RHOC Alum Is Returning to Series For Upcoming 19th Season

Real Housewives of Orange County” personality Gretchen Rossi is coming back to the Bravo series after leaving in 2013.

On January 29, Variety reported that Rossi will be a “friend of” for the show’s upcoming 19th season, which does not yet have a release date.

Gretchen Rossi Spoke About Her Time on RHOC in an October 2024 Interview

During an October 2024 interview on RHOC personality Vicki Gunvalson‘s podcast “My Friend My Soulmate My Podcast,” Rossi spoke about the Bravo series. Rossi said she did not realize what she was “signing up for” when she began filming for the show during its 4th season.

“I was so naive. I was so green. To the point where I would walk right into what they wanted. And the narrative that they wanted,” said Rossi during the podcast interview.

Rossi also discussed her 2013 RHOC exit. She said an individual, who she ended up facing in court, was “stalking, harassing, and harming” her. In 2012, TMZ reported that Rossi obtained “a 3-year restraining order against” the individual, identified as Jay Photoglou. Rossi said she told producers she did not want the situation to be featured on RHOC.

According to Rossi, RHOC producers were understanding. She said, however, the situation was mentioned during the RHOC season 8 reunion, which upset her.

“I was really frustrated. Because he had filed an appeal to the case that we had won. And it’s like anytime that stuff is brought up on the show, it can get used in, like, the court case,” said Rossi. “So, I was really frustrated. And we sent a letter from our attorneys. Not threatening to sue. This was all the stuff that was out there — ‘Gretchen sued the network.’ It was not about that. It was like, ‘Look guys if you continue to put this as part of the show, you’re actually going to become partially liable. Because you’re repurposing this stuff that we’ve proven in court is illegal to repurpose.'”

According to Rossi, she declined the offer to return to RHOC season 9.

“I just said, ‘Look until you respond to my lawyer’s letter about this, I have no interest in coming back,'” said Rossi to Gunvalson.

Rossi also said she did not like how her fiance, Slade Smiley, was portrayed in the series.

Gretchen Rossi Spoke About Possibly Returning to RHOC in 2021

Rossi spoke about possibly returning to RHOC in a 2021 interview with Access Hollywood. She said she would need a significant sum of money to consider filming the Bravo series again.

“If it’s a stupid offer I can’t refuse then I might consider it,” said Rossi to Access Hollywood.

Rossi also said she was not interested in filming with Tamra Judge again.

Judge, who will also star in season 19, may have addressed Rossi’s RHOC comeback in a January 29 Instagram upload.

“I guess it’s time to dust off those friendship bracelets… my bestie’s back 😉🍊 #RHOC #15Seasons #LongestRunningHousewife,” wrote Judge in her post’s caption.