ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: When Shannon Beador and Tamra Judge reunited last year to film Season 17 of 'The Real Housewives of Orange County,' it was clear that their relationship was far from amicable, setting the stage for some major drama between the two. In the show's June 7 premiere, Shannon and Tamra had intense moments as they confronted the disintegration of their friendship. However, it was Tamra's attempt at reconciliation that truly captured attention.
Upon their first meeting since their cold war, Tamra broke down emotionally, hoping for reconciliation with Shannon. Yet, Shannon remained firm and stern, choosing to walk out while promising a resolution to their conflict at a later time. The tense encounter left viewers eagerly anticipating how the dynamic between these two former friends would unfold in future episodes.
Tamra Judge breaks down in front of Shannon Beador
Amid of the COVID pandemic, Tamra and her husband Eddie Judge made significant changes in their lives, including selling their Coto de Caza house and moving back into their previous home due to an offer they couldn't resist. As they remodeled their old house, they also had Tamra's mother, Sandy, temporarily living with them, although Tamra suspected her stay might be more long-term. Additionally, Tamra and Eddie had to make the difficult decision to shut down their business, CUT Fitness, as it faced challenges during the pandemic. To add to their hardships, their beloved dog, Bronx, passed away. Amidst these personal changes and challenges, Tamra expressed her desire to maintain peace among her co-stars. However, there were unresolved issues between her and Shannon that made this goal more challenging. According to Tamra, Shannon essentially cut her off after she was fired from the show. Tamra claimed to have reached out to Shannon numerous times without receiving any responses, especially during a difficult period when Tamra was dealing with her ex-husband Simon Barney's cancer diagnosis. Shannon, on the other hand, shared a different perspective, revealing that they did make attempts to connect. She described feeling devastated by the sudden end of their six-year friendship. While Shannon clarified that they did have phone conversations after Tamra's firing, they missed each other's calls, leading to miscommunication. Shannon expressed her confusion about why Tamra chose to publicly criticize her in the press, leaving her feeling hurt and crushed. Tamra stood by her claims of Shannon's lack of outreach, while Shannon accused Tamra of fabricating the situation to stay relevant during her absence from the show. The differing accounts only fueled the strained relationship between the two reality TV stars.
Shannon Beador avoids reconciliation with Tamra Judge
In a later part of the episode, Heather, Gina, and Tamra gathered for a spirited game of pickleball, followed by a conversation where plans for an upcoming yoga retreat hosted by Tamra's friend Jennifer Pedranti were discussed. Heather then proposed the idea of bringing Shannon along, to which Tamra reluctantly agreed, revealing her lingering resentment for Shannon's past behavior of "ghosting" her. As the words hung in the air, Gina's reaction remained unseen, but one could only imagine she felt the weight of her own actions towards Heather and the consequences she faced. It was a moment of realization for Gina, questioning whether she truly missed Tamra as much as she had initially thought. Tamra went on to disclose that Shannon had ignored her texts after her departure from the show, labeling her as "self-centered." Despite their rocky history, Heather encouraged Tamra to give Shannon another chance, drawing from her own experience of overcoming difficulties with Shannon and establishing a renewed bond. Though initially hesitant, Tamra had no choice but to confront the situation when they finally came face-to-face at Jenn's yoga event. While their initial interaction was brief, a chance encounter near the snack bar prompted them to address their ongoing issues. Shannon overheard Tamra discussing their problems with Gina and Emily.
With Gina and Emily tactfully stepping away to give Tamra and Shannon some alone time, they exchanged simple greetings, expressing good wishes for each other. They agreed to meet up in the near future, recognizing the need to work through their unresolved conflicts. It was a promising first step, but a preview for the next episode hints that their journey toward reconciliation won't be an easy one.
New episodes of 'The Real Housewives of Orange County' air Wednesdays at 8 pm on Bravo.
