Bravo Announces Gretchen Rossi Is Making a Major Comeback to Real Housewives of Orange County for Season 19!
Gretchen Rossi is making her return to The Real Housewives of Orange County for the show’s highly anticipated 19th season, Bravo confirmed on Wednesday.
“She’s back and ready to make fetch happen. Gretchen Rossi joins #RHOC for Season 19!” the network excitedly shared on Instagram, confirming the fan-favorite’s return.
Gretchen, 46, first joined Real Housewives of Orange County in 2008 during a tumultuous time in her life, being engaged to Jeff Beitzel, who tragically passed away just before the season premiered. By Season 5, she was in a relationship with Slade Smiley, whose previous engagement to Real Housewives of Orange County alum Jo De La Rosa sparked additional drama.
Throughout their relationship, the couple faced scrutiny from other cast members, with some questioning the authenticity of their romance.
Gretchen’s exit from the show in Season 8 was dramatic, culminating in a proposal to Slade, who accepted. Although they never tied the knot, Gretchen revealed that the couple is still going strong and will celebrate their 16th anniversary in February. Together, they share a daughter, Skylar Gray Smiley, born in July 2019.
For Season 19, Gretchen will return as a “friend” of the cast, as confirmed by Variety.
She’ll be joining all of last season’s regulars, including her former nemesis Tamra Judge, who returns to the show alongside Shannon Beador, Heather Dubrow, Jennifer Pedranti, Katie Ginella, Gina Kirschenheiter, and Emily Simpson.
In addition to Gretchen’s comeback, fans will also notice the absence of Alexis Bellino, who was let go from Real Housewives of Orange County after appearing as a “friend” on Season 18.
Alexis made headlines for her relationship with Shannon’s ex, John Janssen, but will not be returning for the new season.
As for when Season 19 will premiere, a date has yet to be confirmed, but Variety reported that production is already underway. The excitement for Real Housewives of Orange County’s return is certainly building, with Gretchen’s reappearance adding a new layer of drama to the dynamic.
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Avigail is an Entertainment blogger at All About The Tea, who specializes in The Real Housewives of Atlanta and The Real Housewives of Potomac. Avigail has a background in marketing. She’s a Brooklynite living in the Bahamas, with a passion for travel, writing, reality TV watching, pop culture and spoken word.
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