Emily Simpson was once baffled by Alexis Bellino and John Janssen’s romance.
In an exclusive interview with ’s “Virtual Reali-Tea” podcast, the “Real Housewives of Orange County” star reveals the moment Bellino told her she was officially dating Shannon Beador’s ex.
“She told me that night, after Kathy Hilton’s party, we went back to Orange County together,” she says, recalling an exchange that took place after attending one of the socialite’s holiday parties in November 2023.
“She told me that night in the car that she and John were a thing, like, they were in a relationship,” she continues, emphasizing that she was initially confused. “I was like, ‘Oh, OK. OK, alright.’”
Simpson, 48 — who had been close with Bellino, 47, for years prior to the latter rejoining “RHOC” as a “friend of” the cast for Season 18 — asserts that she “never had an issue” with her pal dating Janssen, 61.
“I mean, they’re adults, they live in Orange County, they like each other, they seem happy, that’s fine. I was like, ‘Ooh, this is interesting.’ But I didn’t think less of her or anything,” she says — even if she wasn’t expecting Bellino to couple up with Beador’s former flame.
“I just thought it was odd,” Simpson elaborates, sharing her bewilderment at Bellino wanting to date Beador’s ex. “But you talk about girl code, she doesn’t owe anything to Shannon. They’re not friends, they never filmed together.”
The lawyer goes on to note that Bellino and Janssen seem to be “very, very, very happy” together.
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The duo began seeing each other in November 2023 after a chance meeting at The Quiet Woman, a haunt frequented by stars of “Orange County” both on and off screen.
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That December, Bellino and Janssen confirmed they were together by packing on the PDA during a night out with pals. Subsequently, she revealed via Instagram that her new beau gifted her a promise ring for Christmas — and also dropped the L-word.
Beador, 60 — who dated Janssen for years before fizzling out last year — has said that she was “hurt” and “confused” by his unexpected connection with Bellino — and confessed she did not “know how to process” the news when it first came out.
As Beador and Bellino continue to clash in the current installment of “RHOC,” Simpson feels there’s a clear winner in the ladies’ feud.
“I think Shannon’s really winning, and I think she deserves that. I think that she came into the season with the deck stacked against her,” she says, acknowledging Beador’s headline-making DUI incident in September 2023 and legal battle with Janssen over payments for a facelift of hers.
“She’s got a DUI, she has John’s new girlfriend, she’s getting sued,” Simpson tells “Virtual Reali-Tea,” “and I think she just continues to look like the bigger person and the better party in in all of this.”
“The Real Housewives of Orange County” airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.
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