Shane Simpson, husband of Real Housewives of Orange County star Emily Simpson, was spotted having dinner with a strange woman at a fancy restaurant in Newport Beach over the weekend, sparking speculation that he is in a new relationship as his marriage to Emily is on the brink of collapse.
According to an exclusive source from a diner who was at the restaurant at the time, Shane and the woman, described as “business attire, at least a decade younger than Shane,” sat next to each other in a secluded corner, chatting intimately and laughing throughout the meal that lasted more than two hours. “There was no obvious touching, but the atmosphere was unmistakable. She touched his hand lightly several times and ordered for both of them as if they were very familiar with each other,” the witness said.
The incident quickly attracted attention because just a few days earlier, Shane and Emily were spotted leaving the office of a divorce and separation attorney in Orange County. A source close to the couple confirmed to Page Six that Shane and Emily “have not been together since February” and are currently “working with their lawyers to find a way to separate amicably—at least publicly.”
While the two have yet to officially confirm their separation, RHOC fans began to suspect earlier this year when Emily continued to post photos of herself alone or with her kids on Instagram, while Shane disappeared from social media and public events. Additionally, Emily hinted in a recent confessional episode that “there are things about our marriage that I can’t handle anymore”—a statement that is believed to be a reference to a rift that began before the cameras rolled on season 19.
RHOC fans are divided over rumors that Shane is having an affair. Many have criticized him for “disrespecting” Emily and the children by appearing publicly before the divorce is finalized, while others have said that “the marriage has been clinically dead for a long time” and Shane has every right to move on.
For now, Emily Simpson has remained silent about the whole drama. However, a behind-the-scenes source revealed that she was “very angry” when she learned that Shane went out to dinner with colleagues and felt “humiliated” just as Bravo was starting to ramp up promotion for the rest of season 19.
Bravo declined to comment when contacted by Page Six. But according to the schedule, upcoming episodes of RHOC will delve deeper into Emily’s personal life – and many fans believe that the separation and all the drama behind it will soon be aired in full, never-before-seen detail.
If many sources predict it, Shane and Emily could be the next RHOC couple to completely break up on screen – an ending that isn't surprising but is filled with controversy.
