Emily Simpson appeared on Thursday’s Watch What Happens Live, where she admitted to learning “not good” things about John Janssen from Shannon Beador off-camera.
Credit: Instagram, Bravo
As she reflected on Shannon, 60, and John’s “toxic relationship,” reacted to Tamra Judge‘s behavior toward Shannon, and suggested that Vicki Gunvalson, 62, was enabling her friend, the 48-year-old Real Housewives of Orange County star slammed John over the timing of his lawsuit against Shannon, spoke of the paparazzi rumors against Heather Dubrow, 55, and more.
“I had a lot of conversations with Shannon offline, and I feel like she was not ready to talk about things on camera, but she would share a lot of things with me off camera [about John] and they weren’t good,” Emily revealed on the August 8 episode of WWHL. “And I felt really badly for her and I felt like she was dealing with a lot. [But] I can’t really think of anything specific.”
According to Emily, that’s why she was hard on Shannon amid season 17.
“It’s because when you’re filming a show and the rest of us are laying things on the line, being vulnerable, talking about real things and you know someone isn’t sharing their real life,” she explained, “but now stepping back I understand she couldn’t because I think he was very controlling of what information got put out there.”
While Emily suspected that John was making sure that certain information wasn’t leaked, she acknowledged that his relationship with Alexis Bellino, 47, is different.
“I think it’s okay that their relationship is better. I think that’s great and I’m happy for her, but I don’t think she needs to shove it down Shannon’s throat,” Emily noted. “Two people together can be toxic and you can’t really say who’s to blame. It’s just a toxic relationship.”
During Thursday’s RHOC, Tamra went after Shannon, who she labeled an “alcoholic” after her DUI arrest, and while Emily understood where she was coming from in part, she wished she’d been a little easier on her castmate.
“I understand Tamra’s perspective because she has a different perspective than a lot of us. They had a 10-year friendship, and I know there’s a lot more there than we know. It’s a lot more complex. I do wish that Tamra showed a little more empathy. I do think she should do that,” Emily stated.
As for the support Shannon has received from Vicki, Emily responded to a fan who asked if she was “enabling.”
“I love Victoria, but I do think Shannon needs someone who’s honest with her, and I don’t know if Vicki’s that person,” Emily replied. “I think Vicki probably tells her she does everything right.”
Moving on to the paparazzi drama between Heather and Katie Ginella, Emily couldn’t say whether she agreed that Gina Kirschenheiter, 40, was at fault for bringing up the claims on camera.
“I can go back and forth on that. I feel like maybe she had a duty to her because they’re friends but we’re also making a show. In the moment you just do whatever you think is best and then you apologize later,” Emily admitted.
Although John has long claimed that he is not a fan of the spotlight, Emily pulled that allegation into question as she shaded the timing of his lawsuit against Shannon.
“I think the timing of it is very suspect. He had an opportunity to ask for the money when they broke up months ago, but I think he meticulously waited to do it while we were filming.”
Emily also thought Alexis came in too hot.
“I do because I think she flip-flops back and forth. One minute she’s like, ‘I just wanna be friends. I wanna smooth things over,’ and then the next minute she’s pulling up receipts and embarrassing her so that doesn’t work,” she explained.
Throughout the past several weeks, many have suspected that Gina and boyfriend Travis Mullen will split since they are now living separately. But Emily believes she made the right choice.
“I think she did. Honestly, she’d been telling me for a long time that that was an issue so I wasn’t surprised by it and I think she made the decision she thought was best for her and her children,” Emily stated.
When she was then asked how scary it was being on Heather’s bad side, from one to 10, Emily said it was only a “one,” noting that she’s “always mad at [her],” before admitting that she was once fearful of Tamra.
“It used to be Tamra, but not anymore. I feel like after six years, I’ve earned the right to say they don’t give me any frights at all,” she declared.
Also on the live broadcast, Emily played a game of “Agree or Disagree,” during which she agreed that Gina should’ve done a credit check on Jennifer Pedranti, 47, before finding her a rental and that Alexis and John would get engaged in the next 12 months.
As for what she didn’t agree on, Emily didn’t think the Tres Amigas would reconcile or that Heather and husband Terry Dubrow, 65, have never tipped off the paparazzi. She also didn’t agree that Jennifer and her fiance, Ryan Boyajian, 47, would prove everyone wrong and have the longest-lasting relationship on the show.
Later, on the WWHL: After Show, Emily was questioned about Jennifer’s suggestion that her comments about her finances were “hurtful” and asked if she’d called her to apologize.
“No,” Emily replied. “I understand hurtful, but I think I’m right, and so I just say things that factually are correct. It may come off abrasive or aggressive, but at the end of the day, I’m not wrong.”
Then, after Andy clarified that Emily does eventually apologize, Emily confirmed, “I always apologize.”
According to Emily, she watched RHOC “here and there” before joining the cast but doesn’t watch it anymore, nor does she watch any other franchises. Instead, her household’s only viewer is her husband, Shane Simpson.
While Emily may not be a fan of the Real Housewives, she does have a friend in Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Lisa Barlow, 49.
“Probably Lisa Barlow,” she revealed when asked which wife she was closest to. “People always ask me what cast would you go to if you left O.C., and I always feel like I could segway into [RHOSLC] just because of the whole Mormon thing, and Shane and I used to live in Utah, and I’ve known Lisa for years and we always chat and text, so I feel like that would work.”
“I get her. We talk a lot,” she added.
The Real Housewives of Orange County season 18 airs Thursdays at 9/8c on Bravo.
