As The Real Housewives of Orange County airs this summer, the drama is red-hot. Emily Simpson weighs in on Shannon Beador and Tamra Judge’s conflict while appearing on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen.
Almost one year ago, The Real Housewives of Orange County star Shannon Beador, 60, was involved in a DUI. The drama from the incident is still playing out on the Bravo show. Season 18 sees many of the ladies discussing Shannon’s behavior following her DUI. Some were surprised to hear she had a “two drink maximum” just months after the crash. Last September, Shannon hit a residence with her car and left the vehicle. She was arrested and later sentenced to three years probation and 40 hours of community service. Shannon also completed a nine-month alcohol program.
OG of the OC ‘gives permission’
During The Real Housewives of Orange County season 18, the Tres Amigas are reunited, but it’s certainly not the friendship it once was.
As the ladies sit down for dinner, ‘the OG of the OC’ Vicki Gunvalson tells her co-stars they’re “allowed to have a cocktail” as they’re “not driving.”
Given Shannon’s DUI drama, the comments didn’t go down all too well, and Tamra calls Shannon an “alcoholic.”
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Jennifer Pedranti confirms her co-stars “don’t need permission,” before Shannon orders a “Belvedere soda with a lemon.”
Tamra shouts across the table: “Oh yeah, an alcoholic should drink, yeah.”
Vicki defends Shannon telling Tamra: “She can have alcohol, she just can’t get behind a wheel ever, ever, ever.”
Tamra asks if Vicki “really thinks Shannon doesn’t have a drinking problem,” before Shannon tells her: “You’ve been on this path for 10 years with me… who made you the judge and jury?”
In recent weeks, Tamra shared alleged screenshots about her departure from the Tres Amigas, calling Shannon and Vicki “dumb and dumber” online.
Emily defends Shannon
Cutting across the wild table comments, Emily tells Tamra: “You know what, I think she’s changed. I’m sorry…”
Gina Kirschenheiter also agreed it’s “not Tamra’s job to decide if Shannon is an alcoholic,” adding: “I think she’s doing a good job working on herself.”
During the dinner, Tamra makes more comments about Shannon needing to “go to rehab” and being “drunk” multiple times.
Shannon gets up from the table and tells Tamra she wasn’t allowed to drink during the program she undertook in her recovery, but Tamra shouts and slams the table: “Lies, lies, lies…”
Tamra adds how she’s “not going to enable Shannon,” and thinks she “needs help.”
Since filming, Emily has appeared on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, where she continues to defend Shannon.
Speaking to Andy Cohen, Emily says: “I understand Tamra’s perspective… they have a 10-year friendship… it’s very complex. I do wish that Tamra showed a little more empathy. I do think she should do that.”