Gretchen Rossi is ready to return to The Real Housewives of Orange County.
A source close to production confirmed to Us Weekly on Wednesday, January 29, that Rossi, 46, will appear as a “friend” of the cast for season 19. (Variety was first to report the news.)
Rossi is expected to join returning Housewives Emily Simpson, Katie Ginella, Jennifer Pedranti, Tamra Judge, Shannon Beador, Heather Dubrow and Gina Kirschenheiter when filming begins this week.
Former “friend” of the show Alexis Bellino — like Rossi, a former OC Housewife who returned after many years away — previously confirmed she would not be returning for season 19.
“I was not asked back next season,” she shared on a December 2024 episode of iHeartRadio’s “Going Rogue” podcast. “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. … [So] it was a shock when the call came, but I was never shocked about that information.”
Fans met Rossi when she joined RHOC for season 4. At the time, she was engaged to Jeff Beitzel. By the time the season premiered in November 2008, Beitzel had died after a battle with cancer.
Rossi went on to fall in love with original RHOC castmember Slade Smiley. During season 8, which aired in 2013, Rossi proposed with help from a helicopter. She would exit the show soon after.
Although they never got married, the couple recently celebrated their 16th anniversary and have a daughter named Skylar Gray, 5.
Before rejoining RHOC, Rossi developed some bonds with some of the current Housewives. Earlier this month, Ginella, 40, shared a glimpse into her friendship with Rossi.
“When you join the cast, you hear about ex cast members, but I really just wanted to give what I get,” Ginella exclusively told Us at a Let’s Help LA fundraiser benefiting Emergency Network LA. “I met Gretchen, and she’s a lovely woman. We’ve become really good friends. Jenn and I hang out with her all the time. I love Gretchen.”
One person, however, who isn’t close to Rossi is Judge, 57. The two feuded over several seasons with Judge accusing her costar of being a “golddigger” while dating Beitzel. Judge also infamously tried to get Rossi “naked wasted” at a party.
Related: Shannon Beador Reacts to Alexis Bellino’s ‘RHOC’ Exit After Feud
Shannon Beador is clearing the air about her The Real Housewives of Orange County costar Alexis Bellino’s departure from the show. “I have zero power with the network or production or anyone, and I would never want to interfere with someone’s livelihood,” Shannon, 60, exclusively told Us Weekly at her and Katie Ginella’s Let’s Help […]
In October 2024, Rossi confirmed she was still not on good terms with her former costar.
“I think it’s sad that she’s been getting away with harming so many people for years now,” she wrote via her Instagram Story. “In my experience, she makes up horrible lies about people with no remorse of how it affects their actual lives.”
The Real Housewives of Orange County season 19 premiere date has yet to be announced. Fans can catch up on past seasons now via Peacock.
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