Alexis Bellino Set To Return To 'RHOC' Amid Shannon Beador Beef

Alexis Bellino is officially returning to "The Real Housewives of Orange County," but her comeback may be far from peaceful given her issues with castmate Shannon Beador.

The reality TV star was a fan favorite during her time on the Bravo series; however, she got on Beador's wrong side. Although the pair did not resolve their drama before Bellino's exit, her return will spark renewed hatred as she is currently dating her co-star's ex-boyfriend.

Bellino's return to the set of "RHOC" was confirmed by production sources, who noted the 46-year-old will star in the program's 18th season. She is returning as a friend of the show more than a decade after leaving the series in 2013.

The TV personality was a prominent cast member on the Bravo show from seasons 5 to 8 and previously returned as a guest in season 14. Insiders confirmed she is back filming the latest installment with other housewives; however, how Beador is handling Bellino's return remains to be seen.

As stated, the pair have a tumultuous history, with Beador allegedly trash-talking Bellino at a restaurant just before she was arrested on DUI charges in September 2023. According to Bellino, the "RHOC" star's verbal attacks were over a defamation lawsuit.

Bellino's ex-husband filed the lawsuit against Beador and Tamra Judge; however, Bellino told TMZ she was not involved in the legal drama. The rocky relationship between these women is sure to escalate in season 18 of "RHOC" over the duo's relationship with the same man.

Bellino recently started dating Beador's ex-boyfriend, John Janssen, whom the latter was with from July 2019 to November 2022. The former couple's relationship did not end on good terms, as Beador claimed she was blindsided by the breakup one week after filming on Season 17 wrapped.

Having Bellino date her ex-boyfriend cannot be easy for Beador to swallow, especially since she once announced her poor relationship with Janssen's children. Meanwhile, her castmate appears to have successfully won over her new beau's kids and enjoys getaways with them.

During her time on "RHOC," Bellino stole the show with her fun personality and religious values. From seasons 5 to 8, fans fell in love with her journey as a doting wife and stay-at-home mother with three children.

The 46-year-old also showcased her life as a devout Christian while raising her fashion empire, Alexis Couture. She even allowed the cameras to capture her marital struggles with then-husband Jim Bellino, leading to severe criticisms from other women.

Following her exit from the show, the fashion entrepreneur underwent several changes, starting with her divorce from Jim. The former couple ended their marriage after 13 years in 2018. Two years later, she announced her engagement to film producer Andy Bohn.

Bellino raved about her then-fiancé on an episode of "Life After Bravo," saying: "After meeting Drew, I just knew that there's a different kind of person that's there for you that's your best friend, builds you up, helps you get to the next phase of where you wanna be in life."

As for her family life, Bellino's children — son James and twins Mackenna and Miles — have grown from toddlers to teenagers. In October 2022, the mother of three announced Miles as a transgender male, noting he was "tired of the misgendering and confusion people have."

Four years before Alexis's return to "RHOC," her ex-husband Jim was unsuccessful in his defamation lawsuit against Beador and Tamra Judge. The entertainer's former beau sued the pair over their comments on Heather McDonald's podcast.

Jim accused them of lying about his business troubles and claiming he faked his divorce. Their remarks, per the lawsuit, ruined his reputation and negatively impacted his business. The legal document read:

"As a result of the defamatory statements at issue in this case, they have been unable to originate several new loans and unable to obtain several new investments, as some third parties are no longer willing to do business with them as a result of damage to my reputation."

Unfortunately for Jim, Beador successfully had all claims against her dismissed and was awarded $137,340 in attorney fees. This defeat didn't stop the "RHOC" alum's ex-husband from filing a separate lawsuit against the podcast host and holding her responsible for similar claims.

He accused McDonald of making comments that were statements of facts, but she denied all allegations of wrongdoing and demanded the case be tossed. A judge sided with the podcast host, noting Jim failed to show how McDonald was linked to his defamation claims.