Welcome to the conclusion of The Real Housewives of Orange County Season 20 reunion. Last time, Heather was slammed for talking behind Carmella and Tamra’s backs. Plus, Vicki doubled down, claiming that she never mom-shamed anyone. And Heather insulted Gina.
What happened in Real Housewives of Orange County Season 20 Episode 19?
The ladies gave updates on their kids. Meanwhile, Emily and Heather’s friendship was in danger. And Jenn confronted the “OG of the OC” for her refusal to own her actions.
Heather’s friendships were questioned
Heather said maybe Gina wasn’t “secure and strong and successful” enough to be her friend. “I am your friend. You’re awful to have problems with. You’re the worst to have problems with!” Gina exclaimed.
Then Emily chimed in, sharing her feelings about Heather’s actions in Vegas. “I have never seen someone be so fake about someone to the camera and then, behind the scenes, trashing Carmella …,” Emily said.
Cue the flashback to Emily and Tamra chatting in a trailer during the reunion. Tamra told Emily that Carmella called and said, “Do you know that Heather was trying to get me fired?” Yikes!
“Why don’t you say that to me?” Carmella asked. Heather explained that while she “liked” Carmella, she thought it was “a bad plan.” In Heather’s eyes, it was difficult for production to film with her in L.A and now Carmella lives an hour away from the O.C.
Meanwhile, on the other couch, Emily and Shannon marveled at Heather spinning the conversation. “First it went from she was trashy because she had a restraining order, and now it’s because of a geographical location,” Emily told Heather. “It’s the way you deflect from the real issue.” She added, “You’re taking zero responsibility because you’re so concerned about your image and the way you look.”
Host Andy Cohen asked Fancy Pants if she “admits when you’re wrong.” Heather answered, “I try to. It also feels like everyone just wants me to trip, to burp, to fart, like, whatever it is.” Carmella interjected, “They want you to say what you mean and mean what you say on or off camera.”
So, where do Emily and Heather go from here? They both find each other “confusing,” and their friendship is hanging by a thread.
An update on the OC kids
Tamra stated, again, that she would have stayed married to Simon Barney for her children’s sake. “I would have, you know, put my happiness aside,” Tamra admitted. “But to lose a child because of divorce is the worst freaking feeling in the world.” She added that her relationship with her son, Ryan Vieth, is great.
Vicki stated that she and her children, Michael Wolfsmith and Briana Culberson, are spending the holidays together. Meanwhile, Gina’s fiancé, Travis, was given primary custody of his children. “They’re just all doing so well, and I’m just really thankful,” a tearful Gina explained.
Then, Andy brought up Jenn’s son, Dom, who “was involved in a brush fire” after filming wrapped. “So, that is still an open investigation, and so I’m not going to talk about that,” Jenn remarked.
“Dominic’s life now is, we tutor four days a week. We have behavioral therapy. We have family therapy. Will [Pedranti] and I have family therapy,” Jenn explained.
She added, “We’re rebooting.” Then, Andy mentioned the passing of beloved RHOC cast member Archie Beador. As she cried, Shannon shared, “It’s just hard. But I’m just so grateful that everybody got to know what a special dog he is.”
In addition, Emily revealed that her children, Keller and Annabelle, started new schools. “I would say that Shane and I are doing better at parenting Luke because we understand a lot more about his diagnosis. He has Tourette’s now, so that’s been hard,” Emily said.
“But I feel like I’ve had to mourn what I thought it was going to be like. And I picture family vacations and going on road trips, and doing all these things, and I can’t do any of them,” she said while crying. “Luke is a fantastic child,” Emily added.
Will Vicki have to choose between the show and her man?
Vicki’s La Quinta girls’ trip was memorable for all the wrong reasons. Andy brought up Gina’s comment that Vicki doesn’t take accountability for her actions.
“There’s times I do play the victim. I’ll admit that,” Vicki stated. She said that in unaired footage, Jenn, Shannon, and Emily kept pressing her to discuss Vicki’s relationship with her boyfriend, Michael Smith.
However, Jenn and Emily claimed Vicki refused to engage in any conversation. “To work with you, you’re difficult. You shut us down,” Jenn said.
Vicki insisted that she wanted to spend quality time with her co-stars. “It does make me wonder, is there a fork in the road where you’re going to have to choose being on this show or committing to this relationship?” Andy asked.
“I don’t want the show to divide my relationship with Michael,” Vicki said. She added that he would never issue an ultimatum like that. “So, what if you had to choose between Mike, the show, or Donn [Gunvalson]?” Andy quipped. So shady, and I am here for it!
Vicki replied, “I’m not doing that. That’s being disrespectful to everything. You’re an *sshole, Ryan … Andy!” Who is Ryan?!
Then, it was time to discuss Vicki calling Jenn “low-hanging fruit.” When Shannon whispered to Emily that Vicki was picking on people during the car ride, Vicki called her “dramatic.” Shannon fired back, “Don’t tell me not to be dramatic. We were driving out there, and you were criticizing a lot of people in this group.”
Jenn brought up the “low-hanging fruit” comment … again. “It’s a sh*tty statement, Vicki, and it’s very hurtful,” Jenn said. Vicki replied, “I could have been a lot worse.”
Still, Vicki didn’t understand why Jenn and Emily wanted to leave Vicki’s home. “I felt really more sad than anything,” Vicki said. Still, Mike was there during filming, but didn’t want to film with the group. “It’s affecting your ability to be and operate authentically within this group,” Gina remarked.
Reflecting on 20 years of RHOC shenanigans
The ladies rehashed the Tokyo trip. Carmella admitted that she had “FOMO” about missing the adventure. She felt that both her anxiety and her diabetes affected her ability to travel. Meanwhile, Tamra and Jenn’s friendship was still in a good place.
Finally, the ladies reflected on scenes from the show’s history. Andy asked about RHOC alum Jeana Keough, who is battling tongue cancer. “She’s definitely struggling,” Tamra revealed. “She’s inspirational.”
Andy asked Vicki, “Was there one new girl that especially irked you, Carmella aside?” Apparently, Lizzie Rovsek was the winner. “Lizzie’s just a quality person. I love Lizzie,” Vicki protested.
“Valedictorian of a class of one. That’s what you said,” Shannon reminded the “OG of the OC.”
Both Vicki and Andy admitted that they didn’t think the show would last 20 years. Finally, the ladies reflected on what they were taking away from their time as a housewife. Gina named her “friendship with Emily,” while Tamra has “learned” that she is “a bad b*tch.”
The group toasted with “songria” before Tamra jumped into the grotto topless. I was hoping for some fireworks at this reunion, but instead the season ended on an emotional note.
The Real Housewives of Orange County is streaming on Peacock.
This story originally appeared on Realitytea
