected on her drama with Shannon Beador, 60, claiming that key scenes were cut from the currently airing season, and sharing her thoughts on a potential reconciliation, Tamra, 57, revealed what she believes backfired on Alexis, 47, and weighed in on Shannon’s claim about John Janssen, 61, potentially blackmailing her with pre-DUI videos.
“I would like to see her in a full-time role where we can see her kids and her life and maybe her wedding next year and all that, so I’m really hoping [she’ll be back],” Tamra told Us Weekly on October 5. “But I think right now she feels very defeated. She’s very upset. She’s very hurt and I don’t know if that’s what she’s thinking right now.”
Although Alexis and John became the villains of the season, especially after Alexis mentioned the existence of videos taken of Shannon before her September 2023 DUI, Tamra denied that the couple was blackmailing John’s ex.
“That’s absolutely not true. That’s something Shannon made up,” she stated. “From what I was told, there [were] a lot of stipulations with giving the money. It was not the full amount. It was a payment plan. There [were] a lot of things that she wanted signed.”
According to Tamra, there could be an “email trail” between Shannon and John.
“Also, I might be wrong but I don’t think I am, they weren’t even together when he loaned her this money,” she alleged. “I can see where he’s coming from to a certain extent where she’s out there telling the world, ‘I pay for everything. He doesn’t pay for anything and he’s a fame wh*re.’ Sometimes enough is enough.”
During production on RHOC season 18, Tamra had an off-camera conversation with Shannon in which she encouraged her to make things right with John.
“I said, ‘Shannon, I think you should just pay him, and maybe you can publicly apologize and he won’t ask for the money,’” she revealed. “I [don’t] think it’s ’cause he needs the money. I think he’s a very well-off guy. I think it’s the principle of what [she’d] done to tarnish his image.’”
Throughout the season, Tamra has been accused of being “mean” to Shannon. But she looks forward to the truth coming out at the reunion.
“I thank God for the reunion so we can clear a lot of this stuff. There was a lot of stuff, obviously, and I’m sure it’s done purposefully, like some things are taken out because you have to have something to talk about at the reunion. And I understand the process. This isn’t my first rodeo,” Tamra shared. “But yeah, you will see the very first episode, I go to see if she’s okay.”
While Tamra appeared to be the aggressor in her relationship with Shannon at times, she clarified that she does not hate Shannon. Rather, she’s hurt by her.
“I go to see if she’s okay, and she comes after me and says some horrible things, and then I’m like, ‘You’re a horrible person. I don’t want to talk to you.’ And I walk away. But they don’t show that middle part of what got me to that,” Tamra explained. “I’ll discuss what was said at the reunion.”
“Then, the second time I had a confrontation with her was at [Gina Kirschenheiter]’s dinner party, and again, she brought something up to me and that was my response. When some things are removed, I feel like it’s not fair to a certain extent. Like, show a little bit of it. You can’t just show me going off the rails for no reason. I’m being reactive,” she continued. “Was I being sweet? No. And I do regret calling her an ‘alcoholic,’ but I was pushed against a wall.”
“And it’s very hard for me since I’ve known her and the struggles with alcohol and getting in an accident, getting a DUI, and still drinking, I can’t wrap my brain around that at all,” she added.
Looking back on Alexis’ return to RHOC, Tamra revealed that Alexis was hesitant.
“She said, ‘I don’t know if the timing’s good ’cause I am dating John now, and I just don’t want to kick Shannon when she’s down.’ So that was her mindset going in,” Tamra noted. “[But] then you watch the show. You’re like, ‘This is everything she said she didn’t want to do.’ But I think she just really is riding hard for John and to try to clear his name because Shannon would drink and call us all and say horrible things about him that weren’t necessarily true.”
“[But] I think it’s definitely backfiring on her for sure,” she admitted.
Because she’s been so critical of Shannon’s drinking, many people have mentioned that Tamra has been seen intoxicated on the show and wondered why she has the right to point fingers. However, according to Tamra, she doesn’t typically drink off-camera.
“I am somebody that definitely can’t handle two drinks, and it’s because I don’t drink that much, but when I film, I tend to think I need liquid courage. Then the courage turns into straight a**hole-ism,” she explained.
Moving on to a potential reconciliation with Shannon, Tamra said that while she hopes to move past their issues, a close-knit friendship isn’t in the cards.
“I don’t think we’ll ever be friends,” she shared. “I really just want to realize I wasn’t out to hurt her. I’ve been there for her forever. It’s always been a very one-sided relationship. She’s been very needy, and I’ve always been the one there for her. No one truly knows what I’ve gone through for all those years. Plus … she stopped talking about me ’cause she didn’t need me anymore. It just shows somebody’s character.”
Also during the interview, Tamra confirmed she’ll be attending Alexis and John’s wedding.
“Yes. I’ve already got a save the date,” she stated.
The Real Housewives of Orange County season 18 airs Thursdays at 9/8c on Bravo.
