According to Alexis Bellino, bringing up the videos of Shannon Beador, which were allegedly captured by Shannon’s ex John Janssen’s security cams on the night of her DUI, was a “mistake.” Alexis also told Emily Simpson to “stay in her place,” and she claimed the online hate has made her closer with John, who’s now her fiancé.
On the latest season of The Real Housewives of Orange County, Emily advised Alexis to have a little compassion for Shannon, who John is suing for $75,000. In one episode, Alexis seemingly threatened to release the videos, and she hinted that the footage would ruin Shannon’s life.
Speaking with Decider, Alexis said she “shouldn’t have” mentioned the videos while filming.
“The way that the videos were brought up — yes, I wish I hadn’t,” shared Alexis. “It was a very knee-jerk reaction. I was emotional and I was kind of — what you don’t see in that scene is I was a little frustrated at the women who are my friends but they were bringing up Shannon a lot and talking about John a lot and asking a lot of questions.”
Alexis claimed the footage was “never meant to be brought into this public forum at all,” but she said she “just snapped” as co-stars kept talking about Shannon and John.
“I don’t want to mention them. I’m with the guy all the time, I don’t need to talk about him all day, too,” said Alexis. “But it does make it look like I do because [the other women are] asking me questions and then that’s what you see.”
She asserted that Heather Dubrow and Tamra Judge knew about the videos beforehand, but she “never expected” Katie Ginella to share the info with Emily.
“It was just like a downward spiral,” Alexis continued. “It was never supposed to happen in that way.”
Alexis seemingly denied Tamra’s suggestion that the contents of these videos would be revealed at the reunion.
“Those videos are not meant for everyone to see. It would be way too damaging,” said Alexis. “John is the only one who has sole possession of them. I made the mistake to bring them up.”
She then addressed Emily’s on-screen suggestion that Alexis should have a little compassion for Shannon.
“First of all, Emily just needs to stay in her place a little,” Alexis stated. “She gets in everyone else’s business so I wish that she would’ve come in as a friend to me and not as so judgy in that scene that you guys saw.”
She also wished that Emily would “have some compassion” for Alexis.
“Because like I said in that scene, Shannon’s not the only one hurting in this filming that we’re doing,” said the star. “I have had a lot on my plate. And it’s not easy filming with his ex either.”
Alexis told the outlet that she was “a little surprised” the other co-stars didn’t give her more grace given that her mother passed away a few months before filming.
“It was almost like [they thought] I’m invincible or something, or I was just the villain from the beginning,” she shared. “So yeah, it was a very difficult season for me to film for the three reasons, [which] it would be my mom’s passing — we filmed, I think it was three months after her death. And then dating who I chose. And then, you know, just all the stuff in the media.”
But she said Heather and Tamra were supportive friends throughout the conflict. “Jenn [Pedranti] and Katie definitely once they learned more about me. But it did kind of just take the back burner,” Alexis went on.
She claimed the online backlash has been “very difficult,” but it brought her and John closer.
“I think it’s kind of like when we first started talking as friends. Everyone talking about us kind of pushed us closer together faster because we’re like, ‘We’re just friends. Like, what’s going on?’” Alexis recalled. “It’s kind of the same thing that’s happening with as much of the negativity that we’re getting right now.”
