At a Glance
- Gretchen Rossi will not return for Season 20 of The Real Housewives of Orange County.
- Katie Ginella also exits after a brief stint in Season 19.
- The rest of the core cast, including Heather Dubrow and Tamra Judge, will return.
- Why it matters: The departures signal a shift in the show’s lineup and hint at new dynamics for the upcoming season.
The reality series The Real Housewives of Orange County is set to bring fresh faces to its 20th season after longtime cast members Gretchen Rossi and Katie Ginella announced they will not be returning.
Season 20 Cast Changes
The production team confirmed that Rossi, who had appeared as a “friend” in Season 19, will not be featured in the new season. She is one of only two Season 19 members not coming back, the other being Ginella.
- Returning core cast: Heather Dubrow, Tamra Judge, Shannon Storms Beador, Emily Simpson, Jennifer Pedranti, and Gina Kirschenheiter.
- New addition: Vicki Gunvalson, who re-joins after a reduced role in 2020.
A table of the confirmed lineup:
| Category | Cast Members |
|---|---|
| Core | Heather Dubrow, Tamra Judge, Shannon Storms Beador, Emily Simpson, Jennifer Pedranti, Gina Kirschenheiter |
| Returning Friend | Vicki Gunvalson |
| Excluded | Gretchen Rossi, Katie Ginella |
Filming for Season 20 is slated to begin shortly.
Rossi’s Return and History
Gretchen Rossi first joined the Bravo series in 2008 during Season 4. At the time, she was engaged to Jeff Beitzel, who was 24 years her senior and had been diagnosed with cancer. Beitzel died by the time the season began airing.
A year later, Rossi began dating Slade Smiley, who had previously been engaged to original cast member Jo De La Rosa and had a brief fling with former Housewife Lauri Peterson. Rossi proposed to Smiley in 2013, and their engagement was documented in Season 8. They have been together for almost 17 years and share a daughter, Skylar Gray Smiley, born in July 2019.
Rossi’s return to the franchise as a “friend” in Season 19 after a 12-year hiatus made her a focal point of a dramatic rumor.
The Rumor and Investigation
Ginella alleged that Rossi accused Tamra Judge of drugging her during a party in Season 4, an episode titled “Naked Wasted.” Judge joked that she wanted to get Rossi “naked wasted.” Both women denied the allegations and later took lie detector tests.
The administrators concluded that Rossi was truthful when answering “no” to being drugged, as was Judge. The results indicated that Ginella was being deceptive, though she maintained she was telling the truth.
Ginella’s Exit Announcement
Ginella announced her departure in an Instagram post on January 9, claiming she had been fired from the show:
“After two seasons as a cast member on RHOC, the network has decided to move forward with Season 20 without me,” she wrote. “While disappointing, it’s not entirely surprising after seeing how Season 19 played out.”
She added:
“I’m incredibly grateful for the love and support I received – it was seen, felt and deeply appreciated. Representation matters, and I’m proud to have shown up authentically, even when it wasn’t easy. This chapter may be closing, but my voice and my story don’t end here. Love, Katie.”
Ginella’s exit leaves a gap in the show’s dynamic, especially after the controversial allegations that dominated Season 19’s storyline.
Future of RHOC
With the core cast returning and Vicki Gunvalson’s comeback, Season 20 promises new storylines and potential power shifts. The production’s decision to exclude Rossi and Ginella may open opportunities for new personalities to step into the spotlight.
Key Takeaways
- Gretchen Rossi and Katie Ginella will not return for Season 20.
- The core cast, including Heather Dubrow and Tamra Judge, will remain.
- Vicki Gunvalson returns after a reduced role.
- The show’s narrative will shift without the drama surrounding Rossi and Ginella.
- Filming for Season 20 is set to begin soon, marking a new chapter for the franchise.
