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Alexis Bellino believes she was portrayed as the “villain” of The Real Housewives of Orange County season 18, which began filming just after she debuted her romance with John Janssen.
During an interview earlier this week, ahead of the Bravo reality series’ latest episode, Alexis, 47, addressed a number of the show topics, including her claims about videos taken of Shannon Beador, 60, on the night of her DUI, her falling out with Emily Simpson, 48, and more.
“It’s been very difficult,” Alexis told Decider on September 19 of returning to the show shortly after the death of her mother. “It did kind of just take the back burner. It was almost like I’m invincible, they thought or something, or I was just the villain to begin with.”
While the majority of the cast, and the show’s many fans, didn’t give Alexis much grace amid production, she revealed that Tamra Judge, 57, as well as Heather Dubrow, 55, Jennifer Pedranti, 47, and Katie Ginella, 40, were supportive.
“It’s brought John and I a lot closer just because of the hate … [But] it’s bleeding over to our children now. So enough’s enough. And yeah, it’s not good now,” she continued of the backlash she’s faced due to their relationship.
Not only did she return to the show as the girlfriend (and now-fiance) of Shannon’s ex-boyfriend, but Alexis also brought up damning videos of the night Shannon was arrested.
“I made the mistake to bring them up,” she admitted. “I wish I hadn’t. It was a very knee-jerk reaction. I was emotional and I was kind of … I was a little frustrated.”
According to Alexis, her castmates were bringing up Shannon and John frequently and asking a lot of questions.
“I don’t want to mention them. I’m with the guy all the time, I don’t need to talk about him all day, too. But it does make it look like I do because they’re asking me questions and then that’s what you see,” she explained. “So I just snapped. And I shouldn’t have. And they were never meant to be brought into this public forum at all.”
Although John has been highly criticized for turning down Shannon’s offer to end his $75,000 lawsuit against her, Alexis clarified that Shannon did not offer to repay John the full amount that he paid for her facelift.
“She offered him a small amount, very minimal,” she noted. “And then the disparagement part that is so frustrating is John has been defamed and disparaged for four years by this woman … So he was advised by his attorney never to sign that because he would put like a muzzle on him to any new lies that she brings about.”
As for Shannon suggesting that John would strategize with her before they filmed, and questions about whether he did the same with her, Alexis said Shannon’s claims were “bizarre.”
“Do I talk to him about work? Yes. Do I talk to him about my kids? Yes. It’s not strategizing. It is called communication,” she shared.
During a recent episode, Shannon was seen refusing to talk to Alexis. And, looking back, Alexis explained that she wanted to have a conversation with her co-star because it was her “job” — and for the sake of their co-stars.
“[I] know that if we’re filming a show and it’s our job … [And] they were in a horrible position … Their daily struggle of trying to be in the middle was not easy for them,” Alexis pointed out.
One particular cast member who struggled with the divide was Emily, who felt that Alexis should’ve had more compassion for Shannon.
“Emily just needs to stay in her place a little,” Alexis said of the suggestion. “She gets in everyone else’s business so I wish that she would’ve come in as a friend to me and not as so judgy … And also have some compassion for me, because like I said in that scene, Shannon’s not the only one hurting.”
Though Emily and Alexis started season 18 strong, they are “not really speaking,” according to Alexis.
“It’s awkward,” she admitted.
Someone who has stayed loyal to Alexis is former frenemy Tamra, who has taken heat for her support.
“Our friendship has grown … And she has stuck by my side and defended me because she has seen a lot of what’s happened that isn’t being shown,” Alexis explained, noting that much of their past drama was caused by the tension she had in her marriage to Jim Bellino, 62.
“Heather and Tamra thought I wasn’t being authentic on the show and they could see cracks in my marriage, I think. But [at that time] I wasn’t in the realm of divorce … I was trying to be a strong Christian married woman and I was going to fight for my marriage,” she added.
As for whether Katie or Gina Kirschenheiter, 40, was lying about things Gina said about Heather, Alexis suspected that there may be some truth in each of their stories.
“I almost believe both of them are a little bit – not lying necessarily on Katie’s part, but maybe, I don’t know. We have to see more evidence from Katie, I think. But I adore Katie and I don’t really like her and Gina fighting,” Alexis shared.
Looking back on Heather’s speech at her Family Equality event, which made Alexis emotional, Alexis expressed excitement about having been involved.
“I guess when you have a family in general, there’s complications with children and everyone’s so opinionated about what it is. And for my children, I just want them all to be able to be unapologetically themselves. It’s a very dear charity to my heart now,” she confirmed. “And I am involved with family equality now thanks to Heather.”
Also, during the interview, Alexis spoke of her wedding plans with John.
“It is a very exciting time for us and we are already venue shopping, so yeah, it’s already in the works,” she gushed.
The Real Housewives of Orange County season 18 airs Thursdays at 9/8c on Bravo.
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