Alexis Bellino says she regrets rejoining The Real Housewives of Orange County for the show's 18th season, as she says the way she was portrayed on the reality series left her 'broken.'
Bellino, 47, who initially appeared on the Bravo show's fifth through nine seasons spanning 2009-2013, returned in a friend capacity this year, often clashing with the show's Shannon Beador, 60, amid her engagement to Beador's ex John Janssen, 64.
Bellino on Friday issued a lengthy statement to more than 403,000 followers on her Instagram page indicating she did not believe she was being brought back to the show to be a lighting rod of negativity amid her hostility with Beador.
'This is never how I would've thought or wanted it to happen,' Bellino said after watching Thursday's reunion episode. 'I also want it to be known that I never thought I'd be brought back this season to be the villain.
'If I had known that I never would've signed. I live in love. Not anger or hate or villainous. I truly lay awake every night wondering why it was portrayed this way.'
Bellino said that the show's success this season came at the expense of her and Janssen, who had been in extended litigation with Beador - who he dated from 2019 until 2023 - before settling their suit last week.
Alexis Bellino, 47, says she regrets rejoining The Real Housewives of Orange County for the show's 18th season, as she says the way she was portrayed on the reality series left her 'broken'
Bellino, 47, who initially appeared on the Bravo show's fifth through nine seasons spanning 2009-2013, returned in a friend capacity this year
Bellino said she felt she has been in the right in her actions over the course of the season, and thought in vain that the 'beating' she took as cameras rolled 'would be finally advocated for at the reunion and the truth would prevail.'
'I will now use my own platform and my voice to share the truth with you because I do not live in toxicity, falsehoods, hateful behavior, victim hood or lies,' she said. 'I signed onto reality.... and now I will bring the reality to light.
'I will never act or become a victim, I will simply live with God and stand in truth. He always prevails.'
Bellino said she began filming the season amid severe depression following the death of her mother three months prior.
'It was a difficult decision to sign back on,' she said. 'Yet, I went in thankful it brought me out of bed and out of my depression. But now, I have been beaten down so badly, so wrongly, and so many truths left out.'
Bellino said a significant amount of footage was 'left on the cutting room floor that would've' vindicated her and saved her and her family from receiving hateful online messages.
Bellino also spoke about the financial issues chronicled during the season between Beador and Janssen, who settled their $75,000 lawsuit November 15.
The exes agreed to an 'unconditional' dismissal of their ongoing litigation in the next 45 days, People reported Tuesday after reviewing court documents titled 'Notice of Settlement of Entire Case.'
Bellino often clashed with the show's Shannon Beador amid her engagement to Beador's ex John Janssen, 64. The couple seen last month in LA
Bellino said, 'I also want it to be known that I never thought I'd be brought back this season to be the villain. If I had known that I never would've signed'
Bellino said Janssen gave Beador 'a discount' in accepting $60,000 to bring the legal proceedings to a close ahead of the holidays
Bellino said the lawsuit [was] only finalized because the opposition knew we had the receipts to bring to court,' and that Beador 'had to pay up because she would've lost in court.'
Beador on November 21 posted to Instagram Stories a $60,000 wire transfer indicating the debt had been settled, tagging Bellino and Janssen into the post with the caption 'Enjoy.'
Bellino said Janssen gave Beador 'a discount' in accepting $60,000 to bring the legal proceedings to a close ahead of the holidays.
'Ya, she only paid $60k of the $75, but thank you for that $60k,' Bellino said. 'The lie that "someone" paid for everything is squashed by the fact of what our forensic accountant did. $50k spent by John year one.
'Then $380k over 3 years. Then 2 loans of $75k which she finally had to pay because the evidence would've squashed her in court. Truth prevails.'
Bellino said she and Janssen will provide evidence in the Beador issue after she didn't get the opportunity for 'these receipts to be shown at the reunion,' adding, 'Now John and I will bring them in our own voice.
Janssen this past March filed a suit against Beador over $75,000 he loaned her, claiming she breached an oral contract and committed promissory fraud in the transaction.
Janssen told the court Beador asked him for the cash in 2022, which he paid in two installments: a $40,000 wire transfer in January of 2022; and a $35,000 check he made out to her in May of 2023, according to People.
Bellino defended her career in the clash, saying she's 'been on TV for 15 years' and 'five different shows'
Janssen said in legal docs that Beador had used the earlier payment to undergo plastic surgery.
The case was settled ahead of a potential trial, as both parties had filed legal docs November 7 asking for a trial by jury, according to the outlet.
Beador and Bellino clashed in the second installment of the Bravo series' reunion episode broadcast earlier this month.
Beador told Bellino she'd falsely accused her of lying, and said that she had taken and kept her spot on the popular reality series for more than a decade.
'I've been here for 10 years - I took your job 10 years ago, I'm still sitting here,' Beador said.
Beador also minimized Bellino's current presence on the series, reminding her that she's 'a friend' and not a featured cast member.
Bellino defended herself, 'It's still a job, Shannon ... I've been on TV for 15 years, Shannon. Five different shows, OK?'
Beador mocked Bellino, saying, 'Oh you're a TV star,' spurring chuckles from the other cast members.
Bellino said she felt she has been in the right in her actions over the course of the season
Beador and ex-boyfriend Janssen were pictured in November of 2019 in NYC
Earlier this month, on the show's 18th season reunion, Beador said that Janssen rejected her offer of $70,000 to agree to a non-disparagement clause for both parties to adhere to.
Bellino earlier said that the reason her fiancé did not make the deal was to protect himself if false accusations were made at him.
Janssen had previously said on the Bravo series that he was reluctant to pursue 'legal action' against his former girlfriend, but time constraints left him with no choice.
'My hands were tied as I was days away from crossing the statute of limitations of being able to do anything legally,' Janssen said.
Janssen added that he had proof that Beador knew the money was being loaned, and not given, to her.
'Shannon sent me an email admitting it was a loan, so the comments about these being gifts are patently false,' he said. 'Shannon has an interesting relationship with the truth.'
Beador discussed the issue with Tamra Judge and Heather Dubrow on the Bravo series last month, saying she needed 'money at the time' and that Janssen said he wished he would able to get her a low-interest loan.
Beador said she suggested to him that he was in a financial position to fund her.
Beador, pictured last year in Las Vegas, is currently gearing up for her run on a Peacock series called Love Hotel, in which cast members date one another
Beador is currently gearing up for her run on a Peacock series called Love Hotel, in which cast members date one another.
'I hadn't been on a date in a year and so I did go on dates and I met a lot of very interesting men on that show, so we'll see' she told US Weekly earlier this month. 'I thought, "Oh my gosh. I'm gonna go just have fun. I'm not gonna meet anybody."
'Well, I did meet people. You're going to see it. I have to tell you it's a really good show.'
The Real Housewives of Orange County can be seen on Bravo every Thursday at 9/8c, with shows also streaming on Peacock.
