With old feuds reigniting and new drama on the horizon, “The Real Housewives of Orange County” is gearing up for a must-watch season—and Emily Simpson says it might just be the best one yet. From Gretchen Rossi’s return to her struggles at home, the longtime Bravo star is giving fans a preview of what to expect when season 19 premieres.
Emily Simpson Teases ‘RHOC’ Season 19 Feuds
While speaking to E! News, Simpson teased the upcoming season and reflected on what makes it stand out from those before it.
“I think this will be the best season of [‘RHOC’] to date,” she said. “Last season was amazing, everyone loved it. The season before, clearly, we have a great cast. We have the dynamics in the relationships. We have real friendships.”
One major shake-up? The return of Rossi, who hasn’t appeared on the show in nearly a decade. Simpson hinted that while Rossi tried to ease into the group, old tensions—especially with Tamra Judge—made that difficult.
“Gretchen gets scared … don’t let her fool you,” she shared. “It took a while to get her to the point where she would have a conversation with Tamra. I feel like I had to consistently facilitate that.”
Simpson also revealed that her biggest on-camera conflict this season was with Katie Ginella, and admitted she still misses sparring with Alexis Bellino—even if she doesn’t miss her as a cast member. “I thoroughly enjoy that. That’s a good time,” she said with a laugh.
Beyond the drama, fans can expect a healthy dose of humor. Simpson and Gina Kirschenheiter famously recreated the Dubrows’ paparazzi photos following their divorce rumors, and she confirmed it was all in fun. “Heather knows it was in good fun, and we weren’t mocking their relationship. I respect their relationship,” she said.
Personal Struggles, Shannon’s Search for Love, and Real-Life Chaos
But it’s not all shade and mimicked photoshoots. Simpson also opened up about an unexpected family crisis that unfolded while filming season 19, involving her son, Luke.
“It just started happening in real time while I was filming, and I struggled a lot with it,” she revealed. “Shane struggled. He struggled. My other kids struggled. Now I’m dealing with the aftermath of having to focus so much on Luke… it’s been really difficult.”
As for her take on castmate Shannon Beador’s search for love, Simpspn said she caught some of her recent appearance on Bravo’s “Love Hotel” and has nothing but hope for her.
“I think Shannon deserves a man, and I would love for her to find someone that treats her the way she should be treated,” Simpson said. “She just has to [change] what she’s looking for because I don’t think it’s working. I mean, clearly.”
On a lighter note, Simpson credited her long-lasting friendship with Kirschenheiter to their outsider status in the OC bubble. “We aren’t from Orange County… we’re just who we are and that never changed—and I think that works for us.”
“The Real Housewives of Orange County” season 19 premieres Thursday, July 10, at 9/8c on Bravo.
Tell us! Do you agree with Emily Simpson that Gretchen Rossi is afraid of Tamra Judge? Let us know in the comments below.
