The Real Housewives of Orange County is no stranger to drama, but the return of Gretchen Rossi and her fiancé, Slade Smiley, for season 19 has sent shockwaves through Bravo fans and former castmates alike. In exclusive interviews with Us Weekly, Alexis Bellino and Jo De La Rosa opened up about their candid reactions to Gretchen’s comeback, and their responses might surprise you.
Alexis Bellino, who shared the RHOC screen with Gretchen from seasons 5 to 8, didn’t hold back when discussing their fractured bond. Speaking at Galyna Saltkovska’s Golden Afternoon event at Truly Blessed Jewels in Newport Beach, California, the 48-year-old reality star reflected on their past. “Gretchen and I had a great friendship at the beginning, but I’m sorry to say this is one of those friendships that will not recover,” Alexis revealed. “She showed too many true colors to me back then.”
Alexis, who returned as a “friend” of the cast in season 18, admitted that while she wishes Gretchen well, their relationship is firmly in the past. “You don’t know how it’s going to air, but I wish her nothing but the best,” she said. “That friendship for me is done, and all I can do is pray for her and wish her the best—she’s gonna need the prayers.” With Gretchen stepping back into the RHOC spotlight as a “friend” in season 19, it’s clear Alexis is keeping her distance while staying diplomatic.
The season 19 trailer teases plenty of fireworks, including the rekindling of Gretchen’s long-standing feud with RHOC veteran Tamra Judge. The explosive dynamic has already caught the attention of current cast member Emily Simpson, who shared her thoughts with Us Weekly at Swirl Boutique in Carlsbad, California. “I think her return was different than what I expected,” Emily, 49, said cryptically. “I had different expectations of what Gretchen would be like, and I would say she was different than what I envisioned.” Emily’s guarded response hints at unexpected twists in Gretchen’s return, leaving fans eager to see how the drama unfolds.
For Jo De La Rosa, an RHOC OG who was engaged to Slade Smiley during the show’s first two seasons, Gretchen’s return was a jaw-dropping development. Speaking to Us Weekly while celebrating season 2 of The McBee Dynasty, Jo, 44, admitted she was caught off guard. “I am actually surprised that they asked Gretchen to come back, because I thought she got fired,” she said with a laugh. “I look forward to watching everybody who’s on the cast. With [Gretchen and Slade] being back on this season, I think it’ll be interesting to see how they kind of mesh with the rest of the group.”
Jo, who split from Slade in 2017 and married Taran Gray in 2022, also addressed the elephant in the room: Gretchen and Slade’s long engagement. The couple got engaged in 2013, but over a decade later, they still haven’t tied the knot. When asked about it, Jo took the high road. “I don’t have a theory, just because it’s not really any of my business what goes on between the two of them,” she said. “I’m sure a lot of people are speculating.” Her diplomatic response reflects her desire to stay out of the drama, even as fans buzz with curiosity.
While neither Alexis nor Jo will be part of season 19’s cast, both are cheering for their former castmates from the sidelines. Alexis, who’s currently planning her dream wedding to John Janssen, expressed relief at stepping away from the chaos. “I’m not gonna lie, the trailer looks good,” she said. “I do have friends that I talked to on the season, so I know it’s gonna be a good season. I’m excited for the girls. I hope that they knock it out of the ballpark.”
As RHOC gears up for its latest chapter, Gretchen and Slade’s return promises to shake things up in Orange County. With old feuds reigniting, unexpected dynamics emerging, and plenty of speculation swirling, season 19 is shaping up to be a must-watch. Tune in later this month to see how it all unfolds!