Real Housewives of Orange County” star Tamra Judge is opening up about her former castmate Alexis Bellino‘s departure from the Bravo series.
In the December 24 episode of her podcast “Two Ts In A Pod,” co-hosted by Teddi Mellencamp, Judge referenced that Bellino announced she “was not asked back” following the show’s 18th season on a December 2024 episode of the “Going Rogue” podcast. As fans are aware, Bellino returned to the Bravo series for season 18 as “a friend of” following an 11-year absence.
Judge said she knew that Bellino was not coming back to RHOC before she made the revelation.
“Obviously I knew that. I wasn’t obviously allowed to say anything,” said Judge during the “Two Ts In A Pod” episode.
In addition, Judge said she was unsure if Bellino would ever film for RHOC again.
“Our ratings were high — she had a lot to do with it. She really did. I don’t know what her future is on the show. If she’ll ever be back. Who knows. But we could not keep going the way we were going,” said Judge.
According to Judge, she and Heather Dubrow “tried to warn [Bellino]” about how she was presenting herself on RHOC season 18, as fans were not in her favor amid her feud with Shannon Beador.
Tamra Judge & Alexis Bellino Spoke About Their Post-Season 18 Discussion
During the December 24 “Two Ts In A Pod” episode, Judge said Bellino questioned their friendship after the production of RHOC season 18 wrapped. According to Judge, Bellino asked her, “Are you my friend or my TV friend?” Judge suggested she took offense to Bellino’s comment and told her that she had continually supported her throughout season 18.
“Even when I shouldn’t have. I actually threw myself under the bus. And got myself ran over for some reason. Because I was friends with her,” continued Judge.
Judge also said that Bellino was upset with her because she did not know about the final 18 season scene until it was aired. In the scene, Judge and Dubrow informed Beador that her ex-boyfriend, John Janssen, who is currently engaged to Bellino, heard her crash her car the night of her September 2023 DUI arrest. In addition, Judge let Beador know that Janssen claimed she had hit him.
During the “Two Ts In A Pod” episode, Judge said she informed Bellino that she was not allowed to tell her about the scene. She also suggested production did not trust Bellino and Janssen to not go to the press about the situation before the season 18 episode aired.
Bellino spoke about her conversation with Judge regarding the final scene of RHOC season 18 during the December 2024 episode of “Going Rogue.” She said she was “upset” with Dubrow and Judge. In addition, Bellino said she understood that production had barred them from telling her about the scene. She said, however, that she would have liked some sort of a warning before the episode aired.
Bellino also said she is trying to mend her friendships with Judge and Dubrow.
“Tamra, Heather, and I are working through it,” said Bellino during the podcast episode.
Alexis Bellino & John Janssen Discussed Getting Criticized By Viewers
During a joint October 2024 interview with Us Weekly, Bellino and Janssen spoke about receiving criticism from fans. Bellino suggested she was surprised she was not warmly received by season 18 viewers.
“It’s been a rough season. I thought it would go one way, and it went the other,” said Bellino to the publication.
Janssen also said that he was frustrated by the criticism.
“The hate has been overwhelming. And what’s so difficult is like we’re in a vortex where all the hate is based off of things that aren’t true,” said Janssen.
