“This is LOW!!”- The Real Housewives of Orange County fans criticize Emily for bringing up Katie’s children’s custody situation

Part 1 of The Real Housewives of Orange County Season 18 reunion aired on November 7, with the cast reuniting under Andy Cohen to discuss the season’s conflicts. Emily mentioned that Katie had lost custody of her children, suggesting it wouldn’t have happened unless Katie signed the papers. She and Heather questioned Katie’s parenting, asking why she didn’t retain legal custody.

Fans of The Real Housewives of Orange County on X criticized Emily and Heather for bringing up something they had nothing to do with.

"Emily is vile for bringing up Katie’s custody situation. I used to really like her but this is LOW!! I never hear her pipe up about Tamra’s toxic relationship with her kids," said one fan.

The Tweet above (Image via X/@brownbarbiefam)

"The way Heather and Emily dug up information about Katie's custody situation and the police report is so gross to me. They really thought they did something there. And they did. They got us to be disgusted by them," said another.

"Emily? Why in the hell are you bringing up Katie’s children custody battle!! SHUT THE F*CK UP," a third fan added.

"Emily questioning Katie about her kids and their custody and history around all that was total bullsh*t. I wish Katie would have told her to f*ck off and she wasn’t going to answer any of her questions. I’m hating Emily at this reunion," another wrote.

Some fans of The Real Housewives of Orange County pointed out that Emily had nothing to do with that situation of Katie, it was only brought up to get back to her.

"Emily, the custody of Katie's kids has nothing to do with you. So disappointed," an X user wrote.

"Using Katie’s custody situation as a clear “got ya moment” was just nasty. We all have a past, and clearly she went through a serious dark time in life but persevered. How about we focus on that," another X user said.

"Emily is a total bitch for bringing up Katie’s custody battle from so long ago in this context," commented one.

"Emily bringing up Katie didn't have physical or legal custody of her kids x number of years ago was low af and completely irrelevant to #RHOC. Emily's a low down dirty dog," another commented.

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What did Katie have to say about the custody of her kids on The Real Housewives of Orange County season 18 reunion?

At The Real Housewives of Orange County reunion, Emily stated that she read an article that said Katie lost custody of her children when she divorced her ex-husband Andrew Sundseth. Emily, an attorney herself, added that Katie couldn't have lost both physical and legal custody of her children in California unless she was unfit or signed them off to her husband.

Explaining herself, Katie said that she was living in a facility in Atlanta after her divorce, and her parents who lived not far from her also weren't willing to help her because they were against her divorce. And since she didn't have a place for her kids to live, he was given custody.

To this, Emily said:

"But why was it legal custody as well, that's the part that doesn't make sense to me. Because legal custody is just decision-making power".

Katie first said she didn't know, then added that at the time she was okay with that because she was trying to build a life for her kids. She said that once she built a living for herself she went to court again fought for her kids and got their custody back. She teared up saying it was a "horrible time" and that she never missed her time with the kids during the 18 months they lived away from her.

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The two other parts of the reunion of The Real Housewives of Orange County season 18 will be released on Thursdays at 9 pm ET, on Bravo.