Gretchen Rossi Won’t Be Back for Season 20 of ‘The Real Housewives of Orange County’
Gretchen Rossi Won’t Return for ‘The Real Housewives of Orange County’ Season 20
Gretchen Rossi will not be returning for the 20th season of The Real Housewives of Orange County, in what appears to be a brief resurgence on the reality show. The 47-year-old reality star’s absence was confirmed by Variety on January 27.
Rossi’s return to RHOC during the 19th season was marked by a dramatic appearance in a "friend" role, five years after her full-time tenure from 2008 to 2013. She also appeared as a guest in the show’s 12th season in 2017.
In previous interviews, Rossi shared that she initially declined multiple offers to return to the show, stating that the scrutiny she and her fiancé, Slade Smiley, faced during her first stint was overwhelming. “For a long time, it was an absolute no,” she revealed in a July 2025 interview on the “I Do, Part 2” podcast, adding, “We definitely needed that break. We got scrutinized a lot.”
Rossi explained that despite rejecting the offers three times, she ultimately accepted one that felt right. “Finally, they ended up making an offer that we couldn’t refuse, and we felt good about,” she said.
Her departure from the series comes on the heels of fellow cast member Katie Ginella’s announcement that she too would not return for season 20. Ginella took to Instagram on January 9 to express her disappointment, stating, “After two seasons as a cast member on RHOC, the network has decided to move forward with season 20 without me.” She expressed gratitude for the love and support she received during her time on the show.
Reports indicate that the majority of the season 19 cast, including Tamra Judge, Gina Kirschenheiter, Heather Dubrow, Shannon Storms Beador, Emily Simpson, and Jennifer Pedranti, are expected to return, alongside original Housewife Vicki Gunvalson. Gunvalson was invited back to the franchise during BravoCon 2025 and is anticipated to contribute to the rich history of the series.
Gunvalson, a cornerstone of RHOC, had previously announced her exit from full-time participation in 2020, stating, “I will always be the OG of the OC, but it’s time to say goodbye to The Real Housewives of Orange County.” She is currently filming for The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th, featuring stars from across the franchise.
