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Heather Dubrow opens up about how the RHOC cast learned about Shannon Beador’s DUI. Plus, get all the latest season 18 casting news.
It turns out the RHOC cast NEVER gossiped about Shannon Beador‘s arrest for DUI and hit-and-run in the cast’s group chat.
Heather Dubrow recently revealed that she reached out to Shannon following her arrest but never heard back from her RHOC co-star. Instead, through the grapevine, Heather learned that Shannon didn’t want anyone in the RHOC cast discussing her arrest for DUI.
“No one went on the group chat. I’m sure there were a lot of private conversations that went on [though],” Heather said during the Thursday, October 12, episode of the “Viall Files” podcast.
The 54-year-old went on to describe the moment she learned that Shannon had been arrested.
“I had woken up that morning, and someone had texted me the article … and, at first, you look at it and think, ‘It’s not true.’ Then, I thought, ‘Is she OK?’”
Heather said she immediately texted Shannon’s pal and their mutual RHOC co-star, Tamra Judge, about the news.
“[Tamra] didn’t know, and I felt bad, but how was I not gonna then tell her? So, I sent [an article] to her, and she called me,” Dubrow recalled. “And we talked for a couple minutes, and I texted Shannon, and I said, ‘Are you OK?’ I got kind of a party line text back that seemed to [be sent] to a bunch of people, asking us not to talk about it.”
She continued: “I wrote [Shannon] back, ‘You know, I have no plans to talk about it. I just wanted to see if you needed anything,’ and I didn’t hear back.”
As AllAboutTRH previously reported, Shannon was arrested for DUI and a hit-and-run on Saturday, September 16, in Newport Beach, California, after she drove her car into a residential property and “clipped the house.”
Per TMZ, Shannon entered into an outpatient treatment program on Monday, October 9. The behavioral wellness program that the RHOC star has enrolled in features an alcohol component.
Meanwhile, TV Deets has some casting news related to season 18 of RHOC.
According to the outlet, it is “most likely” that the entire RHOC cast will be returning for season 18.
“Everyone is going to be invited back for Season 18,” host Brett Staffen said on the Friday, October 13 episode of the TV Deets Podcast.
Season 17 of RHOC starred Tamra Judge, Shannon Beador, Heather Dubrow, Gina Kirschenheiter, Emily Simpson, and Jennifer Pedranti. Taylor Armstrong also appeared as a friend of the Housewives.
Per sources, “Producers and the network were really happy with the fan engagement this year, and all of the ladies stepped up to the plate to deliver.”
Staffen continued, “Now, I’m told that with Shannon Beador’s DUI arrest, producers want to follow the aftermath of that and how that has impacted the group. I’m also told that Jennifer [Pedranti] is expected to return and Taylor [Armstrong] will be back as well, and I’m hearing that it is ‘most likely’ she will keep her Friend of the Housewives role.”
It’s also likely that Vicki Gunvalson will return in some capacity for season 18.
Despite Bravo’s plans to bring everyone within the RHOC cast back for season 18, producers are still on the “lookout for new Housewives.” They are also floating around the idea of bringing Alexis Bellino and Gretchen Rossi back for season 18.
The Real Housewives of Orange County will return for season 18 in 2024.
