"Never want to interfere" — The Real Housewives of Orange County star Shannon Beador chimes in on Alexis Bellino's departure

Shannon Beador recently addressed the departure of her The Real Housewives of Orange County (RHOC) co-star Alexis Bellino, clarifying her stance on the situation.

At a fundraiser for Emergency Network LA hosted by her and Katie Ginella, Shannon stressed during an exclusive interview with Us Weekly on January 19, 2025, that she has no influence over the decisions of the network and that she would never meddle with someone's livelihood.

“I have zero power with the network or production or anyone, and I would never want to interfere with someone’s livelihood,” the Real Housewives of Orange County star stated.

---

Shannon Beador discusses Alexis Bellino's exit from The Real Housewives of Orange County

Alexis Bellino’s departure from the show

Former RHOC star Alexis Bellino was first a cast member during Seasons 5 to 8 before returning for Season 18. In December 2024, she said on the Going Rogue podcast that she was not invited back for the next season. According to her, while the news wasn't shocking entirely, the timing of the call was. Here's what Alexis shared:

“I was not asked back next season... I can’t say it came as a shock, it did not come as a shock. It was a hard conversation... I guess I wasn’t really prepared because I didn’t think contracts were coming out — like, I thought we had more time."

Despite the unexpected timing, Alexis Bellino clarified that she wasn’t entirely taken aback by the news of her exit. The Real Housewives of Orange County star added:

"So, it was a shock when the call came, but I was never shocked about that information.”

The departure follows a season filled with personal and professional drama, particularly surrounding Alexis' relationship with Shannon. Alexis' fiancé, John Janssen, had been involved in a legal dispute with Shannon, related to claims that she owed him $75,000 for a previous facelift.

The situation eventually led to a settlement outside of court in November 2024, with Shannon agreeing to pay $60,000.

---

Shannon’s response to Alexis’ exit

Shannon, reflecting on the situation, clarified that she did not influence the decision to remove Alexis from the show. She also underscored that she views Alexis as a "TV star" and expressed confidence that she would find new opportunities, saying:

“But, Alexis Bellino is a TV star, and she’s been a TV star for 15 years, so I’m sure she’ll get a new gig sometime very soon.”

The 60-year-old reality star also opened up on her own growth. While conversing with Us Weekly, Shannon shared that over the holidays she spent a good amount of time reflecting on the past year of her life. She confessed to having emotionally toughened during the previous year, but she thanked the Almighty for having enough strength and help around her to pull her through.

“I was at a place where I just saw [John give Alexis] a promise ring on social media, and I didn’t know who was going to be coming back to the show. I didn’t know if I had a single friend on the show," she said.

The Real Housewives of Orange County star opened up on her emotional journey, revealing how far she has come despite the difficulties she faced in the past year, adding:

"It’s very overwhelming for me... I’m probably in one of the best places that I’ve ever been...I’m so grateful to those close to me that have supported me and the fans that have supported me.”

---

To relive the drama and moments of The Real Housewives of Orange County (RHOC), fans can stream previous seasons on Peacock, Hayu, or Amazon Prime Video.