Heather Dubrow Teases Alexis Bellino’s RHOC Return amid Relationship with Costar Shannon Beador’s Ex (Exclusive)

Heather Dubrow gets candid about Alexis Bellino’s return to The Real Housewives of Orange County.

The TV personality, 55, said it was a welcome surprise that Bellino was back on TV RHOC mix for Season 18 during an interview with PEOPLE at the Race to Erase MS Gala in Los Angeles on Friday, May 10.

“I’ve been campaigning for Alexis to come back for a few years now, so I was thrilled that she was coming back,” the actress told PEOPLE. “But as you know, truth is stranger than fiction and who could have predicted John Janssen from all that?”

“So it’s interesting,” she added. “I mean, it’s the season.”

Heather Dubrow at the Race to Erase MS Gala on May 10, 2024.

Frazer Harrison/WireImage

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Adding to RHOC the drama is the fact that Bellino is currently walking RHOC star Shannon Storms Beadora’s ex John Janssen. When asked if she thought Bellin’s return had anything to do with Beador, Dubrow said she doubted it.

“No, Alexis is a really lovely girl,” Dubrow said. “She wouldn’t hurt a fly on purpose.”

Bellino — who debuted as an Orange County housewife in Season 5 — will return as a Housewife for Season 18, a source close to the production confirmed to PEOPLE in January.

Emily Simpson, Shannon Storms Beador, Tamra Judge, Andy Cohen, Heather Dubrow, Gina Kirschenheiter, Jennifer Pedranti pictured during the reunion.

Jocelyn Prescod/Bravo

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“Alexis feels energized and excited to be back in the mix,” a source said at the time. “He has authentic relationships with a lot of girls, so it’s completely natural to spend time with female friends.”

However, it seemed like she might have some roadblocks on set as Beador previously criticized Janssen in the press for being in a relationship with Bellina, telling E! News in December that she was “hurt” and still trying to figure out “how to resolve” their relationship after Janssen told her he no longer wanted to be in the public eye.

“How Many Orange County Housewives Were There?” she asked. “Is that your date of choice?”

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Beador and Janssen dated for three and a half years, and their romance was even featured on the show before he “blindsided” her by breaking up in late 2022. The two eventually became friends again, though they appeared to have cut ties again after Beadora’s September arrest for alleged DUI and hit and run.

Filming of the new season of the series RHOC began in January with Dubrow, Beador, Tamra Judge, Emily Simpson, Gina Kirschenheiter and Jennifer Pedranti all returning for another run.

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