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Emily Simpson reacted to the news of Shannon Beador‘s DUI and hit-and-run arrest on Thursday.
Days after the Real Housewives of Orange County star, 59, was taken into custody for driving while intoxicated, Emily, 47, compared the moment to “rock bottom” and shared Gina Kirschenheiter‘s thoughts while also admitting she suspects her relationship with John Janssen never actually ended and dishing on the reunion.
“I do think the Shannon-Gina drama is a lot and I don’t know if there actually was some sort of resolution in that but that was intense,” Emily teased on the September 21 episode of Access Hollywood‘s Housewives Nightcap.
Although Emily says there “was resolution” at the taping, her own storyline was less satisfying.
“I was frustrated at the reunion. I felt like it was difficult to talk,” she confessed. “[Heather Dubrow] talks a lot. She does a lot of monologuing and so I don’t know, I feel like they ran out of time at the end and they were just like, ‘We’ll skip Emily.’ I always get skipped. Always.”
According to Emily, she used to worry that her “skipped” storyline at the reunion tapings would mean that she wouldn’t be back for the following season. However, she now realizes that it does not.
“I’m like, they just keep asking me back and they just keep skipping over me. I feel like they’re just like, ‘We can skip Emily because she won’t throw a big fit,’” she reasoned, adding, “BravoCon [will] be my reunion.”
Following the news of Shannon’s DUI, Emily confirmed they’ve “texted.”
“I’ve said, ‘I’m sorry you’re going through this and if you need anything from me, you can reach out. I’ll be here and do whatever I can,’” she revealed. “And that’s where it was left off. That was a couple days ago. I think she needs space right now. I feel like in a few days, maybe a week, I’ll reach out again. I know she’s being hounded right now and I don’t wanna be one of those people that is just like texting and driving her nuts. I think she needs her space and she needs to figure out what she’s doing.”
Although Emily and Shannon have had many issues with one another over the years, she said the drama they experienced amid season 17 “resolved itself” prior to the reunion taping.
“I think by the time it got there, there wasn’t a lot of animosity between us and I think she did realize that the things I was saying, even when we got in that FaceTime fight, that she had told me a lot of things, and she had confided and then she was realizing that she did say them,” Emily explained, then clarifying, “I don’t know if she ever actually recognizes or anything but maybe there was like a click.”
As for Shannon’s relationship with John, Emily isn’t convinced the couple, who have been seen numerous times this week, ever parted ways.
“I think she’s always been with John,” Emily stated. “I don’t think there was ever a ‘not with John.’ I mean, even at the reunion, I think she claims that like, they’re not together, but I think they’re always together. I don’t know if not together means that he’s saying we’re not together, but they’re always [together].”
After learning Shannon had been arrested, Emily had a “long conversation” with Gina, 39, some of which was based around the incident.
“I don’t think she wishes it happened and she doesn’t wish harm on anyone. [But] I’m sure she feels a slight sense of vindication. Anyone would in that circumstance,” Emily shared. “But I think she legitimately is concerned for Shannon and hopes that she takes this and makes a lifestyle change. You know, I mean, that’s what Gina did. Gina took accountability, changed her life, stopped drinking. And so, you know, I hope Shannon is able to, you know, embrace it and change and be happier and healthier as well.”
Looking back on the moment she learned of Shannon’s DUI, Emily said it was actually her husband, Shane Simpson, who told her.
“He sent me a screenshot of the TMZ article and when I first saw it.. I thought it was a meme. I thought it was something funny somebody did because of everything that had happened between her and Gina… I was shocked,” she admitted.
As for what’s next, Emily said, “From a legal perspective. I think she’ll take some type of plea deal. They’ll probably combine her charges into one. She’ll take some kind of plea. She’ll probably get some community service, have to pay fines.”
“But I think the most important thing is what is her next step that’s going to help her get to a better place and a healthier and happier place in her life? Because I feel like this is kind of rock bottom,” she added.
The Real Housewives of Orange County season 17 finale airs next Wednesday, September 27, at 8/7c on Bravo.