‘The Real Housewives of Orange County’ castmembers Shannon Beador (left) and Emily Simpson.Photo:Emma McIntyre/WireImage;Getty
Emma McIntyre/WireImage;Getty
“I was in shock. I was blown away,” Simpson told the outlet, noting that she almost didn’t believe the news at first because she thought it might be “something that someone made up.”
After coming to terms with Beador’s arrest, Simpson said she reached out to her costar, though their exchange was short. “We actually texted briefly,” Simpson said. “I think she needs space.”
“I just asked her how she was and I said, ‘I hope you’re doing okay, and if you need anything, please, you can reach out,’ and that was basically it,” she added.
Emily Simpson at BravoCon in October 2022.Todd Williamson/Bravo/Getty
Todd Williamson/Bravo/Getty
In aRHOCepisode earlier this season, Simpson quipped that Beador, 59, should be required to take a breathalyzer test just to use her phone. While she emphasized how she was joking at the time, Simpson admitted there was a seed of truth to her comment, as well.“I feel like there’s always a bit of reality within a joke," Simpson toldET. “I feel like we’ve seen her spiraling. We’ve had conversations, just as a cast, about her, worrying about her.”
“I genuinely, from the bottom of my heart, hope that, like, sometimes people actually hit rock bottom [and] take accountability and to have an ‘Aha!’ moment, where they say, ‘Yeah, maybe I do need some help,'” she continued. “And I hope that this is her ‘Aha’ rock-bottom moment.”
Simpson also said she hopes Beador “takes accountability and recognizes what happened and the severity of it and [that she] really wants to embrace that and change for the better.”
On Monday, PEOPLEconfirmed Beador was arrestedat 1:17 a.m. on Sept. 17 after fleeing the scene from a collision that caused property damage, according to the Newport Beach Police Department. The NBPD also said theReal Housewives of Orange Countystar had been booked for two misdemeanors — one for a hit-and-run, the second for DUI alcohol — and released on a citation.
Shannon Beador at Andy’s Legends Ball during BravoCon 2022.Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock
Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock
“I spent quite a bit of time with Shannon yesterday,” Fell said in a statement on Monday. “She is extremely apologetic and remorseful. We will be awaiting the official information on this case as it becomes available, and Shannon is prepared to accept full responsibility for her actions.”
In the time since, several other housewivescastmembershave spoken outfollowing Beador’s arrest, includingTamra Judge, who shared her reaction to the news on Monday’s episode of her podcastTwo Ts in a Pod. She admitted to co-hostsTeddi Mellencampand guestCynthia Bailey, “I’m literally shaking right now. I feel like I’m going to throw up.”
Judge, 56, described Beador as “extremely quiet” during a conference call for their showTres Amigaswith Bravo starVicki Gunvalsonon Sunday, adding, “She said, ‘It’s been a rough couple of days,’ and that’s all she told me.”
“I talked to her the day after this supposedly happened,” the Bravo star continued. “That’s why I instantly thought it was a lie. This is life-changing. This is going to change her life. I feel bad for her. I’m just happy nobody got hurt.”
From left: Tamra Judge, Shannon Beador and Braunwyn Windham-Burke.Steve Granitz/FilmMagic, Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock, John Lamparski/Getty
Steve Granitz/FilmMagic, Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock, John Lamparski/Getty
The Real Housewives of Atlantaalum Bailey, 56, encouraged Beador to “stay strong” following the incident, while Mellencamp — who appeared onThe Real Housewives of Beverly Hills— also addressed the alleged DUI and urged listeners to avoid drinking and driving.
“There is absolutely no reason in this day and age to ever drink and drive,” she explained. “I will not even have one drink and get into the car because you don’t know how an alcoholic beverage is going to hit you.”
RHOCalumBraunwyn Windham-Burkealso addressed Beador’s arrest, calling it a “catalyst for change.”
“I know Shannon has a big heart and hope this can become her story where this is a moment when everything changed for the better,” Windham-Burke, 45, toldUs Weeklyon Monday.
She shared the reality star has been “going through a hard year,” adding, “Obviously, what happened is not okay. You should never drink and drive. It was a very unfortunate night for her, but fortunately no one was hurt.”
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The Real Housewives of Orange Countyairs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo.
source: people.com
