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Shannon Beador is clearing the air about her Real Housewives of Orange County costar Alexis Bellino’s departure from the show — and while she insists she had no role in the decision, the timing and context still seem to say otherwise.
During an exclusive chat with Us Weekly at her and Katie Ginella’s fundraiser, Shannon Beador was asked about Alexis’s exit and shared her thoughts on the matter. “I have zero power with the network or production or anyone,” Shannon explained, brushing off any speculation that she might have played a part in the decision. “I would never want to interfere with someone’s livelihood.”
Shannon Beador acknowledged that Alexis has been in the reality TV game for years, something Alexis has referenced, saying, “But, Alexis Bellino is a TV star, and she’s been a TV star for 15 years. So I’m sure she’ll get a new gig sometime very soon.” While Shannon didn’t directly criticize her costar, this remark hinted that Alexis might not be out of the limelight forever, but it also subtly questioned whether RHOC was still the right platform for her.
In December 2024, Alexis herself confirmed that she wasn’t asked back for the next season of RHOC, revealing that the decision didn’t come as a “shock.” In her appearance on the Going Rogue podcast, Alexis admitted that while it was a “hard conversation,” she hadn’t anticipated the timing of the call.
“I was not asked back next season,” Alexis revealed. “I can’t say it came as a shock, it did not come as a shock. It was a hard conversation. … I guess I wasn’t really prepared [because] I didn’t think contracts were coming out — like, I thought we had more time.”
Despite Alexis’s insistence that she wasn’t surprised, her words suggest she may have hoped for a longer run on the show. But as Shannon Beador’s comments make clear, the franchise has continued to evolve — and perhaps Alexis simply wasn’t a fit for the current RHOC dynamic.
While Shannon may not have been involved in Alexis’s exit, her own journey through RHOC has been a rollercoaster of emotions and realizations. Reflecting on where she was the year before, Shannon revealed that she didn’t know who would return to the show and questioned her place within the cast.
“I spent a lot of time over the holidays reflecting on where I had been the year before,” Shannon shared. “I was at a place where I [had] just seen [John give Alexis] a promise ring on social media, and I didn’t know who was going to be coming back to the show. I didn’t know if I had a single friend on the show.”
Shannon’s focus has shifted beyond RHOC drama, and she’s now channeling her energy into causes close to her heart. She co-organized a benefit to support those impacted by the recent L.A. wildfires, a cause that is close to her, especially considering many of her friends in Pacific Palisades lost their homes in the fires.
“I think we had a successful turnout tonight,” Shannon said about the fundraiser, which she co-hosted with RHOC costar Katie Ginella. “It’s been a week of planning, but I’m glad we were able to support those in need.”
