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Shannon Beador appeared on Watch What Happens Live after last night’s premiere of The Real Housewives of Orange County, where she spoke of her relationship with alcohol and looked back on her September 2023 DUI and hit-and-run arrest.
While also offering an update on where she stands with ex-husband David Beador, John Janssen‘s lawsuit against her and the last time they spoke, and John’s relationship with Alexis Bellino, 47, Shannon, 60, admitted to having regrets about her comments on Gina Kirschenheiter‘s past DUI, addressed Tamra Judge‘s drinking allegations, and reacted to claims against Jennifer Pedranti‘s fiance.
“I was using alcohol and I have in my life multiple times as a coping mechanism,” Shannon admitted on the July 11 episode of WWHL. “So now I use breathing and working outside and cold packs and different coping mechanisms. But right now I can have a couple of drinks. And I’m accountable to me, so if I find that alcohol becomes an issue for me, then I’ll address it. But for now, I’m good.”
As for where she stands with David, Shannon said things are “still the same.”
“We aren’t talking, but it is what it is,” she shared.
Although Shannon and David’s past drama is behind them, the same can’t be said for Shannon’s status with John, who recently sued her, claiming she owes him for a facelift.
“I will tell you that I never signed anything, He never asked me to pay him anything once, and what’s interesting is I know that attorneys fees will surpass $75,000, so I offered him payment in full and he said, ‘No,'” she revealed. “So what are your ulterior motives? It’s not money.”
Amid their legal battle, Shannon confirmed she and John, who split after filming on season 17, haven’t recently spoken.
“The last time that I spoke to John was when he called me to tell me that he was cutting ties with me and that I ruined his life, and his family’s lives, by making everything so public. That’s the last time that I spoke to him,” she shared.
Regarding why John would strike up a romance with Alexis when he doesn’t want to live in the public eye, Shannon said, “That’s a question that I can’t answer.”
“But it’s pretty obvious, isn’t it? He’s doing red-carpet interviews and Oscar parties now, Andy,” she added, noting that when it comes to Alexis, the two of them have issues “unrelated to John.”
“I didn’t even have to bring her up as part of it,” Shannon explained.
Nearly one year after her DUI, Shannon offered an update on her case, confirming she’s nearly completed all that is required of her.
“I’ve completed my community service so all I have left is my alcohol school, and that will end at the end of September, and I’ve been doing community service at my church working at the thrift shop, and even though I’m done, I really enjoyed it, so I’m doing it two to three days a week still,” she revealed.
Looking back at the negative things she said about Gina, 40, after her co-star’s own DUI, Shannon said she “absolutely” wishes she’d handled things differently now that she’s experienced it firsthand.
“There is not a day that goes by where I don’t think about what happened and how grateful I am that no one got hurt because I really don’t know how I would’ve been able to deal with it, had someone been injured,” she shared.
Also speaking of Gina, Shannon admitted she was “blown away” and “shocked” to see her castmate and her boyfriend, Travis Mullen, deciding to live separately amid his drama with his ex-wife.
“It’s exhausting and there’s the nonstop drama that neither of them can control, and I’m gonna say that I admire her strength because it’s really difficult, and they’re still together and they’re great, but I admire her strength for making that choice,” Shannon said.
Regarding her own dating life, Shannon confirmed she is not currently seeing anyone.
“And you know what’s crazy? I don’t want to. That’s odd,” she shared.
In the weeks leading up to Thursday’s premiere episode of RHOC, Shannon has been at odds with Tamra, 56, and days ago, Tamra accused her of trying to sneak drinks while on tour post-DUI.
In response, Shannon clarified, “We had a two-night show, the very first night someone with us, and we went to eat after, said, ‘Do you want me to order you a drink?’ And I said, ‘Oh okay.’ And I walked into my hotel room that night going, ‘No, you can’t do that because it’s gonna look like sneaking.’ The next night, I was drinking Diet Coke and I poured it. I wasn’t hiding anything from anyone. As much as some people on the cast wanna say, I’m an open book and I’m transparent, and I made a commitment especially after my DUI to be completely honest with anything that happened, good or bad.”
Then, after saying, “I plead the fifth,” after being asked if Alexis’ friendship with Tamra will last, Shannon reacted to her castmates talking about her DUI behind her back.
“What’s so ironic to me is that I’m approaching the one-year mark of my DUI, and I know what I’ve done to improve myself, and I’m proud of where I’ve come in almost a year, and they have no idea,” Shannon stated. “I understand [it was filmed months ago], but still, they have no knowledge of anything I’ve done to make myself a better person.”
Later, on the WWHL: After Show, Shannon was asked how she felt about John giving Alexis a $16,000 promise ring and about Alexis’ claims regarding their plans for a future marriage.
“He started that with me, ‘You’re my future, you’re my person,’ two weeks into the relationship. But I will say, and it’s my very accurate guess, that John didn’t know what Van Cleef & Arpels was until he met me,” Shannon stated of the maker of Alexis’ ring. “And by the way, I’m saying this snarky because I’m usually not. I’m not saying this cuz I’m jealous.”
“I’m happy where I am right now. I don’t want to be around him. We had a toxic relationship. I am in a so much healthier place right now,” she added.
Shannon then addressed Ryan Boyajian‘s ties to the MLB gambling scandal, in which he was accused of receiving millions of Los Angeles Dodgers player Shohei Ohtani‘s stolen money from his interpreter.
“I haven’t done any investigating. I did reach out to Jen right away and she said, ‘We are good,'” Shannon shared. “I’ve always been a supporter of Ryan and Jen. And I know people have opinions about him, but I saw him step up and invite her entire family to move in with him, and they’re still together. So maybe he was a certain way, but I believe that anyone can change if they meet the right person.”
The Real Housewives of Orange County season 18 airs Thursdays at 9/8c on Bravo.
