The last time viewers of the Real Housewives of Orange County saw Gretchen Rossi was during Season 8. Over the four seasons, she appeared in the trademark franchise. Followers watched as she lost her fiancé to cancer, fell in love with Slade Smiley, and tried to run a purse empire. For years, Gretchen has happily been serving up filtered looks in the background and out of the spotlight. But she is back for Season 19, and I’m actually really excited.
Gretchen Rossi is back in RHOC
“Hold onto your daddies, girls. Here comes Gretchen,” is all I could think when Bravo announced the exciting news. Now, I’m no relationship guru, but it seems to me that Gretchen has had a curious past with men. Her late fiancé, Jeff Beitzel, was 24 years older than she was. He was also a wealthy self-made millionaire in the automotive industry. The courtship seemed odd to fans who couldn’t help but notice that Gretchen was often spoiled with luxury items like diamonds and a Harley Davidson.
Then she met Slimy Slade. He was a housewife jumper as he had courted Jo De La Rosa and Lauri Peterson. Gretchen’s love life has always been the talk of the town. And I expect nothing less for when Season 19 premieres. Perhaps most interesting is the fact that she and Slade are still not married. Fans will recall Gretch proposed with a helicopter trip around Los Angeles at the end of Season 8. But the duo have yet to make it down the aisle. Could her return also come with a nicely wrapped wedding to be filmed? God, I hope so.
Gretchen Rossi will have to face Tamra Judge
Gretchen and Tamra Judge did not leave on good terms after Season 8 wrapped shortly after Gretchen called out Tammy Sue’s bad behavior via Us Weekly. “Thankfully, we don’t really live in the same community, so I don’t have to run into her or anything like that. I’m in such a better place in my life than I was dealing with all that on Housewives.” Upon hearing the news, Tamra took to her Instagram with a tongue-in-cheek response, writing, “I guess it’s time to dust off those friendship bracelets… my bestie’s back.” The comment was a throwback to the Season 7 friendship bracelets the two shared. She also tagged her location as Bass Lake.
Having Gretchen back on the Real Housewives of Orange County solidifies that Season 19 will be packed with drama. Tamra once noted on her podcast, Two Ts in a Pod, that she’d rather be stuck on an island with Gretchen than Vicki Gunvalson. Tamra noted, “I’m gonna shock you all, and I’m gonna say Gretchen. I just feel like I have not seen her in 11 years or something like that, and she had a lot to say about me when she left, and I’d like to confront her.”
Gretchen Rossi is all about family
During her time on the series on the series, Gretchen made it clear that she wanted to start a family. Finally, in 2019, she welcomed her daughter Skylar Gray Smiley. This time around, Real Housewives of Orange County viewers will get a chance to see Gretchen as a mom and long-time partner to Slade. Among her plethora of filtered and staged photos is a woman who hasn’t had the easiest life when it comes to her relationships with the rest of the women.
Now, as she readies herself to be back in the gladiator’s pit, I find myself giddy with anticipation. Gretchen has mostly come across as the nice girl in the series. She was never really malicious. At least she never tried to get one of her costars “white girl wasted.” But I imagine Gretch is much better equipped for the circle of friends who come across more like piranhas. I’d love to see a Gretchen and Shannon Beador alliance. The two have mingled over the years, and it would really burn Tamra’s biscuits.
The Real Housewives of Orange County is available to stream on Peacock.
TELL US – ARE YOU EXCITED TO SEE GRETCHEN ON RHOC? DO YOU THINK TAMRA IS UPSET?
