Shannon Beador Rejoins Season 18 Of 'RHOC' After DUI Conviction & Treatment

Shannon Beador is back on “Real Housewives of Orange County” just in time to resume filming season 18 of the reality show. Beador’s return comes months after her infamous DUI arrest in September 2023.

She was also investigated for endangering her dog and eventually sentenced to three years probation, community service, and an alcohol program.

Beador isn’t the only reality star returning to "RHOC," as alum, Alexis Bellino has also received a formal offer, which she’s yet to accept.

Beador is back on the set of season 18 of “Real Housewives of Orange County.” Her return comes about four months after being arrested for a DUI and animal endangerment in September 2022.

She announced her comeback with an Instagram post on Wednesday, which featured herself, her daughters Stella, Adeline, and Sophie, and some of the Bravo crew. She captioned the post with a red heart and a clapperboard.

A source from the studio told People Magazine that although filming for season 18 begins next week, they wanted some content of Beador and her kids at home before they return to school.

Although Beador restricted the comments on the Instagram post, there were a few supportive comments from friends and fans. One read, “You look amazing!!!!!” Another commented, “We get out of life what we put into it! Lookin mighty good, my friend. The light shines from within.”

In September, news broke that Beador was arrested after allegedly driving into the side of a home in Newport Beach, California.

When police arrived on the scene, they found a trail of debris and the reality star with a blood alcohol content level that was three times the legal limit. Beador’s dog was also in the car with her, which led to an investigation for animal endangerment.

After the incident, Beador was charged with two misdemeanors for driving under the influence and a hit-and-run. In November, she was convicted and sentenced to three years probation, nine months of compulsory alcohol program, and 40 hours of community service.

After the incident, Beador released a statement to Page Six through her lawyer, Mike Fell. She expressed her shame about her actions and said she’s “extremely apologetic and remorseful.”

She said, “I am grateful that no one else was injured besides me in this incident. I have learned so much from my terrible mistake that night and realize that driving any distance while impaired is too far.”

The lawyer stated that Beador was “prepared to accept full responsibility for her actions.” He also noted that they would await and release any official information on the case as it became available to the public.

One of Beador’s close friends, radio host Jeff Lewis, revealed that the reality star reflected on her actions and sought treatment. During an episode of his SiriusXM show, “Jeff Lewis Live,” he said, “I am happy to say that she is gonna be entering counseling this week, so I’m happy about that.”

Speaking further on the DUI incident, Lewis defended Beador and said she’s not an alcoholic. He added, “I think, as her close friend, I think she’s going through a lot of personal struggles right now, and I think that she probably has been leaning on alcohol, but I don’t believe she’s an alcoholic.”

Beador isn’t the only reality star returning to the RHOC fold. According to Page Six, Alum Alexis Bellino has reportedly received a formal offer to rejoin the cast for season 18, which she’s yet to accept. The rumors are that Bellino’s offer comes as her romance with John Janssen (Beador’s ex-boyfriend) gets more serious.

One source told the publication, “Her relationship with John is certainly interesting, but it’s not the only reason producers want Alexis back. She’s a dynamic personality who has [a] history with a good portion of the cast.” Bellino featured in Seasons 5 to 8 of RHOC, spanning 2009 to 2013, and was at the center of lots of drama.

Bellino herself previously said she’d be open to returning to the housewife reality series. During a conversation with the news outlet at a Kathy Hilton Christmas party in Los Angeles, she said, “I’ll never say never.” The reality star also admitted that her return would definitely cause a “little drama” with Beador over Janssen, but she doesn’t care.