"Came as a shock" — The Real Housewives Of Orange County's Alexis opens up about not being asked to return for season 19

Alexis Bellino has confirmed that she will not be returning for season 19 of The Real Housewives of Orange County. She disclosed the information on Carlos King's Going Rogue podcast on December 20, revealing that she had not been invited back for the upcoming season.

While Bellino had anticipated this decision, she admitted that she was not entirely prepared for it. She acknowledged that her return was unlikely, given her perception as a less favored cast among viewers.

Bellino reflected on her past experiences, noting that she had faced rejection before, specifically during season 8. Drawing from that experience, she seemed more accepting of the current situation.

"I can’t say it came as a shock. It did not come as a shock. I guess I wasn't really prepared and I didn't think contracts were coming out anytime. I thought we still had more time."

The Real Housewives of Orange County star Alexis further stated:

"But the cards played the way they did. How do they bring someone back who is not a fan favorite versus the fan favorite?" Alexis stated.

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The Real Housewives of Orange County star Alexis announced her departure on social media as well

The Real Housewives of Orange County star Alexis Bellino also took to her Instagram feed to address her departure from The Real Housewives of Orange County, posting a message on the same morning the podcast episode was released.

Alongside a video featuring her and her fiance John Janssen, Bellino shared a hopeful outlook, referencing the idea that new opportunities arise when others come to a close.

She then cited a biblical verse in the post and expressed her well-wishes for her former The Real Housewives of Orange County castmates. She also reminded her followers to be respectful in their comments, considering her children.

"Romans 8:28 'And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him,' Love my girls and wishing them the best season yet." captioned Alexis.

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Recap of Alexis Bellino's time on The Real Housewives of Orange County

Alexis Bellino appeared alongside several cast members, including Shannon Storms Beador, Heather Dubrow, and Tamra Judge, on season 18 of The Real Housewives of Orange County. During her time on the show, Alexis focused on her friendships with Tamra, Jennifer Pedranti, and Katie Ginella, as well as her romantic relationship with John Janssen, Shannon's ex.

Alexis and John's relationship began in November 2023, and they got engaged 9 months later, in August 2024. At the RHOC Season 18 reunion, Alexis defended her relationship with John, who was involved in a lawsuit with Shannon at the time.

Before joining the other cast members for part two of the three-part The Real Housewives of Orange County season 18 reunion, Alexis Bellino made a candid admission about her fiance while speaking with Tamra Judge in her trailer. Before joining the rest of the group, Alexis expressed her reluctance to engage in conflict, instead wanting to share her side of the story.

"Honest to God, I don't want to fight. And I just want to go out and speak the truth. I'm not gonna bring him up. But they're going to continue with the lies, and I'm going to have to defend him because he doesn't have a voice," stated Alexis.

Alexis acknowledged that she would likely need to defend her fiance, John, as others might continue to spread misinformation about him. She felt that John had been silenced for too long, while Shannon Storms Beador had been publicly sharing her perspective for years. Alexis believed that the truth about the situation had not been accurately represented.

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Shannon Storms Beador and her ex-boyfriend John Janssen have since reached a settlement in their highly publicized lawsuit, which was initially valued at $75,000 and later brought down to $70,000.