Gretchen Rossi Returns to ‘Real Housewives’ with New Drama

CARLSBAD, California — A long-fought feud is set to reignite as Gretchen Rossi makes her return to The Real Housewives of Orange County. Days after Bravo released details about the upcoming season, cast member Emily Simpson shared insights into the ongoing tension between Rossi and another veteran cast member during an event on Wednesday.

“I would say that there’s been this ongoing toxic feud between the two of them since the Jurassic period at this point,” said the 49-year-old Emily, speaking exclusively with Us Weekly. She expressed her thoughts on the rivalry, noting, “Personally, I feel like I would have gotten over it, but neither one of them has.” This season, fans can anticipate seeing the two face off as they try to resolve their differences.

Gretchen, 46, joins as a “friend” for season 19, reuniting with several familiar faces. Fellow cast member Heather Dubrow welcomed her back on social media, posting, “Welcome Back @gretchenrossi!” The season promises lots of callbacks to previous events, as Emily hinted, “You get to witness a lot of history, a lot of references to the past.”

Filming together from seasons 4 through 8, Gretchen and Tamra Judge’s relationship has been filled with memorable moments, including a notorious dinner party where Tamra attempted to get Gretchen “naked wasted.” Despite knowing Gretchen for nearly a decade, Emily admitted to being surprised by her behavior this season. “I think her return was different than what I expected and I’ll just leave it at that,” she teased.

Additionally, season 19 won’t solely focus on cast feuds. Emily is eager for the show to spotlight her work with a nonprofit organization dedicated to freeing wrongfully convicted individuals. “At the end of the day, I’m a mom first, not a Housewife,” she reflected.

In a revealing trailer for the season, Gretchen shared a shocking personal story about her fiancé Slade Smiley, claiming, “I broke his penis for real.” She also hopes to give viewers a candid look at her family life, including the dynamics of raising three children with Shane Simpson.

The Real Housewives of Orange County premieres on Bravo on Thursday, July 10, at 9 p.m. ET, with all previous seasons available for streaming on Peacock.